For those of you who are not familiar with this band, I would say what are you waiting for? Put down your coffee and go download their CD today off iTunes.

Hooray for good reviews!  Read the full article.

The funniest one was probably our spot with Ryan Manno and Fearless Radio - playing some tunes and answering some questions. This one was just Jesse, Matt, and Larry.  Listen in to find out why:  Cobalt & the Hired Guns on Fearless Radio

You have to give them props for being so organized and really representing what a music scene is supposed to be about – community. In Cobalt’s music, it comes through, in their lyrics, in their personalities, interactions with one another and with their fans.

Read the whole article and check out some cute pics of the band here:  Lumino Magazine: Cobalt & the Hired Guns Get ready for Metro

SO now we need your vote! It takes anywhere from 1.5 – 2.3 seconds to do, and we really appreciate it. If we come out on top, our gorgeous faces and logo will be the big banner at the top of their site, and we would win some recording time to lay down our new songs like “Uptown” and “Like You Like Me.” note: you can only vote once per IP address. It is currently VERY close so we really need your help!

here’s the link, pass it on:  http://chicago.thedelimagazine.com/snacks/

thanks so much y’all!

We won a New York Songwriters Circle Honorable Mention for “Of Summer” Check out all the finalists and honorable mentions HERE including Chicago pop sensation IJ Quinn who we met at the NYSC’s event at Schuba’s back in September.  It’s a great organization, and we are thrilled to be getting the recognition!

For Facebook users, here are some great pics of that showcase we played in September – we’re featured near the end.  Everyone looks so pretty!

“Of Summer” has gotten a ton of love from radio and reviews… keep it coming!

From the print edition, September 1, 2009:

Cobalt & the Hired Guns
Jump the Fence
“You Left Your Sweater” w/ “Of Summer”
(Updawg Records)

If I told you this band combines Country & Western with pop punk you would probably think “Insurgent Emo” and throw up in your mouth. But trust me, somehow this is incredibly charming, poppy, youthful music that feels like traditional roots music, but without any weight of history or dreary anything attached. Hee haw, indeed!

More acoustic and electric video LIVE from BROOKLYN via the Brooklyn Rocks Blog! We had such an awesome time playing on that rooftop, and we were so pumped when the Brooklyn Rocks team cancelled plans and showed up at Union Hall!  Read what they have to say about us, and enjoy the live footage below – (Union Hall footage is great visually, but we’re a bit too loud for the mic

“You Left Your Sweater…” & “Boston and Alone” rooftop acoustic in Crown Heights, Brooklyn

“Wreckage” and “You Left Your Sweater…” electric at Union Hall in Park Slope, Brooklyn

The Jersey Beat just released really great reviews of “The Double Single” and “Jump the Fence,” written by Joe Wawrzyniak. You can read the review in context here.  A stellar review, and more explicit love for “Secrets of the Burgh!”

COBALT AND THE HIRED GUNS – The Double Single

This two song EP CD delivers seven minutes worth of neatly hoppin’ and harmonic country-tinged pop-rock fun. The lively tempos and jumpin’ beats keep things peppy and rousing while the robust vocals and snappy playing are both up to speed. A cool little item.

COBALT AND THE HIRED GUNS – Jump the Fence

A smooth-jumpin’ blast of pure straight-up cookin’ basic rock’n’roll, this album goes down easy with a good deal of flair and spark to spare. There’s no dreaded pretense or needless flashy razzle-dazzle to speak of. Instead we have neatly vibrant and melodic meat-and-potatoes rock that gets right down to snazzy brass tacks with admirable economy and tunefulness. The pleasant vocals, clean and crisp arrangements, and proficient playing keep things bubbling along throughout. Favorite song: The hard-groovin’ number “Secrets of the Burgh.” A solid and worthwhile album.

Double Single was the perfect way to kick off a Chicago summer.  You Left Your Sweater is a boot stomping anthem about the transitory nature of summer love and Of Chicago is a Jason Mraz meets Dashboard Confessional anthem.  The addition Alexander’s sweet vocals on Of Chicago is delightful and fills the track with the sort of tension that tugs at your heart strings.

TD: Things are starting to blow up, that’s exciting! So, would you guys say you have an over arching musical, performance, band philosophy you are working with?

TF: Love and fun. We love each other, we love what we’re doing, we love the people that come to the shows.  We love playing the venues.

MH: I mean, you’ll see, like when we play, it’s all about having a great time and not pretending that we’re not.  We’re doing exactly what we want to be doing. So we try to share that.