What is there to say about Matt & Kim that isn’t already told by drummer Kim Schifino enormous smile and keyboardist Matt Johnsons Red Bull fueled playing? From the onset of one of their live shows, you know you are in for a special treat. Even with no released material, Matt & Kim were able to amass a following with some legendary Brooklyn house shows back in 2005 which propelled them to “blogosphere” fame.

I was able to catch one of their first SXSW shows back in 2007 from a perch looking over a fence into the venue because the crowd was at capacity and the wait line was too long. Even from a vantage point so far away, their spunky performance was one of the best concerts I’ve seen. You would think years later and the demands of constant touring would put a hamper on their cheerful attitudes, but no, they keep on doing it day-in and day-out. Always glowing and oozing genuineness at every stop, Matt & Kim certainly are the type of band people not only want to listen to but hang out with.

Well the duo now has a quality sophomore album in Grand which not only brings out the intensity of their live set but also show that there is a musical side to the group. Although Grand is a more “advanced” recording compared with their self-titled debut, there are still tinges of DIY surrounding the album. Recorded at Matt’s parent’s house in Vermont in a couple of months, you can tell that the thirty-minute album has a lot more thought put into it than its predecessor.
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