I’m trying to go to more shows that I know nothing about. There’s just something so thrilling about that to me and it’s a feeling that I’m constantly chasing. That being said, my show choice on Wednesday night was a band that I have seen multiple times. Sure. I could have gone to something else that was brand new but I knew what Matt and Kim have to give when it comes to a live show and, with my current bender and subsequent exhaustion level, I knew that that was the show I needed on Wednesday.
The one and only opener for the show at the legendary First Avenue mainroom was PKEW PKEW PKEW. Yes, that’s really their band name and that name is as perfect as their sound. With a very Midwest pop-punk vibe (although they are from Toronto, Ontario) and a little skater punk edge, PKEW PKEW PKEW wasted no time getting the packed audience captivated in all of the right ways. After just a song or two, vocalist Mike Warne confessed his love for Minneapolis. Even with that love, I feel like they don’t come around here often enough for me and Wednesday night was actually my first chance to catch them live in recent memory.
The thing I love the most about PKEW PKEW PKEW is that they don’t take themselves too seriously. I knew that from the lyrics in their songs. A great example of this is their song “Before We Go Out Drinking”, which they performed in the middle of their set on Wednesday night. The song kicks off with the lines, “We don’t make much money/ That should come as no surprise / We got drunk before we left so we wouldn’t have to spend much tonight”. The song continues with the anthemic chorus “We are getting drunk before we go out drinking”. There’s just something so brutally honest about all of those lines but also slightly silly about it. Add the personalities of the band members that truly shined on stage and you are left with a song feeling that leaves you smiling from ear to ear.
Although, at first, I thought that PKEW PKEW PKEW was an odd opening choice for indie-electronic-power-pop duo Matt and Kim, by the time the opening set was done, it made sense. They gave the audience a moment to warm up for the fun that was about to happen. Although they stole nothing from the headliners, they did a great job keeping pace with them and making sure that people left knowing exactly who they were. It was a perfect set and the best way to prepare for what happened next.
Before I get into the magic that was Matt and Kim’s set on Wednesday night, let’s talk about who this duo is. The duo is, as you may have caught on to, Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino. Matt is on keys and vocals, Kim is on drums and booty-shaking. Okay, I know that booty-shaking isn’t an instrument or anything like that but it’s an integral part of their performances which are truly legendary. I’ve seen Matt and Kim twice now but that’s not enough and I am always left completely enamored by this duo with Wednesday being no different.
Musically, Matt and Kim are just fun. I’ll be honest, it’s not the most complicated or deep music I’ve ever heard but there are all of these elements that the duo bring together to make their distinct sound. You get a little bit of everything from pop to rock to metal to hip-hop in their sound and when that all gets put on a stage in front of you, you are left with a beat and vibe that is impossible not to dance to. Sprinkled between their original songs were samples of everything from classic rock songs to infectious rap hooks. This gives the duo time to breathe between tracks and connect with the audience which is something they do ridiculously well.
Regardless of how many people were in the venue with me last night, I felt like I was the only one there. Even though I wasn’t awarded one of the medals that was handed out to the audience (one went to someone in the front who Kim claimed had the best eyeliner they’ve seen on tour), I felt like I was a part of the show. When Matt would say to dance, I would dance as if nobody was watching. I know this sounds like something so small and something that can happen at any show but it’s different at a Matt and Kim show. There’s no shame here. You can dance how you want to dance, sing how you want to sing, all that matters is that you have a smile on your face and you’re enjoying the moment.
There are a lot of “gimmicky moments” throughout a Matt and Kim show. From little dance breaks to the confetti and inflatables to a “dance orgy” to how Kim literally crowd surfed all the way to the back of the venue … but I’m not here to ruin all of that for you. It’s almost like a variety show and me telling you about all of their tricks would mean you wouldn’t have to go see it which would truly be a shame. The biggest takeaway is the way that Matt and Kim never stop smiling throughout the set. It doesn’t matter how many songs into the set they are or how much sweat is pouring from their heads, the smiles don’t leave and that is mirrored in the audience in a truly stunning way.
I lost track of how many songs Matt and Kim powered through on Wednesday but it had to have been over twenty. That being said, it wasn’t enough for me and as I was spit out into the streets of Minneapolis, I thought about dropping everything for my Thursday just to follow them to the next town and witness it all again. All of the shows I go to make me feel something but Matt and Kim shows make me feel something truly special. I honestly hope you get a chance to experience it for yourself.
