The Matches

  • Oakland, CA
    hometown
  • Rock
    genre
  • 1997
    started
  • Bio
    full story
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About The Matches


The exuberant Oakland pop-punk outfit the Matches initially formed as the Locals in 1997 when vocalist/guitarist Shawn Harris, drummer Matt Whalen, and bassist Justin San Souci were still in the early days of high school together. Frustrated with the lack of under-21 venues in the Bay Area at the time, the guys took matters into their own hands, seizing a local warehouse that had been converted into a webcasting soundstage and launching a series of shows called L3: Live, Loud and Local. The band, which now also included guitarist Jon Devoto, initiated what they called "Commo Promo" tactics to promote the shows; they accosted people everywhere -- leaving concerts, malls, schools, dorms, restaurants, etc. -- with brief, hit-and-run, acoustic sets in the days prior to each L3 gig. Word spread quickly about the Locals and shows started selling out (about 450 kids) without any formal advertising, but soon enough, the quartet was forced to change their name after being contacted by the Chicago band of the same name (headed by Yvonne Doll).

With their newly minted moniker in place, the Matches scrapped enough money together to put out their first record. Recorded in basements and living rooms and released in February 2003, the tongue-in-cheek-titled E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals added more fuel to the fire growing around the band up and down the West Coast. Coupled with their invigorating live show, the guys landed dates with bands like Reel Big Fish, Lit, and Zebrahead, and also contributed a track to the 2003 Immortal Records holiday benefit compilation A Santa Cause alongside bands like MxPx, New Found Glory, and Fall Out Boy. The Matches had hooked up with Epitaph by the year's end and a remixed version of E. Von Dahl (which had already sold upward of 4,000 copies) was issued through the label in April 2004. Relentless touring continued, including stints on the 2004 and 2005 Warped Tours, and the group appeared on a three-way Takeover split with Near Miss and Reeve Oliver. All this activity led up to the eventual release of their sophomore album. The more ambitious Decomposer appeared in September 2006 and was recorded with nine producers having a hand in the project, including Bad Religion's Brett Gurewitz, Rancid's Tim Armstrong, blink-182's Mark Hoppus, Goldfinger's John Feldmann and 311's Nick Hexum. After more extensive touring, in 2008, the band returned with a more heavily layered (and more uneven) record, A Band in Hope, described by Harris as "a pendulum's sway between hope and despair." ~ Corey Apar, Rovi

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Music

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  • Yankee In A Chip Shop
    the-matches
    Video
    Yankee In A Chip Shop
  • Wake The Sun
    the-matches
    Video
    Wake The Sun
  • Papercut Skin
    the-matches
    Video
    Papercut Skin
  • Chain Me Free
    the-matches
    Video
    Chain Me Free
  • 5289450
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    • Chain Me Free
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/2/8/3/2/6/230862382.mp3
    • Say 18
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/0/4/7/2/6/230862740.mp3
    • The Restless
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/2/9/1/3/6/230863192.mp3
    • Wake the Sun
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/8/5/6/5/247056586.mp3
    • Salty Eyes
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/8/6/5/2/232725686.mp3
    • It's My Day
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/7/8/7/0/2/191920787.mp3

Photos

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  • The Matches
    Courtesy of Epitaph
  • Epitaph
    The Matches
    Epitaph
    Bryan Sheffield

News

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  • The Matches
    Hunter Hayes Toasts Encore With 'Crazy' New York Show
    MTV News
    June 19, 2013
    'Wanted' Singer Rocked Out With Hayniacs for MTV's Artist to Watch LIVE the Same Day as His Album was Released
    Read More
  • The Matches
    Hunter Hayes Toasts Encore With 'Crazy' New York Show
    MTV News
    June 19, 2013
    'Wanted' Singer Rocked Out With Hayniacs for MTV's Artist to Watch LIVE the Same Day as His Album was Released
    Read More
  • The Matches
    Hunter Hayes Rocks Out Live: Watch Now!
    MTV News
    June 19, 2013
    Tune into HunterHayes.MTV.com to see MTV's Artist to Watch LIVE show tonight until 10:30 p.m. ET.
    Read More
  • The Matches
    Hunter Hayes Rocks Out Live: Watch Now!
    MTV News
    June 19, 2013
    Tune into HunterHayes.MTV.com to see MTV's Artist to Watch LIVE show tonight until 10:30 p.m. ET.
    Read More
  • The Matches
    Mac Miller's Watching Movies With The Sound Off Is 'An Event'
    MTV News
    June 18, 2013
    Pittsburgh MC uses his 16-track sophomore LP Watching Movies to take a look inside himself.
    Read More
  • The Matches
    Mac Miller's Watching Movies With The Sound Off Is 'An Event'
    MTV News
    June 18, 2013
    Pittsburgh MC uses his 16-track sophomore LP Watching Movies to take a look inside himself.
    Read More
  • The Matches
    OFFSTAGE: Hunter Hayes' MTV Artist to Watch Live Stream Previews Upcoming Tour
    CMT News
    June 18, 2013
    (CMT Offstage keeps a 24/7 watch on everything that's happening with country music artists behind the scenes and out of the spotlight.) Anxious to re...
    Read More
  • The Matches
    Hunter Hayes Just Needed To 'Reset' To Write Encore Tunes
    MTV News
    June 17, 2013
    'Wanted' singer will stream concert at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday on HunterHayes.MTV.com for MTV Artist to Watch LIVE.
    Read More
  • The Matches
    Hunter Hayes Just Needed To 'Reset' To Write Encore Tunes
    MTV News
    June 17, 2013
    'Wanted' singer will stream concert at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday on HunterHayes.MTV.com for MTV Artist to Watch LIVE.
    Read More
  • The Matches
    O Music Awards: Striking Matches, Constant Drumming and More
    CMT News
    June 17, 2013
    Jonas Brothers Will Preview a New Single, "First Time"
    Read More

Discography

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  • A Band in Hope (2008)
    The Matches
    A Band in Hope (2008)
    Epitaph
  • Decomposer (2006)
    The Matches
    Decomposer (2006)
    Epitaph
  • E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals (2004)
    The Matches
    E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals (2004)
    Epitaph Records
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