Photos & Review: Matt and Kim
Featuring: Matt and Kim & Rose Quartz
The Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO.
5/5/15
Photos and review by: Shannon Shumaker
Full photo gallery HERE
Matt and Kim know how to throw a party.
Having seen the duo for the first time a couple of years ago at Denver’s first ever Riot Fest, I knew I had to catch Matt and Kim on their headlining tour in support of their new album, New Glow, and unsurprisingly, I was not disappointed. Even if you’ve never had the pleasure of listening to Matt and Kim before, it’s impossible not to have fun at one of their shows, and that made it no surprise that their Denver stop was sold out.
The touring supporting band, WATERS unfortunately had to cancel their Denver performance, due to their vocalist losing his voice, but local support, Rose Quartz picked up the show last minute, providing a mellow opening to the show. While Rose Quartz didn’t quite seem to fit the bill – their sound was more on the mellow, synth side of things – they still provided a solid opening performance, especially for a band that hopped on the bill at such short notice.
It was no surprise, however, that the majority – if not all – of the crowd was there for one reason, and that was to see Matt and Kim. Minutes before the band took the stage, fans were chanting and screaming their names, the room practically buzzing with anticipation.
Opening with their high-energy track, “Overexposed,” Matt and Kim kicked their performance off with a bang, to say the least, and by the time the song was through, it was apparent that the duo felt overwhelmed by their warm welcome. Throughout the night, there was everything you’d expect at a Matt and Kim show; confetti, balloons, a parachute, wild dancing from Kim in between song changes (as well as some twerking on top of the crowd later in the set) and some witty (and usually sexual) on stage banter from the duo.
The high points of Matt and Kim’s set were easily when they demanded crowd participation, as their fans were definitely eager to please. When Matt asked for a circle pit (or multiple circle pits, due to the tiered levels of The Ogden Theatre) the crowd didn’t seem to question it, despite the fact that I, for one, have never once seen a circle pit anywhere besides a metal show. When they asked fans to sing along as loud as possible, they did. When they wanted them to dance, the crowd danced. And, toward the end of their set, when Kim asked their fans to sit on one another’s shoulders, no matter where they were in the venue, they obeyed – even people in the balcony, which was an incredible (and slightly terrifying) sight.
By the time the show came to a close, even the casual fans of Matt and Kim were dancing, and with good reason. The duo has a way of making any show fun, whether they’re playing to a small crowd, a giant festival, or a sold out theatre. If this tour is coming through your city – check it out. It’s a party that you don’t want to miss.