Matt and Kim - Opal Divine’s Freehouse, SXSW, Austin TX - March 19, 2009


[from Brooklyn, NY] sped-walk nearly two miles across town to make it to this band my littlest sister had recommended – arrived to find out they were only admitting badge people (SXSW caste system) - I slunk over to listen from the outside knowing there were few other venues in this part of town – I must have looked defeated because the doorman waved me over and admitted me without explanation – most packed show I’d been too and the crowd was jumping before the band even started… literally… four 20-somethings next to me jumped in tandem for twenty minutes before the band had started… they had to have been high but their enthusiasm was hilarious – Kim plays drums and Matt’s on the keyboard – I was a little shocked at this seemingly new genre of music that I was entirely oblivious to: electronic punk? - would call it synth punk but that would group them with my beloved bands that are dark and sleazy which is the polar opposite of Matt & Kim – they were cheerful and hyper to the point that I thought they might be a Christian rock band, especially with Kim’s creepy perma-grin and Matt’s feel-good messages to the crowd – the crowd was nuts over them, crowdsurfing, and I cocked my head at this generation who had grown up so immersed in electronics that this was the music that felt real to them – the crowd and the band were in perfect harmony (Photo courtesy of https://www.flickr.com/photos/rickkern/3686639820/)

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