Straight out of Oakland, the Matches set the California music scene on fire… Read Full Bio ↴Straight out of Oakland, the Matches set the California music scene on fire thanks to twelve explosive, hook-injected songs recorded on the cheap in their basements and living rooms. Coupled with an unstoppable work ethic that included the band's very own "Commotion Promotion" tactics, buzz on the quartet's self-released debut E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals and the live shows that supported it spread like a virus to music enthusiasts up and down the Golden State and, as they toured small venues relentlessly, across the country.

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?".

We Are One
The Matches Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(The...time...is...now}
When we are loud, we are one
When we are loud, we are one
When we are one, we are more
We are more, we are more, we are...
We are one.

(The...time...is...now)

When we are loud, we are one
When we are one, we are more
We are more, we are more, we are...
We are one

If we're not the change we want to see
If we're not the change, the change, the change
Who will be?

When we are loud, we are one (if we're not the change)
When we are one, we are more, we are more (we want to see)
When we are loud, we are one (we are the change)
When we are one, we are more, we are more, we are more
We are...
We are one

When we are loud, we are one
When we are one, we are more
We are more, we are more, we are more, we are...
We are one
One
We are more, we are more, we are more, we are...

We are one
When we are loud, we are more, we are more, we are one

Overall Meaning

The Matches' song "We Are One" emphasizes the strength and power of unity. The repetition of the phrase "When we are loud, we are one" suggests that when people come together and speak out, they can become a force for change. The lyrics encourage listeners to recognize that they can make a difference in the world, and that they should not wait for someone else to lead the way. The lines, "If we're not the change we want to see / Who will be?" further drive home this point.

The phrase "We are more" is another pivotal moment in the song. It suggests that when people unite, they become greater than the sum of their parts. The song's chorus, "'We are more, we are more, we are more, we are... / We are one," is a powerful call-to-action that encourages people to embrace their collective power and work together towards positive change.

The repeated use of "The...time...is...now" serves as a reminder that there's no time to waste in making the world a better place. It suggests that people should act now, rather than waiting for someone else to take the lead.

Line by Line Meaning

The time is now
This is the moment to act

When we are loud, we are one
We are united when our voices resonate together

When we are one, we are more
Together we are greater than the sum of our parts

We are more, we are more, we are...
We have boundless potential when we join forces

We are one
We are a single community

If we're not the change we want to see
We must take responsibility for making change happen

If we're not the change, the change, the change
We cannot rely on others to bring about the changes we desire

Who will be?
It is up to us to lead by example

One
Our strength lies in our unity

We are more, we are more, we are more, we are...
We are limitless in our potential to create positive change

When we are loud, we are more, we are more, we are one
Our voices amplify when we join together as a unified force