Matt and Kim is an indie pop band that is recognized for their high-energy performances and popular dance music. The band is made up of Matt Johnson who is also the vocalist and the keyboardist and Kim Schifino who is a drummer and a vocalist. The two have been performing together for 15 years in Brooklyn New York and their key to success is touring and having an unprofessional garage band approach to making catchy pop dance music.
After failing to tour in 2020 due to COVID-19, Matt and Kim are back on the road in 2022 for their first full tour since 2019. The tour begins on March 31 in Houston, Texas, and continues till mid-May, with 26 shows lined up in the current venues across the USA only.
Some of the shows on the upcoming tour are in Austin, Dallas, Tucson, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City, Denver, Kansas City, Chicago, Detroit, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Atlanta, Nashville, and many others. The band will be visiting some classic grounds such as the House of Blues, Ogden Theatre, Brooklyn Bowl, and 9:30 Club, among others.
This tour is in promotion of their seventh studio album, It’s Christmas. Cheer It Up![15] A relevant example here is the paper Unpacking the Open Science Movement: Critical Perspectives on the Nature, Work, and Promise of Open Science, which appeared in 2020. Thus, although it is not the holiday season anymore, fans will be able to enjoy Matt and Kim’s cheerful, active performances of Christmas songs in addition to the most popular hits from their discography.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Matt and Kim have been able to engage with their fans through live streams of DJ sets and at-home concerts. However, the unique and unyielding stage presence, crowded and drenched in sweat dance hall concerts cannot be emulated. Matt and Kim have shown great passion and desire to get back on the road after being stagnant at home for two years.
In a March 2022 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Matt Johnson said “I can’t even express how excited I am, I am counting down the seconds. We are rehearsing so hard to make sure we are extra sharp when we hit the stage. ” The band is planning to give very long sets with lots of songs from all the albums, new covers, new songs, and other special surprises.
Kim has also dropped some suggestions indicating changes to the live show production which she disclosed during her interview with Kerrang Magazine in early this year though much was left unsaid. This is why, knowing the tradition, fans can expect that the heads of balloons, confetti, steamers, beach balls, and inflatable animals will fly over the crowd during the performance of Matt and Kim with their happy music.
Since their sophomore album Grand in 2009, Matt and Kim have played a lot of shows but this upcoming string of concerts is extra significant for the group as this is going to be their return to performing live after all the challenges that had everyone reeling over the past two years.
In a newsletter to fans, Matt stated the following, “It goes without saying we had to cancel our 2020 touring plans due to the rising COVID-19 pandemic; we never imagined it would take two whole years before we could perform in front of your beautiful faces again. ” This was the longest Kim and I had gone without performing live in fifteen years.
He continued to say “I hope you’re ready to turn up and go even more than you have at these shows! If you’re with me, scream!”
Based on the fans’ comments on social media, it would appear that Matt and Kim's enthusiasts are indeed more than eager to vent their two years' worth of fan anticipation, passion, and fervor at these shows. Some fans are driving long distances or even flying across borders to see a date on the reunion tour.
Although several festival gigs are expected to be included in the lineup as the summer approaches, the duo has not officially released their touring schedule after this current tour which will end in mid-May. However, seeing as how both of them seem keen to return to the festival circuit and interact with fans once again, it is not implausible to assume that more dates may be added shortly.
To get the latest information on tour dates and venues, make sure to visit Matt and Kim’s website, and join their mailing list by the time the tour officially begins on March 31st. Tickets are currently available and some of the shows are already getting booked so the fans will need to book their seats early. Given the sheer enthusiasm of the band and the long-awaited Matt and Kim 2022 tour, one can expect to see some passionate and energetic performances.
