Some might attribute the recent temperature rise in Madison to the meteorological patterns that mark the coming of spring, but the indie band, Cold War Kids, might have had something to do with this influx of warmth. As a band that has established itself through rigorous touring, Cold War Kids brought their live heat to the Annex last Thursday, causing temperatures to rise, snow to melt and fans to go home sweating and satisfied. Cold War Kids are proof that recording equipment cannot always fully capture a band's sound and energy. Their live show was not a vapid reproduction of their album work, but a vigorous acclimatization of their bluesy rock to the live stage. The Long Beach four-piece is relatively new to the music scene with only a three-year oeuvre consisting of one full-length album and a handful of EPs. However, Thursday night's show proved that their limited backlog in no way hinders the zeal of their live performances. Joining them were indie compatriots Delta Spirit and Tokyo Police Club. Delta Spirit opened the show with a bluesy rock 'n' roll sound that was somewhat comparable to the sound of their headlining tour mates. With songs like their closing anthem, "People Turn Around," they proved they are a band that has the potential to rise above opening band status in the near future. Following Delta Spirit was Tokyo Police Club, a Canadian four-piece indie band that lacked the blues sound but compensated for the absence with the raw energy of their synth-driven neo-punk music. Though they had just returned from touring Europe, they showed no signs of jetlag in the spirited performance they gave. Starting with their recent single, "Cheer It On," the band went on to showcase material primarily from last year's eight-song EP, A Lesson In Crime. Songs like "The Nature of the Experiment" and "Your English" displayed their ability to fuse punk influences with pop sensibilities and made them instantly palatable to the audience. Following Tokyo Police Club's performance, Cold War Kids began playing after an extended intermission. Bringing a bottle of wine to the stage more as a prop than a utility, the band established their quixotic image from the get-go. Cold War Kids began their set with the piano-driven "We Used to Vacation" and went on to mostly play songs off their debut album, Robbers & Cowards. For the lo-fi blues ballad, "Saint John," they brought out members of Delta Spirit to aid in percussion, banging on everything from empty beer bottles to trashcan lids and making it one of the most memorable songs of the night. Cold War Kids claim that, for their first few band practices, "having instruments was not as important as heavy stomping and chanting." And it seems they have not strayed far from their primitive roots. As they performed the single "Hang Me Out to Dry" and "Red Wine, Success!" the band danced around the stage constantly, bobbing to the beat and refusing stasis. They showed that their main concern was the rhythm of their music. During upbeat songs, their energy was incredibly contagious, as the crowd bounced and bobbed along with them. The band closed with "Quiet Please," which seemed a rather calm and unexpected ending to a lively set. After going off stage, the band hardly gave the audience a chance to cheer before they were already back on the stage to perform "Tell Me in the Morning" for the encore. It was a little hasty, but the crowd didn't seem to mind, as "Tell Me In the Morning" gave the audience the energetic finale for which they were hoping. As anyone who has seen Cold War Kids live before can attest to, they do not take their performances lightly. A large part of their success is due to their constant touring and spirited shows. In the song "Hospital Beds," vocalist Nathan Willett sings, "Put out the fire, boys/ Don't stop, don't stop/ Put out the fire on us." With their heated live performances, "Put out the fire on us" is probably a request they have to often make. Cold War Kids proved on Thursday night that they are truly a band that knows how to bring their music to a live setting, making it simultaneously familiar and nuanced, and giving it an energetic life not entirely present on their album.