For two hours last night, fans of indie-pop and eccentric Brooklyn natives meshed to techno beats and heavy bass. Singing and clapping along to The Midnight Prayers – a yet unsigned band reminiscent of Rooney and a louder Ben Kweller – Converse-clad Syracuse students awaited the wildly energetic duo that is Matt and Kim.

Before the show even started, fans were pumped up with a rap soundtrack, courtesy of Matt and Kim’s iPod, featuring their favorites: T.I. and Lil’ Mama. A highlight of the evening was witnessing each band mouth the lyrics as they set up. The energy carried through the rest of the night.

The second concert in the Bandersnatch Music series opened its doors at 7:30 p.m. and The Midnight Prayers came onstage a half-hour later.

Composed of drums, bass, guitar and keyboard, the band played seven songs, highlighting a wide range of both heavier rock and grittier Bob Dylan-esque crooning. Led heavily by the tie- and vest-clad drummer, their songs made the small Schine Underground shake as more people showed up to hear the main act. The Underground, which has a capacity of 350 people, looked about three-quarters full.

‘We chose Wednesdays for shows because we want people to get in a routine and have a break in the middle of the week,’ said Andrew Friedman, president of Bandersnatch Music Series and a junior television, radio and film major.

And what a break it was.

‘I was sort of expecting indie-pop,’ said Stacy Kirkland, a freshman information studies major. ‘But really, I had no idea what exactly.’

After setting up their meager stage – a drum kit and keyboard atop a race car-patterned area rug – Matt and Kim wasted no time getting started. For their intro, the two attempted a ‘bigger than hip-hop opening’ with Matt rolling up and down the keyboard and Kim pounding away on the drums. The show was off.

Their sound was a mix of videogame background noise – Mario Kart anyone? – provided by Matt’s synthesizer and Kim’s mosh-pit worthy drumbeats by.

What really made their show, though, was their obvious love of what they were doing up their on stage.

‘I thought they were adorable together, and their stage presence was amazing,’ Kirkland said. ‘Their chemistry together made it just that much more fun to watch.’

The two have been dating for eight years, and it couldn’t be more obvious as they kidded around on stage, bringing up inside jokes and grinning constantly at each other.

The two were anything but self-involved, though. They were all about engaging the audience, as Matt told a somewhat scattered story about his current favorite book – ‘Letters to E.T.’ by T.E. Lawrence – and ranted momentarily about music industry red tape.

‘I loved that they wanted to talk to us and wanted us all closer to the stage,’ said Ashley Roark, a fifth year industrial design major.

While the instrumentals were definitely loud enough – my left ear is still a little muffled from standing so close to the speakers – it was at times difficult to make out the lyrics and vocals. This, though, could be because Matt sings so close to the mic, at one point even hitting his forehead on it as he head-banged to his own music.

Some may be turned away from Matt and Kim for just that reason, for at times Matt’s vocals can hit just the wrong pitch or become a smidge too whiney. Kim’s drums bring it all back though, as there are frequent drum solos and pauses in the music, making one lean closer anticipating what is coming next.

As for what Bandersnatch is planning to do next, fans requested more bands like Matt and Kim.

‘They were awesome. They made my week,’ said Jenny Rodenhouse, a fifth year industrial design major. ‘There should definitely be more bands like them this year – fun and energetic.’