The Matches

The Matches: Live At The House Of Blues DVDLive At The House Of Blues DVD (2004)
Kung Fu Records

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

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Contributed by: KirbyPuckettKirbyPuckett
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Published on September 14th 2004Over the past thirteen installments in the Show Must Go Off series Kung Fu has focused on bands that have already made it. Groups like the Vandals, Goldfinger, Adolescents, Guttermouth and Reel Big Fish are household names, all of whom have extensive discographies. The Matches however, wait, the w.

Over the past thirteen installments in the Show Must Go Off series Kung Fu has focused on bands that have already made it. Groups like the Vandals, Goldfinger, Adolescents, Guttermouth and Reel Big Fish are household names, all of whom have extensive discographies. The Matches however, wait, the who? The Matches -- Epitaph's latest grab from sunny California! You may recall Brian and I admiring their self-released debut or the Epitaph re-issue of E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals. For those who don't recall and the others who are too lazy to click away, Matches play pop-punk weighing heavily on irresistible vocal harmonies to stand out above the rest of the bunch.

Since the band is relatively new there's not much material for them to cover. A 40-minute set is made up from cuts that made E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals, a splendid summer record, and their lone holiday song "December is for Cynics." I've had the pleasure of seeing the Matches perform twice on the Warped Tour this year and coupled with this performance I'm shocked at how musically tight they are. "Dog Eared Page," "Audio Blood," "Borderline Creep," and the rest of the eleven song set list are transferred practically flawlessly from the album. Even the tiniest parts of songs are included into the upbeat show (see: the answering machine on "Chain Me Free" or the bebop intro to "Eryn Smith"). Quirky stage presence provides a visual appeal, vocalist Shawn has poise reminiscent of Billie Joe of Green Day and the afro-bearing guitarist, Jon Devoto's antics matched by his Super Mario Bros. guitar interlude are a few behaviors that don't strand them like cardboard cutouts in front of the House of Blues crowd.

While the extras don't exactly make up for the brevity of the DVD, it's still worth checking out. There's some behind the scenes footage with acoustic parking lot performances and the band having a blast being themselves. The commentary is a valuable section of the disc, as the young gentlemen provide enough spunk to get you through. This specific show was filmed as the band opened for Zebrahead while their DVD was captured. As opposed to that one, the quality spanning across the eight camera angles here is magnificent, some of the best work in the catalog.

The Matches are akin to the Goldfinger, Blink 182 and/or MxPx for the new era of punk. There is plenty of potential packed into their young souls that will one day project them up to a higher level. Jump on the bandwagon now; don't be a second late as this DVD is fun enough to remind you of your adolescent years bouncing at shows and appealing enough for the kids who will one day have their walls decorated in tons of posters from the Matches.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (March 27, 2005)

i disagree with the comparisons to mest and good charlotte. those bands take themselves way to seriously. the matches remind me of blink 182 durring their dude ranch, enema period. their a fast and fun band and thats it. the song writting is solid and very good in a pop-punk style. i used to love bands the the queers and i really like this band as well.

Anonymous (September 21, 2004)

punks not dead, it's just in a coma.

Anonymous (September 18, 2004)

what "decline of punk?" punk is fucking dead, get the fuck over it.

jon_the_skafather (September 17, 2004)

they're a nice bunch of guys.....but their music is boring and typical new pop punk ala mest, good charlotte, goldfinger shit.

but they're nice guys and so that scores them a couple points, right?

nevermind..this is about music.

Anonymous (September 17, 2004)

The problem with PunkNews.ORG reviews is that they let fan-boys review their favorite bands, as in this case. No music journalist with an ounce of taste would give this DVD a 7/10. NO ONE. This band is horrible, their lyrics painful, and they most certainly do not fucking deserve DVD treatment after one godawful album.

some1 (September 16, 2004)

" This album is really similar to the Bouncing Souls "the good, the bad, and the argyle." "

what the FUCK. this is not even close. the guy's voice sounds a little like greg's. that's ALL.

fuck the matches.

inagreendase (September 16, 2004)

...not based on whether or not Hot Topic carries it.

Bear in mind that even if you did listen to something based on this ideal, you wouldn't have much left. Hot Topic has many, many labels send things to them; Relapse, Doghouse, Dischord, Vagrant, Drive-Thru, Victory, Equal Vision, Jade Tree, Fearless, SideOneDummy, Tooth & Nail, Kung Fu, Fat, Epitaph, etc. al

You might hate the place, but you can't deny the diversity and quality of their music selection.

Anonymous (September 16, 2004)

No. You're the idiot. This album is really similar to the Bouncing Souls "the good, the bad, and the argyle." And if your reason for not liking something is that it's too musically accessible - grow up. Listen to what you like because you like it, not based on whether or not Hot Topic carries it. People like you are the worse kind of posers.

Anonymous (September 15, 2004)

"I will never, ever, view this DVD. But I do think that 'E.Von Dahl..." is probably the best pop punk album of the last three or four years."

you are an idiot. this new wave of safe, friendly pop-punk is disgusting have will never have any true value in the grand scheme of things other than the major decline in punk. god bless their pathetic souls.

niveK82 (September 15, 2004)

well, they could be doing it as a tribute to them. maybe tounge in cheek stuff

inagreendase (September 15, 2004)

talk about ripping off the cover of Pennywise's "About Time". Same colour scheme even

Yeah, just a bit; http://www.punknews.org/images/covers/pennywise-about_time.jpg

FortyMinutesWest (September 15, 2004)

Did someone say About Time?

Anonymous (September 14, 2004)

I will never, ever, view this DVD. But I do think that 'E.Von Dahl..." is probably the best pop punk album of the last three or four years.

niveK82 (September 14, 2004)

they are alright, but do they really diserve a dvd?

My score is for About Time

bemused (September 14, 2004)

Love the Matches, great band, but talk about ripping off the cover of Pennywise's "About Time". Same colour scheme even

-chris-

kirbypuckett (September 14, 2004)

I'd love to hear an explanation how this is pretentious.

It's laid back pop-punk.

Settle down.

- Kirby

Anonymous (September 14, 2004)

This is the most irrelevant piece of crap. A shitty band, a shitty DVD, shitty music.

Voted most deserving to be replaced by a review for the new LoC.

-BSD

Anonymous (September 14, 2004)

stupid pretentious tatecore bullshit.

maverick prolly sucks their dicks per AP's request.