Despite the ensuing hype that landed the interest of numerous label A&R execs, the truth is that the Matches wouldn't be so well known without contagious anthems like "The Jack Slap Cheer" or "The Restless." It's these songs, sounding like they were written for the suburban youth, that have sparked so much attention.
Formed as The Locals in 1997, when vocalist/guitarist Shawn Harris, drummer Matt Whalen and bassist Justin San Souci were early in their respective tenures at Oakland's Bishop O'Dowd High, the group grew frustrated by the turn of the millennium at the lack of under-21 venues in the Bay Area. Commandeering a webcasting warehouse called iMusicast in their home city, they launched a show called L3: Live, Loud and Local. In an effort to promote these L3 shows, the band - now with guitarist Jon Devoto in the fold - initiated "Commo Promo," accosting potential fans exiting concerts and clubs, student unions, dorms, high schools, malls and fast food joints, welcome or not. By performing these brief acoustic attack sets in the days prior to L3 gigs, word soon spread and the shows started selling out - without advertising or publicity.
Changing monikers in time to self-finance and release their February 2003 debut, the Matches mothballed their educational pursuits to focus on music. Veering from headlining West Coast All-Ages venues to touring opportunities with Reel Big Fish, Lit, and Zebrahead, the latter even asked Shawn, Matt, Justin and Jon to join them for a ten-day trek to Japan late in the year. Around that time a new tune, "December is for Cynics" appeared alongside Blink 182, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and New Found Glory, on the Immortal Records benefit compilation, A Santa Cause.
The group also aligned with Epitaph, walking away from the lure of those wide- open major label checkbooks. And now the energy and innovation of E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals is yours to behold, you lucky bastards.
If the Matches sound like they could be the next big thing in a way that nearly every other band only wishes they could, perhaps it's the musical and lyrical ingenuity that steers "Eryn Smith," an exuberant, irresistible song about falling in love with a punk rock girl. With the throbbing bass-line that launches "Dog-Eared Page" and the wry, quirky rocker "Chain Me Free," the Matches have more hooks than your Grandpa's tackle box. When they do tap their influences, such as the blend of Elvis Costello and the Faint in "Audio Blood," it's done tastefully, damn-near out of respect. And with tunes about dying for a new zipcode ("Borderline Creep") or dying in slow motion at our own careless hand ("Sick Little Suicide"), these concise, communicable bursts tap a common nerve. Whether your memories of sneaking out a window to catch your ride to that not-to-be-missed show are from last summer's Warped Tour or from the days when Green Day first exploded, the Matches take you back to those moments in an instant.
With the release of their second album "Decomposer", Shawn Harris and the band evolved into a new sound, changing just enough to create something new, but still keeping their roots. With slow songs like "Salty Eyes" and "The Barber's Unhappiness," faster songs like "Drive", "Papercut Skin" and "Clumsy Heart" and catchy anthems like "What Katie Said" "Shoot me in the Smile" and " My Soft and Deep" The Matches continued to expand their musical horizons.
The Matches released their third album, A Band In Hope on March 18th. They've released two singles from that album: "Wake The Sun" and "Yankees In A Chip Shop."
Most recently, longtime bassist Justin San Souci left the band (amicably) and was replaced by Dylan Rowe.
The band went on hiatus on Thursday, July 09, 2009.
On August 12th of 2009, the band made a fourth album available for download. The album is aptly titled "the Matches album 4, unreleased; graphics? title? or not needed?".
Drive
The Matches Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Driving fast
To impress
Or not
Words just slip
Or trip over
Over lips
Car drive west
(Car drive west)
Sex drive thoughts
Sex (drive)
What we know about sex
Learned from alcohol
What we know about sex
Learned from bathroom walls
We know about love
What little we know about love
What we know 'bout love
What little we know about love
Stole from rock and roll
Driving past
Spots to slut
Or talk
Fingertips slip and
Trip over
Hems and zips
What we know about sex
Learned from alcohol
What we know about sex
Learned from bathroom walls
We know about love
What little we know about love
What we know 'bout love
What little we know about love
Stole from rock and roll
Nervous tic, nervous talk,
A glance, a grope, a giggle, a cough, a breath, a bust, a touch,
A pause a lust a
What we know about sex
Learned from alcohol
What we know about sex, yeah
Learned from bathroom walls
We know about love
(What we know about, what we know about it)
What little we know about love
(what we know about, what we know about it)
What we know 'bout love
(what we know about, what we know about it)
What little we know about love
Stole from rock and roll
The Matches's song "Drive" is a reflection on the experience of driving, sex, and love. The opening repetition of "Drive" creates a feeling of speed and movement, as if the song itself is driving forward. The lyrics delve into the idea that driving a car can be a way to impress someone, whether that be a potential lover or simply someone you want to impress. The next line, "Or not," suggests that this pressure to impress is ultimately fruitless, and that words can often betray us and reveal our true feelings.
The rest of the song focuses on the connection between driving and sex. The line "Sex drive thoughts" makes this connection explicit, and the following lines describe driving past places where people might go to engage in casual sexual encounters. The repetition of "What we know about sex" suggests that the singer is trying to puzzle out what they actually understand about sex and love. The following lines, "Learned from alcohol/Learned from bathroom walls" suggest that their knowledge of these subjects is based on limited and possibly unreliable sources.
The final verse is a sort of stream-of-consciousness riff on the idea of sex, filled with references to physical sensations and experiences. The repeated refrain of "What we know about love/What little we know about love" again emphasizes the sense of confusion and uncertainty that pervades the song.
Overall, "Drive" is a fascinating exploration of the connections between driving, sex, and love, and the way that these experiences can intertwine and influence each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Drive, drive, drive, d-d-drive, drive, drive
The repetitive chanting of the word 'drive' invokes a feeling of constant motion.
Driving fast
Driving at high speeds to potentially impress someone or just for the sake of it.
To impress
Expressing the motivation behind driving fast, which is to create an impression or show off.
Or not
Uncertainty if the motivation to impress others is valid or not.
Words just slip
Conversation becomes difficult or awkward when nervous or overwhelmed.
Or trip over
Mistakes or flaws in conversation lead to embarrassment.
Over lips
The conversation mishaps tend to occur due to overthinking or talking too fast.
Car drive west
The physical destination of the car on this journey is towards the west.
(Car drive west)
Repeated for emphasis as if to guide or remind oneself of the direction.
Sex drive thoughts
The connection between the literal action of driving and the metaphorical action of sexual desire, specifically towards a person or idea.
Sex (drive)
A verbal confirmation of the previous line, with emphasis on the word drive.
What we know about sex
A humorous and reflective observation about the source of knowledge regarding sex.
Learned from alcohol
Implying that the younger generation's education about sex comes mostly from drinking and the behavior and stories that come from it.
Learned from bathroom walls
Suggesting that a significant amount of sex education comes from reading crude scribbles, graffiti or writings in public restrooms.
We know about love
Acknowledging love as another topic people have limited knowledge of.
What little we know about love
Reiterating the limited understanding of love and the lack of reliable sources of education.
Stole from rock and roll
Rock and roll music has been a major influence on how love is perceived and expressed by young people.
Driving past
Noticing other people or places while in transit.
Spots to slut
Referring to the potentially promiscuous behavior of someone in a particular location.
Or talk
Acknowledging that having a conversation is also an option.
Fingertips slip and
Touching becomes difficult when consumed by nerves or awkwardness.
Trip over
Physical movement becomes difficult or clumsy.
Hems and zips
Referencing parts of clothing that could potentially be unfastened during a sexual encounter.
Nervous tic, nervous talk,
Describing the symptoms of anxiety one might exhibit in the presence of a sexual encounter or potential opportunity.
A glance, a grope, a giggle, a cough, a breath, a bust, a touch,
A list of physical actions or reactions that are typically associated with sexual behavior.
A pause a lust a
A break in the physical progression towards sex, and the presence of overwhelming sexual desire.
What we know about sex, yeah
Reiteration of the humorous and truthful observation about the limited knowledge of sex and ways people educate themselves on it.
What little we know about love
The statement is repeated, affirming how little people understand about love and relationships.
What we know 'bout love
Reshaping the familiar phrasing of 'what we know about love' into the more common and colloquial 'what we know 'bout love.'
Stole from rock and roll
The influence that rock and roll music has played in shaping people's understanding and idea of love are reiterated in the final line.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rahatahmed5381
I saw these guys live. They were opening for +44. I met the lead singer, took a pic, and he autographed the album for me. Good times.
@tkthetank
Same!
@Jerkass_Homer
Saw these guys twice, once in Anaheim and once in Campbell. Got to meet Shawn at the Campbell show, pretty chill dude
@Antlion161
Still my fucking jam