“Like I Used to Be”
“Like I Used To Be” Matt and Kim at Orlando’s Beacham
Matt and Kim - Orlando’s Beacham 9.17.23
Written by Caitlin Tuel
Photos by Caitlin Tuel
Lightly Reworked 2.17.23 as High Voltage Magazine is defunct as of this date.
est. 5 minute read
I believe it is undeniable that sometimes in life we are guided to do things to satisfy our younger selves. Some folks have a beautifully kept Barbie collection like my cousin, or stuffed animals, or perhaps it is just within personality. Others have a burning desire to see artists from their formative years. As an individual who falls into the latter category the most, it was almost a driving force that had brought me to see the Brooklyn-based duo Matt and Kim at The Beacham in Orlando, Florida in the middle of a move. A storied venue that focuses heavily on its VIP experience, and one that I didn’t have the opportunity to visit beforehand. Boasting a dress code and an intriguing list of previous headlining shows such as Set it Off, Declan McKenna, and Surf Curse, a long-standing act like Matt and Kim were sure to make their third return to the venue at one point or another.
As I was a childhood fan of Matt and Kim’s music, my house speakers boasting the tunes from their 2007 release Grand, and New Glow coming out in 2015 through my sophomore year of high school, the opportunity to see them was something I could not pass up. Beginning with Intricate lighting and visual effects on their back screen, they take the stage with fervor. The crowd is flush with folks of all backgrounds - and even some who definitely bypassed the show’s sixteen and older requirement. A young son on his father’s shoulders waits excitedly in bright blue over-ear headphones and waves to Kim. As she and Matt take the stage and begin with Block after Block, the backdrop of the stage reads true;
THESE ARE THE GOOD OL’ DAYS
Kim is all smiles as she takes in the crowd and begins to play the drums to her partner’s chords, denoting through her tank that she is Anti-Anti-Everything. The shirt speaks volumes in Florida’s Orange County. It takes a phenomenal skillset to keep the crowd intrigued by your facial expressions alone, made even more difficult to play based on your partner of at least fifteen years’ keyboard. Having a nearly full house, Matt and Kim’s positive demeanors along with their instrumental and vocal prowesses respectively have translated to the crowd. Everyone is elated the entire show, and their voices bounce against the walls with the same fervor as their feet on the floor through the night.
Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino somehow manage to do it all. And by “do it all”, I simply cannot be facetious - mid-show, Kim crowd surfs to the bar by the entrance of the Beacham for a beer, and crowd surfs back to the stage. Seemingly without spilling, but not without a “Keep her safe!” from Matt. There is even time in a Matt and Kim set to give out “You are Awesome” medals to the fans in the crowd who are giving the night their all, and even time for confetti and dance breaks for the sake of confetti and dance breaks, because as a daycare teacher, there is always time for confetti and dance breaks.
At some point during "Get It “ after the crowd had already been instructed to blow up balloons for assistance, Kim brings out the “two ten-inch …instruments… that are under Kim’s drum set. Just in case you’ve never been to a Matt and Kim show”. A firm and direct warning from Johnson earlier in the evening, and suddenly the age restriction on the show that evening made more sense. Kim takes out the two tools and effectively uses them as drumsticks for the breakdown of the song.
Matt and Kim paint a beautiful image of a young duo who have decided it was them and their music against the world since their meeting in university in 2002. Through Johnson’s cords, their shared writing talents, and Schifino’s drum expertise, the two have released six full-length albums along with numerous singles and remixes. Their music strikes a chord in me and has since I was a child. There is an effervescent message of finding your way in the world you have been put into. Whether you are in Chinatown or part of their international fanbase, Matt and Kim have the ability to connect with their listeners on this deep level, whether that is from collegiate education or just raw talent and partnership remains unknown. While likely it is a combination of the three, they’ve remained a creative force to be reckoned with.
While I watch them end their time with us to Daylight, I find myself connecting with the inner child who never knew why they loved New York’s Grand Street/Chinatown area so much, the one who hated the glasses frames they wore and waited with bated breath for yearly Maine trips. I found myself being okay with being the adult who had recently cut the legs of their favorite pants off, and appreciating the adult who made the trip down to Grand Street last October to take a photograph of the street sign like a true tourist. I learned that I am okay with having one working clock and unplugging it every once in a while, and even months later, I still have not managed to fix the clock on my laptop. I don’t know if I plan to at this rate.
“And yes, the sails have set - but I’m not dead yet.” - Matt and Kim, Like I Used to Be, Almost Everyday, 2018.