Matt and Kim - A Pocket Full of Sunshine

Photo Credit DerAustinson's Flickr
Matt and Kim
Rickshaw Theatre
September 27, 2010 - 9:30
The So So Glos

How do I begin to describe this...?
Remember my post way back about Matt and Kim, where I wrote that I thought they were the most fun sounding pop-punk band around? And how they make me want to dance and smile at the same time? Well all of those things are true and I was fortunate enough to attend their show here in Vancouver at the Rickshaw Theatre.

It was Amazing. I can't describe it as anything else. It is by far the most fun, energetic, HOT, musically on point show I have ever been to. Matt and Kim came on after 10:00pm(?) and began their set. Their stage design consisted of some sort of multiple square electronic screens arranged in a triangle... The lights and colours set a fun and energetic mood for show. I am horrible at remembering setlists, but lets just say they began and didn't stop until just before midnight. They played fan favourites, and then some.

Their equipment was set up so close together, so snug. They really work off of each others energy, they were giving it all they have and we were soaking it up and giving back just as much energy. Our sweat, shout and cheers.

One moment I'll remember is when they began playing "Better Off Alone" by Alice Deejay... it's a Classic 90's dance song, we all danced, screamed, cheered. We all reacted as one collected unit, we all felt something. In that moment in time we all were present. Kim jumped onto her bass kit and sang, egging us on. I screamed the lyrics along with her. She has so much energy and looks like she has so much fun on stage. I couldn't stop grinning, it's contagious.

The crowd was so enthusiastic, there were several crowd surfers.. one audience member decided it would be a brilliant idea to stage dive into the audience. He did it twice, from the stage. Entertaining as ever.

At one point in the show, Kim threw balloons out into the audience, we blew them up and tossed them about. It's a party after all, balloons are a necessity, essential in making a good show. We tossed them about. Kim came out to the audience between one of their songs, the audience grabbed her feet and she proceeded to do a booty dance. This is why I love her.

I had no idea it was Matt and Kim's second time in Vancouver. I am so glad I was there today. My ears are still ringing, my body must have lost a good chunk of water weight. I haven't been in an environment that humid, that lacking of air for a while. I think this show trumps CocoRosie's show at the Vogue Theatre in June. There was much more body movement, feet shuffling, leg jumping, arm pumping, head rocking at the Matt and Kim show. Brilliant.

They played Daylight as the encore and last song. Epic.

After this they, Matt and Kim, jumped into the audience hugging anyone with open arms, while hip hop songs played over the speakers (Empire State of Mind - Jay Z, Forever Young.... and so on). They are amazing musicians, amazing people with amazing hearts. They appreciate their fans and it means the world to me, as a fan to see that. You attend so many shows where the musicians escape into a back room after the show. They slip through a side door and would Never reach out to a fan this way. But Matt and Kim do.

Come on now... what is there not to love about Matt and Kim. There are SO many reasons to attend their show. One, because you had to be there to know just how good the show really was.

I was smiling from ear to ear and still am.
I'll be thinking of my favourite moments in this show for a long time to come.
And of course wearing their t-shirt until they come around again.

Matt and Kim @ Rickshaw Theatre Flickr Set

Better Off Alone - Alice Deejay


Matt and Kim - Daylgiht

DId I Mention These Yet?

These are honorable mentions. These artists all produced great music that was dynamic, daring and interesting. I also obsessed over their music to great lengths.
-> envision me singing at the top of my lungs... before I had learned lyrics.
Nonsensical.

Coeur de Pirate - Coeur de Pirate
My current favourite at the moment, Coeur de Pirate is so different her flowing melodies fit perfectly with her emotionally driven lyrics. Her songs make me smile, and I don’t need to understand what she’s singing about. I think I can guess.
Simply Amazing.
I can’t elaborate too much as I’ve just begun listening to her. I’m sure stories of song associations will form, I’m sure.

Peaches - I Feel Cream
I’ve been called a prude, and I remember the conversation I was having. This person was describing me based on his first impressions of me. The word ‘prude’ came up. I don’t remember the other adjectives. I only remember this one.
This is why Peaches has a special place on my iTunes, my iPod, and my heart. Obviously her songs deal with sentiments of the physical heart and everything to do with propriety and traditions.
I feel brave when I listen to her music. I feel very ‘un-prude-like’ and I love the idea of improper actions when listening to Peaches.
I take public transit and often listen to Peaches. While sitting next someone who seems very proper I wonder if they are aware that I’m listening to lyrics about masturbation and sex. I turn the volume up, in hopes that they might hear. Eager to see their reaction.

Matt & Kim - Grand
They seem to exude SO much happiness in their songs, on stage, in interviews. They seem to be people who live in the moment. They live in the now and seize every moment that they have, and are ecstatically happy about it. I’m hoping that the more I obsessively listen to them, that some of that happiness would rub off on me.
I find myself humming their songs when walking to my classes. So I suppose its working. They have a fun sound and I love listening to them at an earsplitting volume while running up steps of the Transit stations two and three at a time.

Lightning Dust - Infinite Light
This band are on my list of do not ever, EVER listen in public. And if I do, it can only be in small increments. I find that they’re songs usually leave me feeling a surge of sadness I didn’t even know I had in me. They sing of loss love and this in itself as a theme is heartbreaking. I think they make sweet and flowing melodies that remind of last autumn. Envision leaves of bold reds, brown and gold falling to the ground. It’s a scene of perfect harmony.
I feel old, I just tried to describe leaves falling and how extraordinary it was to me. I’m old.

Band Of Horses - Everything All The Time
I don’t know anything about this band, other than that they look like hippies who remind me of Woodstock… I obviously was not around that time but I would think everyone to look like Band Of Horses. Their guitars focused on toe-tapping melodies always surprised me. I love their build up in each song. These guys have a huge sound and they make me want to become a groupie and follow them around.
Like the film Almost Famous with Kate Hudson. I want to be her.

Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
Her breathy vocals and eerie sounding synths created a unique sound that I quickly recognized as great. Daniel was a song I had learned my heart. I didn’t even know who Daniel was, but I loved him. Not literally, the song made me want to know THAT Daniel. She really is unique and so different I loved this record.

Lessons Learned

I love this.

Matt and Kim - Lessons Learned


I want to be there.
Imagine the type of freedom you'd feel.
If I was brave enough, I would reveal a little of my shoulder.
Instead I watch this on repeat and pretend that I am.
I can be brave on days where there is no one around.
.... The end terrifies me though. I don't want to be hit by a bus.

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

It wouldn't matter to anyone, but me.

Go here

They are too cute