Matt & Kim Do Their Favorite Thing

Matt & Kim have something in common with Oprah: a list of favorite things. And I like Matt & Kim's better. The power-duo rocked Webster Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday (October 27th) harder than I've ever seen a pair rock before. They started the show by sharing with the crowd their favorite things:

Number 1: Playing shows.

Number 2: Eating burritos.

Number 3: Watching "Modern Family."

Number 4: New York City.

Towards the end of the show, lead singer Matt Johnson changed his mind, and added another thing above all others...

Number 0: Playing shows in New York City (and boy could you tell)!

I saw Matt & Kim live this summer at Lollapalooza as an afterthought. My friends and I walked past their stage as they were midway through my favorite song of theirs, "Good Ol' Fashioned Nightmare," and I made them stay before we headed to see another band. We weren't close at all, but even at the back of the crowd we all had one word to say about their set: ENERGY! We had never seen energy like theirs onstage, and it literally seeped into the crowd. They became one of my top three acts of Lollapalooza, and I vowed I wouldn't miss them when they came to NYC. Thankfully, I didn't have to wait long.

One of the best things about New York is that so many bands originate here, and so when they play shows in the city, they usually pull out all the stops. Matt & Kim's Brooklyn roots proved this true. My friend and I got to Webster Hall about 40 minutes early, later than I had wanted. He had not been at Lollapalooza with me, and didn't understand what I meant when I went on and on about the band's energy. I was upset we wouldn't be in the front row, but knew I'd still be closer than before. When the doors opened, I didn't hesitate, and ran for the front. Let's just say, I still have a bruise on my lower chest from being knocked against the barrier between the floor and the stage. Welcome to front row, center...

I have to give credit where credit is due: their second opening act was amazing. Rapper Donnis got the crowed pumped up, and even though I had never heard of him, I found myself jumping around and fully engrossed in the show, forgetting this wasn't the concert I had paid (a measly 20 bucks I might add) to see. Then he snapped me out of it: "Y'all ready to see the King and Queen, Matt & Kim!?!?" he asked...

There's a reason this concert will go down as one of the top five I have ever been to, and energy is only half of it; I have never seen a girl smile as much, and for as long, as Kim. When Matt listed playing shows as his absolute favorite thing (I mean come on, it was above burritos), some might have called it hyperbole...until they started playing. Anyone else at this show, or I'd bet any other show they've played will deny this. They LOVE being on stage.

They jumped on their instruments. Matt climbed the scaffolding. Kim "booty danced" in the crowd (RIGHT above my head, I might add). Matt tried to booty dance, and ended up just falling. Oh...and they played 24 songs straight. That might not sound impressive, but you have to realize this is a two-person band: drums, vocals, and a keyboard. My arms are getting tired just typing here...imagine how Kim must feel after banging some drums for that long.

I have about twenty pictures of the show, and the one here is the clearest. It's still pretty blurry, but you try to keep a band with this must energy still long enough to pose for a picture...this'll have to do. They played (they both played their songs and played on stage...at times it really seemed like they were just two kids on a playground) their way through old hits ("Good Ol' Fashioned Nightmare," "Yea Yeah," "Lessons Learned," etc.), shared some new ones off their upcoming album "Sidewalks," and lived it up while they could. Their second night at Webster Hall, they said they had had dreams that when they finished playing, the venue had crumbled from the energy. It didn't happen, but it wasn't because the band or the crowd didn't try.

They ended with their epic "Daylight," which I dare you to get out of your head. As they struck a final chord, the speakers erupted with Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind," and they stood together on stage. But not for long...as they quickly jumped down into the crowd for hugs and congratulations. In fact, Matt fell right on to me, and I'd be lying if I said I let go readily. I hugged him for probably 10 seconds until someone pulled him away. They managed to escape the venue from the back door, after hugging probably every fan there. Chants of "MATT AND KIM" ensued, and Matt was forced to come back on stage, and close the show with a short, heartfelt, breathless statement:

"We love you guys more than you know, but we played literally everything we could. I don't know anymore music...we love you. Thank you so so much."

Did I mention I also got a set list? And a drumstick? Well, 7/8 of a drumstick. Kim broke it about a third of the way into the show, but just kept playing...I guess almost a whole drumstick will do. My wall now has four setlists from this year alone.

We loved them too. Enjoy "Yea Yeah" below, recorded from my phone. If you follow the video to my YouTube page, there are five other videos from the show, including Kim's bootydance, Matt falling when he later tried the same thing, and a few other songs. Talk about a show.

P.S.: You readers are so lucky... I had an INCREDIBLY cool last three days, that will continue tomorrow night. So you get another blog on Wednesday from me, and (shock/ spoiler alert): there's no concerts involved.

I'll give you a hint: working as a news reporter in New York City during an election year gets you some pretty amazing opportunities. And Diane Sawyer, George Stephanopolous, and Cokie Roberts say hi...

Vampire Weekend Comes Home

Some call it an obsession...I prefer mild stalking.

On Wednesday night, September 16th, I went to my fifth Vampire Weekend concert in a year. I saw them for the first time in January, as they celebrated the release of their number one album "Contra." That show ranks as the best concert I have ever been to, and I could try and explain why with words, but I'll let this picture I snapped on my old phone do the talking:

Vampire Weekend at Webster Hall, January 2010.

Fast forward through several months and three of their concerts (in Nashville, California, and Washington DC, respectively), and its time for a vampire homecoming at Radio City Music Hall. Talk about a reality check: the New York-based band sold out three consecutive nights at one of their city's largest venues. That's quite an impressive feat, and the crowd on Wednesday night was more than happy to welcome the band back home. They brought two opening bands with them, Dum Dum Girls, and Beach House. Beach House in particular really took advantage of their opportunity, bringing down the house with an impressive set. Glowing pyramids flashed underneath a faux-starry sky, as lead singer Victoria Legrand serenaded the crowd. One friend I was with boldly proclaimed there was no way Vampire Weekend could top their opener...I told her to just wait.

Vampire Weekend entered with DJ Khaled's "All I Do is Win," which served as a shot of caffine for the crowd, who immediately errupted with energy. The band began yet another incredible set with smiles and hellos. I got a special treat in hearing "I Think Ur A Contra," one of my favorite Vampire Weekend songs played live. Though my seats weren't as awesome as the first time I saw them, it didn't even matter: their energy from stage had the whole venue bouncing to the 'upper west side-soweto' of "Giving Up the Gun," "A-Punk," and "Walcott," among others. They even covered Bruce Springstien to the delight of many New Jersey residents in the crowd. It was even more fun for me, since I went to the concert with my best friend, and two other friends who hadn't seen them live before. Needless to say, they were more than impressed. They finally understood why I basically follow the band around the country...

Lead singer Ezra Koenig thanked the crowd for their devotion, and encouraged

some sing-alongs for a few of their more catchy songs. In case you haven't realized it

yet, this band puts on a show like no other: true crowd pleasers who sound BETTER live, a

s you watch them truly enjoy being on stage, and have fun with the crowd. By the end of the show, the four of us all admitted to being speechless, so impressed by the show (and a little hoarse from singing along). I recorded two of their songs, "M79" and "Horchata" on my phone, which you can watch below. Hopefully it will give you an idea of just how good they are live...but it really is something you have to see to believe!

"M79"

"Horchata"

In my last blog, I mentioned a video I took of the Scissor Sisters performing "Take Your Mama" live at their show...but forgot to include it! So here's the link now (the quality really improves once they start to sing):

"Take Your Mama"

My next concert adventure? Stars at Terminal 5...

Our Teenage (Music) Dream

Though classes haven't yet begun, I've traveling to and from Manhattan each of the last three days for what I find one of New York City’s biggest draws: concerts. As a music lover, there’s nothing like going to school in the city where literally every band stops as they tour the country. During my freshman year, my best friend (who attends another of New York City’s universities for undergraduate studies) and I created a pseudo-contest, to see who could find more fun, unique city experiences in our new hometown. Many of these outings ended up being concerts, including Kid Cudi, front row tickets to Vampire Weekend, Jonsi (the lead singer of indie super-band Sigur Ros), and an incredible front-row experience right here at Fordham thanks to MGMT last Spring Weekend. Our musical experiences continued into the summer, traveling to Lollapalooza with some Fordham friends.

Freshman year started off slowly for my contest, but my sophomore year has already begun with a bang. The night I moved back to beautiful Fordham, a friend and I went to the Scissor Sisters’ concert at Terminal 5.

Sissor Sisters

We ended up right in the front row for one of the most incredible live shows I have been to. The band’s energy and enthusiasm was sky-high, as they entertained their hometown for the first time since releasing their new record. My friend Sarah and I watched in awe as the lead singers Ana Matronic and Jake Shears bounced around stage with unrelenting energy, singing their way through all the band’s hits, old and new. At points, true, intense eye contact was made with both Shears and Matronic, as they gazed into the crowd of enthusiastic watchers, right to me singing and dancing along (which I’m sure people around me deeply appreciated) in the front row. Below I’ve included a video I took from the front row on my phone (the quality gets better as they start singing). Their show ended with a blast of confetti, and my night was made when I caught bassist Del Marquis’ guitar pick, and got a set-list from the stage. We later learned that both Katy Perry and Adam Lambert were also at the show, giving our adventure a new sense of celebrity. Seeing the Scissor Sisters’ live crossed the seventh band off my ‘to see in concert before I die’ list. Only The Killers and Radiohead to go…

 

Twenty four hours after their show ended, I pulled my first all-nighter in my college career. I like my sleep…so to not enjoy my soft bed for 30 hours, it had to have been something important. That important occurrence was Katy Perry’s live performance on the TODAY Show. I got lucky and scored VIP tickets to the show, and went with three current students, and a 2009 graduate of Fordham. One friend and I arrived

to 38th street at a bouncing 1:45 AM to wait in line, even though we knew we would be close anyway. Our dedication paid off. We rocked out just to the right of Katy’s candy-covered stage, as the pop superstar crushed her hits, including this summer’s anthem “California Gurls,” newest chart-topper “Teenage Dream,” and a remix of her original hit “I Kissed a Girl.” After the show, thanks to a Fordham friend who worked as an intern on TODAY, we whisked past security, into one of NBC’s many buildings at Rockefeller Center. We chatted with Ann Curry as we waited for the elevator, and watched in awe from the back of the green room as producers studied literally thousands of monitors. Still in awe, we moved towards the reason we were here, as Katy Perry herself stood and took pictures with staff, family, and friends of the show. Finally, it was our turn. As we approached, my friend reminded me ‘not to throw up or pass out’ as I met my longtime crush. We posed for a picture, chatted for a minute or two about nail designs, twitter, and the Scissor Sisters’ show that we both attended earlier that week, three of her favorite things.

I’ve only been back a week, and already I’m overjoyed with the unique experiences of my city. And even better: my picture with Katy Perry promises I will never have to change my facebook default ever again!!



From left to right: Elena Rowell (FCRH '13), Kevin Danielczyk (FCRH '13), Katy Perry, Sarah Collins (FCRH '09), and Sammie Lazar (FCRH '13)

-Posted by Kevin Danielczyk, FCRH' 13

Music to My Ears

Arguably the best part of summers in the city is the host of concert festival freebies that offer New Yorkers the chance to enjoy any genre of music pro bono. From the New York Philharmonic in the Parks to Celebrate Brooklyn!, NYC doles out a healthy dose of costless tunes perfect for balmy nights. Bring a blanket and stop by Whole Foods or Fairway Market near Fordham's LC campus to grab snacks for an outdoor picnic and a little Central Park Summerstage, or wake up nice and early to peruse the Union Square Farmer's Market before tuning into the Washington Square Music Festival. Every night is something new - and completely gratis.

I made sure not to miss She & Him's free 4th of July show on Governor's Island. I took the ferry, spent the day sunning waterside, and then cozied up to 3,000 of my closest friends for a little serenade from Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward.


The Beach at Governor's Island

And just last weekend some friends and I took the D train from Fordham directly to Coney Island for The Village Voice's 10th Annual Siren Music Festival. Not only did we catch a bunch of up-and-coming Indie bands like Surfer Blood and Cymbals Eat Guitars and Brooklyn natives Matt & Kim, but we also walked along the Coney Island boardwalk, grabbed a few frankfurters from Nathan's, and then cooled off in the Atlantic Ocean. Rides and food cost money, but everything else was - you guessed it - free.


The Coney Island Boardwalk


Matt & Kim on the Siren Musical Festival Main Stage


I always say, "New York can be the most expensive city in the world as well as the cheapest." Having lived here for a few years now, I find myself enjoying the big apple on a small budget at no cost to entertainment value. It kinda gives a whole new meaning to being home free, doesn't it?

--Posted by Jillian Switzer, CBA 2011.