Matt & Kim · The Thermals

June 24, 2011

Majestic Theater · Detroit

There is no band that brings it “harder” to their live show than Brooklyn’s Matt & Kim. If you want 75 minutes of pure, can’t stop smiling joy spreading from the artists down to every single person in the audience, then look no further than this dynamic duo.

Highs & Lows

• Portland’s The Thermals delivered a spectacular dose of drum-breaking garage rock that got the crowd properly amp’d up for the headline performance on deck. That is if you like the no nonsense musical stylings of a “professional rock band” (we do!)
• The silk pull reveal of M&K’s keyboard & drum kit moments before taking the stage. Might have been more dramatic if there was a cello hidden underneath
• “No one brings it harder than Detroit” – Matt Johnson. Damn straight!
• Kim’s demonstration of the many alternative koozie options open to you ladies when holding a beer at a concert
• Dude that attempted to run across the stage only be taken down by Majestic security, forcing Matt to stop mid-song just to ensure the guy was okay
• The three Jersey Shore-esque amigos removing their shirts at an indoor/evening event like this was Saturday afternoon at Lollapalooza
• “Detroit is too good for a sloppy booty shake” – Kim, moments after getting her signature crowd-surfing booty dance freak on. Point taken, we’ll be ready next time!

Hipster Factor: 9.0 (out of 10).  Striped tank tops, headbands and more than enough fedoras were spotted among the sold-out crowd.

1. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – How Can You Luv Me
2. The Chain Gang of 1974 - Stop
3. Black Lips – Family Tree
4. Bass Drum of Death – GB City
5. The Thermals – I Don’t Believe You
6. Matt & Kim – Ice Melts
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – Skeletons
8. Mates of State – Goods
9. The Antlers – French Exit
10. Beirut - East Harlem
11. Washed Out – Hold Out
12. Joy Division – Transmission

1. Black Lips – Modern Art
2. Les Savy Fav – Patty Lee
3. The Raveonettes – Sun Goes Down
4. Eternal Summers – Childs Mind
5. The Morning Benders – Promises
6. Royal Bangs – Fireball
7. The Strokes – Taken For A Fool
8. Cults – Never Heal Myself
9. Here We Go Magic – Tulip
10. Chad Vangaalan – Burning Photographs
11. Dirty Gold – California Sunrise
12. Sonny and the Sunsets – I Wanna Do It

1. Cults – Abducted
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – An Ugly Person on a Movie Screen
3. Hooray for Earth – No Love
4. The Vaccines – Post Break-Up Sex
5. The Black Keys – I’ll Be Your Man
6. My Morning Jacket – Holding on to Black Metal
7. Arctic Monkeys – That’s Where You’re Wrong
8. The Joy Formidable – The Magnifying Glass
9. The Generationals – When They Fight, They Fight
10. Wye Oak – Two Small Deaths
11. Geographer – Verona
12. Seapony – Go Away

Cults

Cults

Another item to add to your indie pop shopping cart this summer is this short and sweet debut album from New York’s Cults. Good beats and hooks, excellent lyrics, delivered with a little edge and just the right amount of ‘60s nostalgia. The result is an impressive collection of tracks that work both as individual pieces or when played in sequence.

3 Favorite Tracks: “Go Outside”; “Abducted”; “Never Saw the Point”

For Fans Of: Panda Bear; DOM; Sleigh Bells; Warpaint; St. Vincent

1. The Kills – Nail in My Coffin
2. Best Coast – Something In The Way
3. Jenny & Johnny – Scissor Runner
4. Kids On A Crime Spree – To Mess With Dynamite
5. The Vaccines – If You Wanna
6. The Generationals – Ten-Twenty-Ten
7. Woods – Who Do You Think I Am?
8. Golden Triangle/The Fresh & Onlys – Cold Bones
9. Bibio - K is for Kelson
10. Givers – Up Up Up
11. Slowdive – When the Sun Hits
12. The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Part 1

Seapony

Go With Me

Every backyard BBQ needs a soundtrack. This debut effort of dreamy, surf indie pop just effortlessly finds its place in the background. Looking past what the Seattle trio’s work may lack in technical sophistication, you’ll find an enjoyable – albeit short – walk down the beach destined for heavy summer rotation.

3 Favorite Tracks: “Dreaming”; “Where We Go”; “Go Away.”

For Fans Of: Best Coast; Beach Fossils; Tennis; Magic Kids; Girls