The Cold War Kids concluded their tour to promote their 2013 album “Dear Miss Lonelyhearts” with a return to the Los Angeles area at The Observatory. Bathed in blue lighting, singer Nathan Willett thrilled the energetic crowd with his powerful vocals in the small, intimate venue in Santa Ana.

Doors opened at 7 p.m. at The Observatory, located in the back of an assuming parking lot in a suburban area. Although the venue appeared unremarkable from the outside, enthusiastic fans were greeted by a blue-lit stage and a laid-back atmosphere.

By 8 p.m., the crowd was more than ready for the show to begin. It was 8:30 p.m. before the opening act, the Hindu Pirates, began their set, an hour and a half after doors initially opened. By that time, the crowd had grown restless to welcome the Cold War Kids on stage. Some members of the mosh pit grew rowdy near the end of the Hindu Pirates’ set-list.

Luckily for the Cold War Kids, even a delayed entrance could not dampen the audience’s enthusiasm. The band finally began playing at 10 p.m. Unsurprisingly, their long-awaited entrance was met with screams and cheers.

The concert kicked off with one of their newest songs from their “Tuxedos EP,” “Pine St.” The audience greeted the slower, piano-accompanied song with enthusiasm, but seemed eager for a more upbeat number.

Perhaps anticipating the crowd’s hunger for a faster tempo, the band then launched into the more-upbeat and cheerful “Miracle Mile,” off of their “Dear Miss Lonelyhearts” album. The studio-quality rendition thrilled the crowd.

They followed up with the hauntingly melancholy “Loner Phase” and the angsty “Tuxedos,” both off of their newest album. The chords reverbrated throughout the venue and thrilled the audience in a testament to the Cold War Kids' song-writing ability.

After playing a few of their newer songs, the Cold War Kids transitioned into older fan favorites, including “We Used to Vacation,” “Hang Me Up To Dry,” “Louder Than Ever,” and “Something Is Not Right With Me.”

While “Hang Me Up To Dry” failed to live up to the studio-quality version, the crowd did not seem to care. Throughout the concert, much of the audience sang along with every lyric in a demonsration of the Cold War Kids’ passionate fanbase.

Although the band’s musical capabilities did not disappoint, their rapport with the crowd failed to live up to their musical performance. Other than brief introductions of the next song, the band members did not engage with the crowd. Nevertheless, the audience remained as energetic as ever. The crowd’s roar filled the venue when the band disappeared before their encore, and their cheers grew even louder when the band returned to the stage for their finals songs.

The enthusiasm of the band’s fans contributed to the energetic atmosphere of the night as a whole. The Cold War Kids have largely their fans to thank for a thrilling end to their tour, and the audience was more than appreciative of their excellent musical performance.

Reach Staff Reporter Sarah Allen here.