Matt and Kim Make a ‘Grand’ Appearance in Portland

By Sydney Wisner

The first time I had the joy of experiencing Matt and Kim was at the 2018 94.7FM Electric Fest at the Hops Baseball Stadium just outside the Portland City Limits. The show had everything: a warm summer sun, beach balls, and Kim’s 18-inch dildos that substitute as drum sticks—the crowd went wild.

Matt and Kim’s show at the Crystal Ballroom on November 1 was no exception. Celebrating ten years since the release of their debut album Grand, the musical couple took Portland through the motions of their music. On the ticket, it was advertised as an all ages show, but there was a disclaimer: *language not suitable for children because of Kim.*

The show opened with LA-based band No Parents. Due to an accident on a snowy road in Boise, ID, SWMRS was no longer able to open for Matt and Kim on the rest of the tour; No Parents paid tribute to them by covering “Palm Trees,” but with a heavy pop-punk twist. Sending good vibes, SWMRS!

Then came the one and only: Matt and Kim. The lights at the Crystal Ballroom flashed red and the “Daylight” drumbeat filled the room. “Daylight” is the first song on the Grand album and had a lot of radio play ten years ago; it’s definitely unforgettable, especially in a live setting. The crowd cheered loudly as Matt and Kim took the stage—Matt and Kim cheered loudly right back and they took their places behind the keyboard and drums.

They played Grand in order, from start to finish, and then blessed our ears with some covers and newer music. Matt and Kim have amazing charisma and an engaging crowd presence. The nearly sold-out show was filled with dancing, moshing, and listeners singing along. If you’ve never been to the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, the floors have a certain buoyancy so that when everyone is having the time of their lives, you kind of fear that the floor is going to give out—but that’s half the fun.

Halfway through the Grand album, Matt and Kim stopped to give a brief PowerPoint presentation about the creation of the album: It all started in Matt’s childhood bedroom of his parents’ house in the middle of nowhere Vermont (ax-murderer vibes included). Kim explicitly made a point to talk about how sexually deprived she was at this time, as Matt was too afraid of his parents hearing anything to bust a move.

After the presentation, the duo finished out the rest of the record. They played “I’ll Take Us Home” live for the first time, in honor of the ten year celebration—“I’ll Take Us Home” is the last song on the album besides the “Daylight” remix, which they also played. When the album was played to completion, there was an intermission where Matt and Kim exited the stage and an old-timey movie exhibiting popcorn and soda played on the stage screen. Soon after, they thankfully came back on stage to party some more. When they returned to the stage, they played more of their new music, including dubby remixes of their songs, a cover of “Truth Hurts” by Lizzo, and more, joined by Kim’s 18-inch dildo drum sticks.

If you haven’t had the chance to experience Matt and Kim live, it’s time to change that. Whether the Grand album helped you get through middle school like it did for me, or it’s the first time you’ve ever heard it, Matt and Kim put on one unforgettable show.