Do512 - What to do in Austin

Brooklyn alternative punk/dance duo Matt & Kim met while taking classes at Pratt Institute in New York. When they started out, they had no idea how to play their respective instruments—a fact that makes the band’s success story almost as unique as their distinctive brand of synth-and-drums dance punk. They played their first show in October of 2004, then released an EP called To/From and started touring the United States non-stop, burning CDs in the van on the way to their self-booked shows and seemingly playing every art space and basement in the country.

In 2006 the band released their self-titled debut—which was instantly embraced by critics and fans alike—and stayed on the road, performing at high profile events such as The Siren Music Festival and Lollapalooza. The band’s legendary live shows look more like dance parties than traditional concerts, and blur the line between musician and listener.

A Portland-based supergroup of sorts, the Thermals originally featured Kind of Like Spitting's Ben Barnett, the Operacycle's Jordan Hudson, and Hutch Harris and Kathy Foster of the twee/folk-pop duo Hutch and Kathy and the All Girl Summer Fun Band. The group formed in early 2002 as a way for its members to play just for the fun of it, but their insistent melodies and punk-inspired urgency quickly won them a local following. Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard became one of the Thermals' first fans and got the group in touch with Sub Pop, which signed them within four months of the band's formation. Following their departure from Sub Pop's roster, the Thermals signed with Kill Rockstars and released Now We Can See in April 2009, followed by Personal Life in 2010.