The Matches

The Matches
Frontman Shawn Harris performing with the Matches on the 2008 Alternative Press Tour
Background information
Also known as	The Locals
Origin	Oakland, California
Genres	Pop punk, alternative rock
Years active	1997–2009, 2014–2018
Labels	Epitaph
Past members	Shawn Harris Matt Esposito Justin San Souci Matt Whalen Jon Devoto Dylan Rowe
Website	thematches.com

The Matches are an American rock band from Oakland, California, active from 1997 to 2009. Formed as the Locals, the group changed their name after five years to avoid conflict with a Chicago band of the same name. As the Matches, they self-released their debut album E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals in 2003, then signed to Epitaph Records who re-released it the following year. Decomposer followed in 2006, seeing the band move from their pop punk roots in a more idiosyncratic direction with contributions from nine different record producers; it reached no. 18 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart. With their third album, A Band in Hope (2008), their sound became even more heavily layered and experimental; it was their only release to chart on the Billboard 200, reaching no. 179.

The band went on hiatus in 2009, releasing a digital album of previously unreleased songs, previously released B-sides and bonus tracks, and demos. Between 2014 and 2018 they reunited several times for shows and tours celebrating the ten year anniversaries of each of their studio albums, resulting in three live albums and a new single. A documentary film about the band, titled Bleeding Audio, premiered at film festivals in 2020.^[1]