Matt and Kim released their first album, Matt & Kim, on October 26, 2006. The album sold modestly, primarily at live shows. Many indie fans praised their music, and the two gained popularity through their many outgoing tours. Following the release of their first album, Matt and Kim began playing high profile music festivals, such as The Siren Music Festival and Lollapalooza. The duo signed with Fader Label and their second album, Grand, recorded in Matt's childhood bedroom at his parents' home in Vermont, was released on January 20, 2009. A video for one of the album's highlights, "Lessons Learned", in which the duo strips nude in Times Square, was shot during a very cold winter day in February 2009.
On November 2, 2010, the duo released their third album, Sidewalks. Co-produced by Ben Allen, Oliver Strauss and Matt, the album as a whole adopted a more refined, yet dense hip-hop influence in comparison to the previous two, while still maintaining the upbeat and party-esque style they are known for. Matt and Kim headlined two U.S. tours in support, in Fall 2010 and again during May/June 2011. They also played numerous festivals including Australia's Big Day Out, Japan's Fuji and V in the UK. In addition, they played at many American colleges, worked extensively through Europe and South America and, in Fall 2011, they supported Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance on select dates. Although not officially released as a single, the song "Good for Great" received significant airplay in some markets, and was ranked #65 on Boston station WFNX's Top 101 of 2011 list.
On June 22, 2012, Matt and Kim issued a brand new track, "Let's Go" as a digital single, meanwhile, the band put finishing touches on their fourth full length album, Lightning, released on October 2, 2012. The single, "Let's Go", peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. On June 25, 2012, the duo uploaded a video to their YouTube channel featuring ball handler Pat the Roc performing basketball tricks as "Let's Go" plays in full. Then on September 4, 2012, the duo released a lyric video for another new song on the album, "Now". On October 1, 2012, "Overexposed", "Not That Bad", "Much Too Late", "Ten Dollars I Found", "Tonight", "It's Alright", "I Said" and "I Wonder" were released on YouTube as official first listens. Matt and Kim premiered their official music video for "Let's Go" via the Funny or Die website in November.
The full-length album got a digital/CD/vinyl release on October 2, 2012 and the band began their official US Fall Lightning Tour the next day in Burlington, Vermont. On February 5, 2013, Matt and Kim kicked off their US tour with Passion Pit. While on tour, the official music video for "It's Alright" was released on February 25, 2013, featuring Matt and Kim in a choreographed dance routine in bed. In March 2013 Matt and Kim wrapped their US tour and performed at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida before heading to Australia for a three-week tour at the end of April.
In May, Matt and Kim announced their touring schedule for summer 2013, starting with a show at the Great GoogaMooga in Brooklyn, NY on May 18, 2013. In June, Matt and Kim performed at Free Press Summer Fest, Sandy Parts Festival, Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Firefly Music Festival, Summerfest and Party in the Park. In July, they played at the Keloha Music & Arts Fest and the Forecastle Festival. In August, they played at Lollapalooza in Chicago. In October, they played at Corona Capital, in Mexico City.
On January 13, 2015, Matt and Kim released the single "Get It" in promotion of their fifth album. Along with this, they also released Spring tour dates, an album pre-order, and a lyric video to accompany the single. "Get It" received mixed reviews from fans as it ventures away from their past DIY sound. On February 10, 2015 Matt and Kim released the promotional video for the single "Hey Now" through their official VEVO Youtube account. On February 24, 2015, the band released "Hoodie On" through their official VEVO account. On April 7, 2015, Matt and Kim released the full album and held an in store performance at Amoeba Music's Hollywood store to celebrate.
Dash After Dash
Matt & Kim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can see the sun and moon
Shadows strobe at 55
Dash after dash
Dash after line
Telephone poles keep the time
A rhythmic metronome of kinds
And might just last a lifetime long
Where hours can come and go
Where hours can come and go
On end
On
I saw the light
Since dancing in the night
We played boxes like drums
In the car
On a thursday afternoon
When the wind begins to swoon
A sea of birds
Like waves in flight
Dash after dash
'Til out of sight
And I saw the white
Since dancing in the night
We played boxes like drums
In the car
We drove 7 thousand
Months afar
We played boxes like drums
In the car
On a thursday afternoon
I can see the sun and moon
Shadows strobe at 55
Dash after dash
Dash after line
On a thursday afternoon
On a thursday afternoon
On a thursday afternoon
Dash after dash
Dash after line
I saw the white
Since dancing in the night
We played boxes like drums
In the car
The lyrics of Matt & Kim's song Dash After Dash describe a moment in time, specifically a Thursday afternoon where the singer observes the sun and moon and the shadows caused by their light. This moment is soundtracked by the rhythmic pounding of telephone pole lines, creating a metronome for the song and potentially lasting a lifetime. The singer describes a sense of freedom and joy in this moment as they dance in the night and play boxes like drums in the car.
The repetition of "dash after dash" and "dash after line" throughout the song seems to represent the passing of time and the constancy of the telephone poles as a marker of that time. The phrase "I saw the light since dancing in the night" could be interpreted as a moment of epiphany or transformation for the singer, perhaps realizing the beauty and freedom of this simple moment on a Thursday afternoon.
Overall, the song celebrates the beauty of small moments and the joy that can be found in simple things like dancing and making music with friends in a car.
Line by Line Meaning
On a thursday afternoon
The song starts on a Thursday afternoon, setting the tone for the rest of the lyrics.
I can see the sun and moon
The singer can see both the sun and the moon, demonstrating the passage of time throughout the day.
Shadows strobe at 55
The shadows of trees or telephone poles move fast, almost like strobe lights, creating a rhythm to the day's movements.
Dash after dash
This describes the consistent movement and rhythm of the day.
Dash after line
Similar to the previous line, this emphasizes the repetitive nature of time passing by.
Telephone poles keep the time
The poles on the side of the road act as a metronome, keeping time for the movements and rhythm of the day.
A rhythmic metronome of kinds
This line further emphasizes the rhythmic nature of the telephone poles' movements.
It's the same beat as this song
The beat of the song is similar to the beat of the day, mirroring the consistent rhythm and movement in both.
And might just last a lifetime long
The beat and rhythm of the day can seem unchanging and everlasting.
Where hours can come and go
The day can pass quickly and without notice, with hours seemingly disappearing in the blink of an eye.
On end
The day can feel endless, stretching on without any clear end in sight.
I saw the light
This statement introduces a shift in the lyrics, signaling a new moment of enlightenment or realization for the artist.
Since dancing in the night
The singer experienced this moment of realization while out dancing.
We played boxes like drums
The singer and a companion used boxes as instruments while playing music in a car.
In the car
The singer and companion were in a car while playing music and experiencing this moment of enlightenment.
When the wind begins to swoon
This line sets the scene for another moment of beauty or wonder, as the wind picks up and creates a new atmosphere.
A sea of birds
The artist sees a large number of birds, creating a beautiful and awe-inspiring sight.
Like waves in flight
The flight of the birds resembles the movement of waves, creating a sense of natural beauty and wonder.
'Til out of sight
The sight of the birds fades away, signaling another moment of impermanence and transience in life.
We drove 7 thousand
The artist and companion drove a long distance, further emphasizing the idea of impermanence and the transient nature of time passing by.
Months afar
This line emphasizes just how far the artist and companion drove, as a distance of months is uncommon in travel.
On a thursday afternoon
This line repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the consistent and repetitive nature of time passing by.
I saw the white
This line repeats from earlier in the song, signaling another shift in the singer's perspective or worldview.
Since dancing in the night
The artist recalls this moment of enlightenment or realization from earlier in the song once again.
We played boxes like drums
This line also repeats from earlier in the song, underscoring the importance of that moment in shaping the singer's worldview.
In the car
The significance of this moment and the experiences shared with the companion in the car continue to resonate with the singer.
Contributed by Lily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.