The Matches

  • Oakland, CA
    hometown
  • Rock
    genre
  • 1997
    started
  • Bio
    full story
  • Share
  • Similar
Close

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

Scroll up Scroll down

Music

From position 0, showing 4 items, asking 10
See All
  • 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
    SoundStream
    SoundStream
    song name
    0:00
    Audio powered by
    All the music you want, just 10 bucks a month. Try it free.
    • Papercut Skin
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/2/6/5/6/230865626.mp3
    • Eryn Smith
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/3/3/8/2/6/230862833.mp3
    • The Jack Slap Cheer
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/9/5/8/2/6/230862859.mp3
    • Proctor Rd.
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/1/5/3/8/2/232728351.mp3
    • Wake the Sun
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/8/5/6/5/247056586.mp3
    • Their City
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/2/7/3/9/6/235169372.mp3

Photos

From position 0, showing 2 items, asking 10
See All
  • The Matches
    Courtesy of Epitaph
  • Epitaph
    The Matches
    Epitaph
    Bryan Sheffield

News

From position 0, showing 2 items, asking 10
See All
  • The Matches
    Photos From the Opening And First Day Of The 'League Of Legends' All-Stars In Shanghai
    Multiplayer Blog
    May 24, 2013
    Riot Games flew me out to cover the first Shanghai "League of Legends" All-Star weekend and all I brought back are these out of focus photos. It's a ...
    Read More
  • The Matches
    'Return Of The Jedi' 1981 Story Conference Teases Prequel Storylines, Suggests Yoda Shouldn't Fight
    Movies Blog
    May 22, 2013
    A new book, "The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" by J.W. Rinzler, is hitting shelves just in time for the 30th anniversary of "Episode VI," a...
    Read More

Discography

From position 0, showing 3 items, asking 10
See All
  • 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
Are You The Matches? Claim this page | Learn more about Artists.MTV | FAQ for Artists
The Matches Bio | The Matches Music | The Matches Discography |
MTV | MTV Jobs | Privacy Policy | User Content Agreement | Copyright | Artist Index | Social Projects Agreements | Ad Choices |
Portions of this page powered by
This site contains content from artists, fans, and writers from around the internet in it's natural form. Such content is not representative of Viacom Media Networks.

©2012 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. MTV and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

  • Explore
    • Popular
    • Emerging
    • Genres
      • Rock
      • Hip Hop
      • Indie
      • Electronic/EDM
      • Country
      • Pop
    • Collections
    • Artist To Watch
  • Search
  • Are you an artist?
    • Claim Your Page
    • Learn More
    • FAQ
    • Opportunities