Royel Otis chats with KROQ's Kevan Kenney ahead of their performance in the Helpful Honda Sound Space at KROQ.

In case you missed it, Audacy is proud to present a special performance and interview with Cold War Kids, recorded in the Helpful Honda Sound Space at the World Famous KROQ in Los Angeles. Bandmates and lifelong friends Nathan Willet and Matt Maust chatted with Nicole Alvarez about their shows, the latest album release, and just how much the band has grown. Reflecting on their near 20 year career, the two had some pointed advice for their younger selves. “Don’t turn down the Coldplay tour” Matt said plainly, the crowd laughing in response. “Don’t turn down the Oasis tour” Nathan added, which turned some laughs to winces. “It hurts, right? I felt that too. We made dumb choices!” Clearly not all their decisions were mistakes, as the band released their 10th album, aptly named Cold War Kids, just last week. The 11-song album is a refreshing and original take on Alternative Rock, which calls back to and cultivates their classic CWK sound. Singles “Run Away With Me” and “Double Life” are upbeat with an easy groove, leaving it up to the listener to nod their head or full-body dance along. As the singer and guitarist, Willet said that the album was intended to leave the struggles of the pandemic in the past, yet still remain authentic to their experiences. “A lot of artists that I’m a fan of released very serious and minimal work during that time” said Willet. “My reaction to that was very… ugh. I don’t want to make a really sad and small record, but I want it to still reflect the moment and be true.” Thus, the latest album perfectly reflects the “wild abandon” that they had intended. And though the Cold War Kids are 10 albums deep into their career, they remain deeply appreciative and continue to grow. “I’m just so grateful that we still get to do this, because we learn to ‘say what you want’ and just go for it and don’t apologize” Willet reflected. “And I think for so long we were sort of, just little guys, a little nervous to say what we wanted and get what we wanted.” And though they’ve learned to be more outspoken, Willett continued on to say that aggression, “isn’t in our nature.” “We just never responded to that energy, and in a lot of ways, it comes back to our story. I think we’re fans of music first.”Check out the video above for the full interview with Nicole Alvarez and Cold War Kids, including a phenomenal 10-song performance. Don't miss Cold War Kids full 10 song performance and interview with Nicole Alvarez above, and stay tuned for more action from the Helpful Honda Sound Space right here on Audacy. Words by Isabella Eaton Interview by Nicole Alvarez

Micah Pueschel from Iration chats with host Nicole Alvarez before the band's performance inside the Helpful Honda Sound Space at KROQ.

Fall Out Boy chats with host Megan Holiday before their performance in the all-new KROQ Helpful Honda Sound Space!

Beach Weather chats with host Megan Holiday in the KROQ Sound Space.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs joined us for a special performance and conversation today, hosted by Klein. Ally. Show from the DTS Sound Space in Los Angeles, giving fans a taste of what to expect on their 2023 summer tour now underway. Currently on the road in support of their 2022 comeback album Cool It Down, Karen O, Nick Zinner, and Brian Chase of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs kicked off their 2023 tour itinerary at the beginning of May and will be making stops in several major U.S. cities including Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, and more before hopping across the pond to wrap in Europe at the end of August. It’s an exciting time for the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, performing at the Just Like Heaven festival on May 13 amid a headlining tour, new music recently released, and on top of all that it’s the 20th anniversary of their 2003 debut, Fever To Tell. “We had like an early dinner, that was really celebratory,” singer Karen O. says. “Mother Wolf, I think it was… they spoiled us, and it was like one day into practice, which is probably too early into practice. Yeah, there's no real knowing how to celebrate 20 years,” she admits. One form of commemoration arrived via a new-to-most video short, There Is No Modern Romance, shot back when the band was on their 2003 U.K. tour. As huge fans of Alternative music in the ‘90s and 2000s, Ally says, those are the decades that will always be obsessed over, while wondering if the band members have the same kinds of attachments. Guitarist Nick explains, “I mean… I still don't really know how to answer this question. It's so abstract and it was such a, obviously completely different time, and a lot of ways, a much more innocent time… The 'indie sleaze' times. But, I don't know, like, I still can't really wrap my head around it. We are the same people, but we're also totally different people.” Looking back at their beginnings, “We had no plan,” Nick admits. “Absolutely. No plan.” Karen adds, “Not only did we have no plan, I remember around the time before we put out ‘Fever To Tell,’ we were touring with some friends of ours, and I remember being like -- this isn't like throwing shade -- but I was just like, our friends who we were playing with were like a bit older than us. And I was just like, ‘Man, I will never be a band for more than 12 years… There's no way.’ And now I'm like, wow, we're the luckiest band in the world to be around for 23 years. It's so my perspective has changed a lot on that.” With the Just Like Heaven festival fast approaching, drummer Brian says the band is looking forward to catching up with old friends. “We're gonna get to catch up with a lot of people we haven't seen in a while, like The Walkmen especially, who I think we played one of our earlier shows with them back at this venue called The Cooler. And here we are maybe 22 years later playing a major festival in the Los Angeles area. So, super amazing." Hoping the band can help settle a debate about annoying concert attendees, Ally asked who they would consider the most obnoxious out of a couple of selections. Who is worse: the person recording the entire concert on their phone, or intoxicated fans screaming out "Play 'Maps' again"? Nick and Karen remember one festival date when a random guy kept yelling his request of "Heads Will Roll" over and over, leading Karen to address him from the stage. It was from the second song on... a few songs in I was like, 'YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT!' But, you know, I get it." "I do think the person filming the entire show is way more annoying," Nick admits. Don't miss our full conversation with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs in the DTS Sound Space above -- and stay tuned for more exclusives from your favorite stars and artists right here on Audacy. Words by Joe Cingrana Interview by Klein.Ally.Show

Matty Healy from The 1975 joins Klein & Ally for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

The Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan joins host Nicole Alvarez for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

Marcus Mumford joins host Nicole Alvarez for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

Death Cab For Cutie joins KROQ morning show hosts Klein & Ally for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

Wet Leg's Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers join KROQ morning show hosts Klein & Ally for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

The Interrupters join host Nicole Alvarez for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

Jack White joins KROQ morning show hosts Klein & Ally for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

Bob Moses joins host Nicole Alvarez for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

The Black Keys join hosts Klein & Ally for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

Tropa Magica join host Canyon Cody for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

Yungblud joins host Megan Holiday for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

Cannons joins host Megan Holiday for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba joins host Kevan Kenney for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

Bring Me The Horizon joins host Megan Holiday for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

The Regrettes join host Megan Holiday for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

Måneskin joins host Megan Holiday for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

The Lumineers join host Nicole Alvarez for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

Cold War Kids join host Nicole Alvarez for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

Tai Verdes joins host Megan Holiday for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

KennyHoopla, Travis Barker, and guitarist Nick Long join host Nicole Alvarez for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

AJR joins host Megan Holiday for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.

Nessa Barrett joins host Nicole Alvarez for a conversation in the DTS Sound Space at KROQ.