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?".
You Don't Know
The Matches Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, you know me, yeah, you know me.
If you're like me, then you know me
Oh, you know me, yea, you know me.
Paid rent 4 weeks delayed.
Fucked up in a 3-point turn
Can't give two shits these days.
Love that song the deejays hate.
Fell asleep at the crack of dawn
Found the world in an awful state.
No one, no one to depend upon.
Fell asleep in the 5-1-0.
Woke up in the 8-1-8.
Nyquil at SFO, caffeine, caffeine at JFK.
If I'm the sum of all my friends,
Then all my friends are some of me
And if you're some way just like them
Then I am you to some degree.
If you're like me, then you know me
Oh, you know me, yeah, you know me.
If you're like me, then you know me
Oh, you know me, yeah, you know me.
Life kills rebels, death gets the rest
So don't deny me your company
Let's just drive fast, let's drive west.
Woke up in a bucket seat.
Moved back in with the folks.
Hung up after the beep. OD, OD'ed on Diet Cokes
Hit mute on the president.
Stayed home dressed to the nines
Machine stole my 25 cent.
Just can't, can't sing inside the lines
Sleepless in the 5-0-9.
Touched down in plus 4-4
Breakfast Sunset and Vine.
Supper off Place de la Concorde.
If I'm the sum of all my friends,
Then all my friends are some of me
And if you're some way just like them
Then I am you to some degree.
If you're like me, then you know me
Oh, you know me, yeah, you know me.
If you're like me, then you know me
Oh, you know me, yeah, you know me.
(You don't know me.)
The Matches's song You Know me seems to be a reflection on the typical struggles of being a young adult in modern society, and the feeling of being lost and disconnected in a world that is constantly changing. The opening lines of the song, "If you're like me, then you know me, oh, you know me, yeah, you know me," sets the tone for a song that is relatable and full of personal experiences that the listener can identify with. The singer of the song goes through a list of personal struggles and experiences that highlights the anxiety and confusion of young adulthood, such as paying rent late, getting lost during a three-point turn, and feeling alone in the world.
The song also explores the idea that the people we surround ourselves with shape who we are as individuals, and that in some ways, we are all connected through shared experiences, both good and bad. The bridge "If I'm the sum of all my friends, then all my friends are some of me, and if you're some way just like them, then I am you to some degree," emphasizes the importance of relationships and how they contribute to shaping our identities.
Overall, the song's catchy melody and relatable lyrics make it a fan favorite among The Matches's listeners and anyone who has ever felt lost or disconnected, struggling to connect with the world or find their place in it.
Line by Line Meaning
If you're like me, then you know me
We have similar experiences and can relate to each other
Oh, you know me, yeah, you know me.
Our shared experiences have allowed you to understand who I am
Paid rent 4 weeks delayed.
Had trouble keeping up with financial responsibilities
Fucked up in a 3-point turn
Made a mistake while driving
Can't give two shits these days.
Feeling indifferent or apathetic
Packed one more bag, no return
Leaving a place without intention to return
Love that song the deejays hate.
Enjoys a song that is not popular with everyone
Fell asleep at the crack of dawn
Stayed up all night and ended up sleeping during the morning hours
Found the world in an awful state.
Feeling disillusioned with the state of the world
No one, no one to depend upon.
Feeling like there's no trustworthy support system
Fell asleep in the 5-1-0.
Fell asleep in the vicinity of Oakland, California
Woke up in the 8-1-8.
Woke up in the vicinity of Los Angeles, California
Nyquil at SFO, caffeine, caffeine at JFK.
Using different substances to combat jet lag
Life kills rebels, death gets the rest
Life is harsh and unpredictable
So don't deny me your company
Asking for companionship
Let's just drive fast, let's drive west.
Suggesting a carefree and spontaneous road trip
Woke up in a bucket seat.
Woke up in an uncomfortable and possibly cheap car seat
Moved back in with the folks.
Had to move back in with parents or grandparents
Hung up after the beep. OD, OD'ed on Diet Cokes
Felt overwhelmed and possibly suffered from substance abuse
Hit mute on the president.
Disgusted by political leadership and tuning out
Stayed home dressed to the nines
Dressed up but stayed home
Machine stole my 25 cent.
Frustrated by a failed transaction
Just can't, can't sing inside the lines
Feeling restricted or trapped
Sleepless in the 5-0-9.
Having trouble sleeping in the vicinity of Seattle, Washington
Touched down in plus 4-4
Arrived in the vicinity of London, UK
Breakfast Sunset and Vine.
Having breakfast in the vicinity of Hollywood, California
Supper off Place de la Concorde.
Having supper in Paris, France
If I'm the sum of all my friends,
One's identity is shaped by their relationships with others
Then all my friends are some of me
Friends play a significant role in shaping one's identity
And if you're some way just like them
If we have similar friends, we may have similar experiences
Then I am you to some degree.
Our shared experiences allow us to understand each other
(You don't know me.)
Despite our shared experiences, there are still aspects of me that you may not know
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Jonathan Devoto, Justin San Souci, Matthew Whalen, Miles Keith Hurwitz, Shawn Harris, Timothy Armstrong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@charlottekemp7001
I love this song so much ^
@Axis4800
Choucratte K. Lel devine qui c'est
@AllyxESS
Forgot all about this song
@lakeshoresubtleties
I didn't forget all about this song.