From their humble beginnings of practicing in a tiny apartment along the beaches of Long Beach, Calif., the Cold War Kids have the modest upbringing you’d expect of an originally obscure indie rock band. Yet since its startup in 2004, the band has experienced an explosion of popularity and fandom, allowing it to travel the world touring and even make its way to St. Louis this Thursday, Jan. 29. Despite its rise to success, the band has not lost its love for the humble and intimate atmosphere; however, as its scheduled performance will take place at the small downtown St. Louis venue The Ready Room, just a short taxi ride away from campus—so not having a car isn’t an excuse to miss this. After the first week of labs and the finalization of class schedules, why not take a break and appreciate the music that has touched stages and music festivals across the nation from just a few feet away? You’ll practically feel like you’re part of the show.

Among the members of the Cold War Kids, Nathan Willett on the vocals, Dann Gallucci and Matt Maust on the guitar, Joe Plummer on the drums, and Matthew Schwartz on the piano combine to bring together their instrumental talents and create a unique alternative and idiosyncratic material which has gained them four separate deals with record labels and invitations to perform at the North American Music Festivals Coachella and Bonnaroo. After their debut album named after their hometown restaurant, Mulberry, gained popularity in 2004, Cold War Kids went on to release the albums “Robbers and Cowards,” “Loyalty to Loyalty,” “Behave Yourself,” “Mine is Yours,” “Dear Miss Lonely Hearts” and their most recent debut of “Hold my Home” in October 2014. Influenced by the music of Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday, Jeff Buckley and The Velvet Underground, Cold War Kids combine rock and alternative music together in order to create a unique blend that will fill your evening with varying moments of wild expression and soothing serenity, with just the perfect amount of indie coolness to offset the irresistibly of their catchy pop influences.

With tickets available online at the www.thereadyroom.com for $22 or at the door of the venue, you can’t afford to miss it. So go that “Miracle Mile” and make the trip to The Ready Room this Thursday at 8 p.m. to end the week on a high note and get your energy hyped up for the weekend (why not enjoy the time right before midterms overwhelm us all?).