Matchbox Twenty is an American rock band comprising of four members – Rob Thomas on lead vocals, keyboards and rhythm guitar, Kyle Cook on backing vocals and lead guitar, Brian Yale on bass and Paul Doucette on rhythm guitar, backup vocals and drums. This alternative rock band was formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1995 and rose to fame with the release of its debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You, in 1996. Since then, their fame has known no bounds. Their recent performances alongside Counting Crows have taken fans on a nostalgic ride through the ‘90s. Their upcoming shows, planned in Denver, Council Bluffs and Moline, among others, are the ones you need to really watch out for! Grab your Matchbox Twenty tickets now and get ready for the ride of your lives.
Recently, the band has also launched a unique virtual reality concert experience through collaboration with SwivelVR. This experience allows the viewers to use a hands-free menu to change what they watch and would also give fans the ability to take pictures and share them on social media.
Formation of the Band and Early Years
Rob Thomas, Paul Doucette and Brian Yale were a part of another band called Tabitha’s Secret, before departing to create their own group. After adding more members to their lineup, the new band managed to land a recording deal with Atlantic Records. Soon after this, Matchbox Twenty released its first album, which gave the band several top 40 hits in 1997 and 1998. More than 12 million copies of the album were sold in the US alone, getting the diamond certification.
About the Name
The unique name of the band has a unique story behind it. According to the lead singer Rob Thomas and drummer Paul Doucette, the name goes all the way back to their days of waiting tables when they were in Florida. A guy who walked into the place had a big number twenty on the softball shirt he was wearing and patches of some other text. The only readable part among these patches was a word ‘matchbox’. Combining the two words, Doucette explained how the two members felt that ‘Matchbox 20’ had a ring to it.
Musical Style of Matchbox Twenty
Matchbox Twenty’s music has influences of multiple genres, including pop rock, post-grunge and alternative rock. Their earlier works, in particular the first album had a strong alternative rock and post-grunge sound, though later they described their sound as a radio-friendly version of grunge. Their subsequent releases have a majorly pop rock sound to them with some infusions of alternative rock and post grunge.
Doucette talks about his group, saying that “Matchbox Twenty is pretty all-encompassing. Once it gets rolling, we just devote all our time and energy to that. I can speak for everybody on this; it's the thing we hold the most dear because it's the thing we built the longest, so we want to give it its due. We don't make records that often anymore, so when we do we want to devote our time and energy to not only doing it; but also bringing that music to the fans."
Discography and Further Successes
After the massive success of its first album, Matchbox Twenty released their second album, Mad Season, in 2000. This album charted at the top three on the Billboard 200 and was also a big success. It was certified 4x Platinum in the US. The band went on a hiatus after this in 2004, with the departure of Adam Gaynor, the rhythm guitarist. The band reunited in 2007 and started working on some fresh new music. They released a small compilation album, called Exile on Mainstream. This album was soon certified Gold in the US. Following this, the band went on a tour to promote the album, generating a great interest in their music with multiple sold-out shows. The band took another hiatus following this tour, during which Rob Thomas went on to pursue his solo career. Reuniting again in 2010, Matchbox Twenty released its fourth album, called North, on 4th September, 2012. The album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard 200, kicking the band back into action after the hiatus. The release of this album was followed by the North Tour, which later continued as the 2013 Summer Tour, co-headlining with Goo Goo Dolls.
Following some internal disagreements, Kyle Cook left the band in 2016, but was soon reunited with the group in 2017. This is where the band embarked on yet another tour – A Brief History of Everything Tour 2017.
Awards and Accolades
Since its formation, Matchbox Twenty has won quite a few awards and honors. It has received nominations for the American Music awards and has won two, in the categories of Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist and Fan’s Choice Award. The band has also been nominated for the Grammy Awards on four occasions, in multiple categories, including the Best Rock Album for Mad Season, and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. Matchbox Twenty has also won an APRA Award, a People’s Choice Award and an MTV Video Music Award.
Matchbox Twenty Tickets 2017
This talented rock band is now all set to play for its fans, alongside Counting Crows. Currently, Matchbox Twenty is on its anniversary tour, which is meant to be a celebration of the history of the band. Talking about the anniversary tour, Doucette said that it “was always going to happen. It just took a bit for everyone to realize that”.
If you want to catch these guys live in action, you have got to get your hands on these Matchbox Twenty tickets 2017 for their “A Brief History of Everything Tour”. The band is expected to play some of its biggest and most popular hits from over the years, helping fans delve into some nostalgic ‘90s memories!
