BY APRIL S. ENGRAM

It was an early show at Water Street and we eager fans didn't have to wait too long for the California quartet to grace the stage. Yet the crowd was anxious and raring to go; they cheered, hooted and hollered for Cold War Kids to come out. Everyone in the club exploded once they made their entrance.

Mixing songs from their debut, Robbers and Cowards, and their latest release, Loyalty to Loyalty, Cold War Kids could not do wrong. Their reputation for delivering amazing live shows preceded them and they did not disappoint the salivating Rochester audience. The Kids' first track, Robbers' "We Used to Vacation," incited a mini mob as the audience roared from the first note. (I don't think I've been a part of such an enthusiastic and thrilled audience before.)

Even lead singer Nathan Willett looked shocked by the delighted crowd as it sang along with every lyric. Jonnie Russell (guitar), Matt Maust (bass) and Matt Aveiro (drums), as the mobile members of the band, staggered about the stage and moved in time to the music. There were moments when it appeared the guys were going to collide.

They're skillfully calm, though, when playing their instruments. Maust's style was akin to a sleepwalker pacing about the stage. He skillfully plucked each cord and released the neck, letting the bass fall where it would. Russell, by contrast, bounced around the stage. And of course Willett, switching between piano and guitar, was equally mobile; but then again, no one in Water Street was standing still. The audience happily danced for the entire performance.

Crowd favorites were the obvious fast paced tracks: "Something Is Not Right With Me," "Hospital Beds" (not on the original set list but inserted as an audible), "Mexican Dogs," and "Relief." However, the place really went crazy when Maust began the booming bass hook of "Hang Me Up To Dry," and all bellowed the lyrics along with Willett. When he reached the chorus, hands flew into the air and people jumped up as they shouted in unison, "Now hang me up to dry, you've rung me out too, too, too many times." That was when Willett's eyes opened wide as he looked about at the packed venue.

When the set was over the audience stamped and shouted, the venue rumbling as people chanted a song they wanted to hear. It was a song title that was new to my ears. Cold War Kids returned for round two and Willet asked, "How do you know that song?" For the encore the guys played two quieter tracks and closed with the gospel-like "Saint John."

Then the quartet called it a night and bid farewell to Rochester. Though an hour may not be a long set by some standards, it was an amazing, drug-intoxicating hour. I'm already longing for another dose.

Main set list:

Every Valley Is Not A Lake

We Used to Vacation

Rubidoux

Something Is Not Right With Me

Hospital Beds

I've Seen Enough

Dreams Old Men Dream

Every Man I Fell For

Mexican Dogs

Hang Me Up to Dry

Relief

Passing Hat