Who says sipping overpriced cocktails is the only way to have fun in Manhattan? Not Matt and Kim, a twosome all about getting your giggles the non-pretentious way. Known for playing dingy warehouses and art shows in Brooklyn, I first saw the duo at a crowded SoHo wine bar a few weeks back; in true form, Kim shrieked about free food and booze from the stage while barely avoiding getting kicked by crowd-surfing hipsters. Allegedly this was nothing compared to their gigs in Kings County. "That place wasn't set up for a rock show," Matt later explained, revealing that the overenthusiastic crowd caused nearly $10,000 worth of damage to the venue. I wondered to myself: What created this extremely dedicated (if slightly destructive) following?

The fact that Matt and Kim feel like the coolest couple in your circle of friends. Doubters who think the romance is a PR move should attend a Matt and Kim show—and realize that the cuteness only continues off-stage. For starters, they share a voice mail. Once we get on the phone, every other word out of Matt's mouth is "Kim" and he keeps whispering to her in the background. It's clear that they go hand-and-hand together; without their delightful codependency, they would lose that unique "I'm just-like-you" connection with the audience.

It all started at Pratt University six years ago, when they met, fell in love and decided to form a band: "She was trying to learn how to play the drums and I found a really cool keyboard." When it comes to writing music, "we just come up with a beat that we think is cool," Matt explains. "Then I'll write some melody on top of it, and Kim always tries to make the songs faster." Their honesty—even when discussing technique—is part of the appeal. "Kim and I are unpretentious and dorky in a way where you don't think about what you say, which has bit my ass sometimes," he says. "But I think it's the realest way to be."

And possibly the most fun. Having a good time is clearly the theme at a Matt and Kim show, regardless of the venue. "We'd play for wild things in Brooklyn and we come over to Manhattan and people just stand and watch. I just want people, in whatever way they want to have fun, to do that." The only non-negotiable: Hanging out afterwards; according to Matt, Kim is likely to insist on an all-night dance party.

Matt and Kim play Hugs in Williamsburg on July 5th; click here for additional NYC-area dates.

- Alex Catarinella

Similar Topics:indie rock, live shows, music

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