The pit in front of the stage turned into a sea of arms and bodies jostling in pure excitement as Kim Schifino's fans lifted her spirit both figuratively and literally - the crowd was holding up the drummer as she walked on its hands.
Last Saturday, Matt & Kim made one of their first stops for their national tour in Buffalo. The duo left fans in awe with their dynamic performance and didn't even allow technical difficulties to hinder their show.
Oberhofer managed to get the crowd hypedfor the main act with their infectious melodies and fun pop aesthetic. The opening act melded wonderfully with the jagged yet quirky sound, similar to the one Matt & Kim have become famous for, while including sophisticated spurts of syncopated drums into their performance.
"I didn't know them too well but everything they played sounded amazing," said Daniel Haeseker, senior international trade major. "Honestly, I've got to check out more by them."
When the Brooklynite duo took the stage, the fan-filled Ballroom was thrown into a frenzy.
The two performed the hits they're known for, including "Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare" and "Yea Yeah," setting a scene for their fans that sent them into hysterics, as well as songs from their new album, Lightning, which took them six months to produce.
The majority of the songs from their new record were well received because the music stayed true to what the band is known for: fun.
They also incorporated tracks from other artists to keep the crowd on their toes. Bodies were tossed around to the point where security had to contain crowd surfers, a clear indicator that Matt & Kim accomplished their goal.
During "Cameras," the duo broke into a cover of rapper Ludacris' "Move," drawing a violently pleased reaction from the crowd, resulting in mosh pits and screams.
Schifino's almost spastic drumming flowed through the venue and provided an ample groove for fans and newcomers.
However, the show was not without problems. There were numerous occasions where the band experienced technical difficulties, such as notes being played when they shouldn't have and instruments not being tuned.
At one point, one of their new songs, "It's Alright," turned into a bit of a mess when Schifino lost the rhythm. The two members had to stop playing mid-song and change tactics.
But for every miscue and every note the band tripped over with their freshmaterial, no one ever seemed to mind.
Matt & Kim then took the time to hand out balloons to the audience and instructed them to inflate them and wait for their cue.
"When I say go, we're going to turn this mother f*cking up," said Matt Johnson, keyboardist and vocalist for the group.
Notable techno track "Better Off Alone" by Dutch Eurodance group Alice DeeJay then came through the speakers and smoothly transitioned into Matt & Kim's "Daylight," drawing screams, jumps and pandemonium from the crowd.
"It was probably the most fun I've had at a concert this entire year honestly," said Dave O'Hare, 33, of Buffalo.
Although upon exiting the venue, everyone was sweaty and tired, there wasn't a face that didn't have a wide smile on it.
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
