matchbox 20 tour band members

Complete List Of Matchbox Twenty Band Members

Feature Photo: Antonio Scorza / Shutterstock.com

Matchbox Twenty, formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1995, quickly rose to international fame with their debut album, “Yourself or Someone Like You.” The band’s blend of rock, pop, and alternative elements struck a chord with audiences around the world. Over the years, Matchbox Twenty has released several albums, each contributing to their status as a staple of late 90s and early 2000s rock. Despite periods of hiatus and solo projects, the core members have maintained the band’s identity, with their music continuing to enjoy airplay and a dedicated fan base.

Rob Thomas, the lead vocalist and primary songwriter for Matchbox Twenty, has been a pivotal figure in the band since its formation. His distinctive voice and songwriting skills have played a significant role in defining the band’s sound. Thomas has contributed to all of Matchbox Twenty’s albums, with notable hits that helped the band achieve significant chart success. Outside of Matchbox Twenty, Thomas has enjoyed a successful solo career, including his hit collaboration “Smooth” with Santana, which won three Grammy Awards and solidified his position in the music industry.

Kyle Cook joined Matchbox Twenty as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist, bringing a distinctive edge to the band’s music with his guitar work. Cook has been an integral part of the band’s sound since their debut album, contributing to the success of their subsequent releases. In addition to his work with Matchbox Twenty, Cook has pursued other musical projects, including his band The New Left and a solo career, showcasing his versatility as a musician.

Paul Doucette

Paul Doucette, originally the drummer for Matchbox Twenty, transitioned to rhythm guitar and backing vocals following the band’s first album. His musical contributions have been crucial across all of Matchbox Twenty’s albums. Doucette’s versatility has allowed him to play multiple roles within the band, contributing to their evolving sound. Beyond his work with Matchbox Twenty, Doucette has explored other musical ventures, including solo projects and scoring work for film and television, highlighting his broad talents as a musician.

Brian Yale, the bassist for Matchbox Twenty, has provided the rhythmic backbone for the band since its inception. Yale’s bass lines are a fundamental part of the band’s sound, contributing to the groove and depth of their music. He has played on all of Matchbox Twenty’s albums, helping to shape their distinctive style. Yale’s steady presence and musical contributions have been key to the band’s consistency and success over the years.

Adam Gaynor

Adam Gaynor played rhythm guitar and provided backing vocals for Matchbox Twenty from 1995 until his departure in 2005. Gaynor was part of the band’s rise to fame, contributing to their first three albums, including the hit debut “Yourself or Someone Like You” and the follow-up successes “Mad Season” and “More Than You Think You Are.” After leaving Matchbox Twenty, Gaynor pursued other interests outside of music, including entrepreneurial ventures and authoring a book, but his contributions to the band’s formative years remain significant.

Matt Beck joined Matchbox Twenty as a touring musician in 1999 and has been with the band intermittently since then, contributing on keyboards, additional guitars, backing vocals, mandolin, percussion, and pedal steel. Beck’s versatility has made him an invaluable asset during live performances, enriching the band’s sound with his multi-instrumental talents. His involvement continued through various phases of the band’s career, playing an essential role in both their live shows and studio recordings.

Neal Daniels

Neal Daniels is the current touring drummer for Matchbox Twenty, having joined the band in 2023. His role involves providing the rhythmic foundation for the band during live performances. Daniels’ addition to the touring lineup continues the band’s tradition of bringing in skilled musicians to enhance their live sound and maintain the high quality of their performances.

Jamie Arentzen

Jamie Arentzen became part of Matchbox Twenty’s touring lineup in 2024, playing acoustic guitar and percussion. Arentzen’s contribution adds another layer to the band’s live sound, offering a fresh dynamic to their performances. His involvement reflects the band’s ongoing evolution and commitment to delivering engaging live shows.

Why not Jansveld

Whynot Jansveld joined the touring lineup of Matchbox Twenty in 2024, taking on the role of bassist. His addition to the band for live performances helps to ensure the continuity and quality of the band’s signature sound on stage. Jansveld’s experience and musicianship contribute to the overall performance quality, keeping the band’s live presence strong and dynamic.

Joey Huffman

Joey Huffman was a touring musician with Matchbox Twenty in 1998, primarily contributing on keyboards and additional guitars. His role was to augment the band’s sound during live performances, adding depth and variety to their music. Huffman’s time with the band, although brief, was part of Matchbox Twenty’s early years of touring, contributing to their growing reputation as a compelling live act.

Tyler Greer

Tyler Greer served as a touring drummer for Matchbox Twenty from 2007 to 2010. During this time, he provided the percussion backbone for the band’s live shows, stepping in to maintain the rhythmic integrity of their performances. Greer’s involvement came during a period of renewed activity for the band, contributing to the energy and quality of their concerts.

Stacy Jones

Stacy Jones was a touring musician with Matchbox Twenty from 2012 to 2022, primarily playing drums and percussion and occasionally stepping in on acoustic guitar. His tenure with the band covered a significant period, during which he became a familiar face in their live lineup. Jones’ contributions helped to uphold the band’s reputation for dynamic and engaging live performances, showcasing his skills across a range of musical roles.

Complete List Of Matchbox Twenty Band Members article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024

Related Posts

Complete List Of Marshall Tucker Band Members

Complete List Of Damm Yankees Band Members

Complete List Of Telsa Band Members

Complete List Of REO Speedwagon Band Members

Complete List Of Arctic Monkeys Band Members

Complete List Of The Neighbourhood Band Members

About the author.

Janey Roberts

Janey Roberts lives in Chelsea, London. She has worked for various British musical publications writing album and concert reviews. Originally from Balboa Park, San Diego, Janey brings an international cross cultural perspective to rock journalism.

Add Comment Cancel Reply

 Yes, add me to your mailing list

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Hi, what are you looking for?

OutLoud! Culture

INsiders Guide: CLAY, Basement Revolver, Rezz, WAKE ME, Fie Eike, Hawke & God Within, Ian Arden…

INsiders Guide: Nikitaa, Alex Coley & Afterlove, Cristina Hart, andhim, Kasbo, Khaid & Gyakie…

INsiders Guide: EAZYBAKED, Mike G & Leyla Blue, Keegan Powell, Merryn Jeann, The String Cheese, Sharifa…

INsiders Guide: Clint Mansell, The Early November, S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Blues Festival, Kayne The Lovechild, dee holt, Payson Lewis…

INsiders Guide: Michael Vincent Waller, New Years Day, Kiss Bang, WAKE ME, Friedberg, Fairlane, Ryan Destiny…

‘Artist Of The Week’: The Rising Star from Australian Idol 2024, Kiani Jazz Smith

INsiders Guide ‘Artist Of The Week’: MAYCE with New Single ‘The Man That I Met’

INsiders Guide ‘Artist Of The Week’: Famed Filipino Pop Girl, 4TH Impact

Insiders Guide ‘Artist Of The Week’: Chelsea Cutler’s Personal and Honest New Single ‘I Don’t Feel Alive’

INsiders Guide ‘Artist Of The Week’: PARTYNEXTDOOR Drops Single ‘R E S E N T M E N T’

The Hit List: Troye Sivan, SZA, joan., Elina, Dermot Kennedy, Ariana Grande, boygenius, Ne*Yo & Fabolous…

The Hit List: Olivia Rodrigo, Dehd, Patrick Droney, Machine Gun Kelly, Meghan Trainor, NOTD, The Chainsmokers, Zayn, Little Girl Gone…

The Hit List: RAC, Shab and Fat Joe, Jonas Brothers, The Chainsmokers, Jennifer Hudson, Teddy Swims, Metro Boomin’, Iggy Azalea, Philmon Lee, Marco Giovanni…

The Hit List: Ellie Goulding, Labrinth, Westside Boogie, Ruel, G-Eazy, Jai Wolf, Juice WRLD…

The Hit List: Kehlani, Macklemore, Bebe Rexha, Jess Glynne, Bonny Light Horseman, Post Malone, J-Hope & J. Cole, Ro James…

Exclusive Interview with Curb Your Enthusiasm Actor & Stunt Double, Hymnson Chan

Exclusive Interview with Rain Valdez On Rainbow Entertainment

Exclusive Interview with Actress and Singer-Songwriter Jillian Shea Spaeder

Exclusive Interview with Music Producer Tyler Strickland on Creating The Soundscapes for Netflix’s ‘Sly’ and HBO’s ‘Class 57: Navajo Police’

Exclusive Interview with Actress and Women’s Empowerment Entrepreneur Alison Chace on Finding Success in Hollywood at 55

WomenOutLoud! : Taylah Preston Is Rising To The Top Of The Tennis World

WomenOutLoud! : From Blockers To Breakout, Hollywood’s Hidden Gem Geraldine Viswanathan

WomenOutLoud! : Selena Gomez Continues To ‘Love On’

WomenOutLoud!: Introducing The Autobiographical Sounds of Zoe Wees

WomenOutLoud! : Ashley Kutcher Unveils Her Debut Album ‘House On The Water’

The Review: “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” – A Kaiju Showdown of Epic Proportions

The Review: “Origin” – A Thought-Provoking Exploration of Caste and Identity

The Review: Panda-monium Unleashed In ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’

The Review: ‘Ghostbusters’ Franchise Is Still Hot In ‘Frozen Empire’

The Review: ‘Control’ – A Futuristic Thriller with a Sinister Voice

Where Are They Now? The 2003 Infectious Uh Ohhh, Uh Ohhh Artist, Lumidee

Where Are They Now? : 90’s Rock Band “Creed”

Where Are They Now? : ‘When A Stranger Calls’ Actress Camilla Belle

Where Are They Now? ‘Smile’ and ‘Graduation’ Pop Singer “Vitamin C”

Where Are They Now? : B2K

Where Are They Now?

Where are they now : matchbox 20.

Karen Christine Whitham

February 22, 2019 at 6:09 pm

I was 18 bob from the group match box, Bob with his name tattoo on his bottom inside lip. raped me in dawlish Devon he was going out with my friend Angie. He was coming down to Welcome Stanger hoilday park dawlish warren meeting his friend Rory Blackwell. When it happen He told me he was famous and no one would believe me. I’m saying this now as I’m watching tv with people who have been through the same shit. And this has never left me in my head. If a news paper would like to take up my story I can give all details 30 odd years later. And it’s not for money no at can go to cancer appeal. But I would like my story told one day. X x

February 28, 2019 at 11:41 am

Um, Exile on Mainstream is not a song title. It’s the name of the album only. …Inserts eyeroll.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of new posts by email.

EXCLUSIVE interviews

Teaser: The Highly Anticipated ‘Alien: Romulus’

INsiders Guide

Insiders guide: olivia belli, church chords, bog berries, drifting in silence, razor braids, the eighty six seas, debi derryberry….

ENTERTAINMENT

Mckenna grace signs on to lead psychological thriller ‘straight lies’.

You May Also Like

Alt-pop artist CLAY (she/they) has revealed the details for her forthcoming EP, Waiting for God in the Garden, out May 24th. Today, she also releases the introspective title track...

The Infectious New Single From KARMA, ‘Can’t Live In The Past’

Girl group KARMA are giving us TLC vibes. They released their brand new single ‘Can’t Live In The Past’ which also features Temmora. The...

Future, Metro Boomin and The Weeknd Release “YOUNG METRO”

On the heels of the explosive release of their highly anticipated collaborative album WE DON’T TRUST YOU, Future and Metro Boomin share the official music video for “Young Metro”...

R&B Pop Singer-Songwriter, Nikitaa, unveils their latest single “Godless,” a compelling anthem of liberation and self-worth. Co-written by Nikitaa, “Godless” captures the journey from...

Producer/DJ duo EAZYBAKED are making their label debut with a new single ‘Rollin’ Deep’ out now via HypnoVizion.  Premiered during their headline show at Denver’s Ogden Theater...

Olivia Rodrigo Announces “GUTS Spilled” With Brand New Tracks, Releases ‘Obsessed’

The juggernaut that is Olivia Rodrigo isn’t quite done dominating the charts, she has recently announced the deluxe version of her chart topping album Guts....

Email:[email protected]: @neillfrazer Jillian Shea Spaeder is an actress and singer-songwriter. The young starlet played a leading role alongside Jillian Bell and Isla Fisher in the...

Future & Metro Boomin Have Joint Album Arriving This Friday ‘WE DON’T TRUST YOU’

 Future and Metro Boomin unveil the official artwork for their highly anticipated upcoming full-length collaborative project, We Don’t Trust You. Watch the album trailer here. The...

Discover more from OutLoud! Culture

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Join us on Social

Photo: Jimmy Fontaine

Behind Matchbox Twenty's Biggest Hits: How A Camel, Real-Life Stunts & Happy Accidents Influenced "3AM," "Unwell," "Push" & More

As Matchbox Twenty set out on their extensive U.S. summer tour and release their fifth studio album, Rob Thomas and Paul Doucette share their most prominent memories from beloved songs like "Bent" and "Bright Lights."

On May 26, Matchbox Twenty will release their first album in over a decade, Where the Light Goes . Although it's been 11 years since they've put out new music and six years since their last tour, the group is still headlining arenas and amphitheaters all around North America this summer — a testament to the power of their music.

Since their first hit, 1997's "Push," Matchbox Twenty have been a stalwart on alternative and pop radio. Whether you were tuned into those stations or not, you likely know the choruses of "3AM" or "Unwell"; if you're a fan, you can't wait to belt those songs out when they come through your city.

"Over the course of the last 30 years, these songs [have] become part of people's fabric of their day to day," frontman Rob Thomas tells GRAMMY.com. "I just hope there is something on this record that affects people in ways that songs in the past have done."

Where the Light Goes ' 12 tracks continue the easy-to-enjoy melodies and thoughtful songwriting that made Matchbox Twenty so beloved — proof that even nearly 30 years in, they haven't lost their touch. But even though the group is releasing new music, it's clear from sitting down with Thomas and his bandmate, Paul Doucette , that they revel in their old tunes as much as any longtime fan. 

Before Matchbox Twenty kicked off their tour on May 16, Thomas and Doucette reminisced on the band's biggest hits — from the song that saved them to the music videos that could've killed them.

"Push," Yourself or Someone Like You , 1996

Thomas: "Push" is the song that saved us. We released our record in '96, and the day that it came out was the same day that Lava, our record label, folded, and a bunch of bands got dropped. We were possibly on the list because we put out a song called "Long Day" and it didn't react the way we wanted.

While Atlantic was having a conversation about dropping us, there was a guy named Dave Rossi, who was a program director in Birmingham, Alabama, who started to play "Push" on his own, because you could do that back then. And it just started to react in Birmingham — in a crazy way, it was, like, the No. 1 song immediately. So Atlantic was like, "Well, let's give this one more chance." So then they put some money behind "Push" and put it out to radio, and that was the saving grace for us.

Doucette: When the record came out, we were just on the road all the time playing to nobody — to like, the bar staff. 

Thomas: I remember once we played, for some reason, a punk club in Arizona, and like three bands played, then when we got on stage, everybody's like "This is a f—ing pop band!" and they left for our set, and then as soon as our set was over, they filed back in.

Doucette: But when we got to Birmingham, it was different. We saw it immediately. There were people there, and there were a lot of people there. That had never happened to us before, so that was sort of the big jolt of competence that we needed. 

Thomas: That was a tangible shift from that moment on. There was a "before" and "after" "Push."

"3AM," Yourself or Someone Like You, 1996

Thomas: When we were a local band, "Push" didn't exist yet. It was a whole 'nother group of songs, because we had a really bad falling out with other members of this band Tabitha's Secret. It got really litigious and contentious, and they had made me sign over copyrights. [So] we just went and wrote another record. The only thing we brought with us was "3AM," because in the local world, "3AM" was, like, the song.

Doucette: When I auditioned for Tabitha's Secret, the first song of Rob's I ever heard was "3AM." They had a demo of it, and they played it for me. And even then, you could hear it immediately. Just, like, This is a great song .

Thomas: Yeah, imagine the "3AM" you know, but just much s—tier.

Doucette: Oh, it was pretty s—ty, but you could hear the song. You know, you never know about how a song is going to do, but you do know, like, This song hits a mark . This is just a well-written song .

Thomas: I always think of "3AM" as the first song that I wrote that I liked. It was the first song that I wrote about something that I had been going through, and using songs as a certain kind of catharsis to tell the story. "3AM" was the first part of unlocking a puzzle for me — like, Oh, okay, this feels better than just trying to write love songs to pick up girls .

"Real World," Yourself or Someone Like You , 1996

Thomas: I think that was the first time that we ever had fun coming up with video stuff.

Doucette: We wanted to do something absurdist, but we hired a fashion photographer as the director. He's great, but he was the wrong director for that video. So it didn't turn out at all like we wanted it to, but now looking back on it, you're just like, but it is pretty weird . 

We had a camel. It was supposed to be an aardvark originally, but an aardvark couldn't walk on bowling alley [lanes].

I think it was a case of where [we went to] the animal trainer like, "We want an aardvark," and they were like, "Ah, I can't do that. I got a camel though." Now you're looking back and going, "Wait a minute, why are those the two things that you have?"

Thomas: And that camel was lovely, by the way. That camel had such a crush on me. She kept kissing me in between takes.

"Bent," Mad Season , 2000

Thomas: "Bent" was the first single off of our second record, but it was also our first No. 1 single [on the Billboard Hot 100]. That was a good feeling for us because we had had so many people explaining to us how after that first record did so well, the sophomore slump was inevitable, so we should just enjoy the success that we've had and be ready to move on.

I do a version of that song where I play it with an acoustic guitar, which was the way that song was written. And Paul was the one who heard it the way that it is now. I remember, I'll use the word hesitation — I think my actual feeling was, Dude, you're f—in' up my song!

[The opening guitar wail] was an accident. [Kyle] thought he was in another key, and so right when they're like, "Two, three," and it was just gonna be one note, but he was wrong, so he went [ imitates guitar wail ]. That was what we call a happy accident.

Doucette: That first record was massively successful for us. I mean, we sold like 20 million records or something. But in between that and "Bent," Rob did "Smooth" [with Carlos Santana]. 

And so, when "Bent" was coming out and it was No. 1, this happened on more than one occasion, where we'd do an interview and people would be like, "Well, how do you feel now that Rob has done 'Smooth' and now people know who you are?" We're like, "But we sold 20 million records before that!"

Thomas: I remember before I did "Smooth," Carlos' thing was like, I like this guy [on the demo], does he sing? [ Laughs ]

But you can imagine, there's no social media that existed back then. Like, there wasn't a narrative — we were like the most successful faceless band in the world. We had sold all these records, [but] the first time I was ever in Rolling Stone was a picture of me, fat at Glastonbury, and it said, "Rob Thomas has grown as a performer." And then it said, "Apparently, the road to success leads to the deli tray."

"If You're Gone," Mad Season , 2000

Thomas: In that video, there's a scene where I'm hanging, like 30 stories up in downtown L.A., over the edge of this building. And I actually was on that building, I was attached to a harness. And all I kept thinking was like, Don't have an earthquake, no tremors, no tremors, no tremors . I was legitimately scared. And even my wife, [who was] my girlfriend at the time, she had come out to check in on the video shoot, and came out to the top right during that scene, and said she felt like she was having a heart attack.

That was a song that was almost a second thought. We were like, "What do you wanna work on next?" And I was like, "Well, I've got this, I think it's just a little sweet ballad, so I'm not really sure if this is something we want to work on." And then I played it, and the guys were vibin' off it. I thought it was just this personal moment that I had written for Mati, my wife, so I didn't see it for what it was. Luckily the other guys did.

"Unwell," More Than You Think You Are , 2002

Thomas: At the time, the landscape was like Ludacris [having] the No. 1 record, and we're putting out this kind of semi-midtempo song with a banjo, like, "Here, try this!" But somehow [it] worked.

Doucette: That's sort of [our] most sustained song today. I think it has less streams on Spotify than "Push" or "3AM" does, but it's definitely the one that seems to have another little life, then another little life, then another.

Thomas: I just signed off on a new rapper that's gonna use "Unwell" in the chorus of their song. It seems to have that kind of thing. 

And also, I think a lot of people relate to it on a personal level, about mental health and well-being, and being okay to not be okay. There was a message in there that resonated with a lot of people at different points in their life.

And by the way, if it wasn't for Paul, that song was gonna [have] an upbeat vibe. It was like this [ sings uptempo version ] and Paul was like, "Oh, dude, you're high. It's a ballad."

Doucette: Or we could've listened to you, and that song could have gone to No. 1. Maybe I prevented it.

Thomas: You got that 1990s A&R mentality.

"Bright Lights," More Than You Think You Are , 2002

Thomas: One of the things about being fortunate enough to have success is that we really had a chance, by that third record, to feel like we knew who we were as a band. And "Bright Lights" kind of felt like who we were.</span

Your first record is, people are listening to us learn how to make a record and learn how to be a band, and then second record…we're a little better at it, and we shoot for the moon and spend a lot of money on 60-piece orchestras and producing the s— out of everything. And then by the third record, you find that zone, and "Bright Lights" was a really big part of that. 

I feel like it's one of the quintessential Matchbox Twenty live moments in every show. So much so that it was the only time that we did the video [as] an actual just live performance. 

Doucette: I can't see us ever not playing that song. Of all the songs that we've had — and we've been fortunate enough to have some really big songs — that song is kind of the defining one for us.

"How Far We've Come," Exile on Mainstream , 2007

Doucette: We had gotten together to do a couple of songs for the greatest hits [album]. And it was kind of the first time that we thought we would all write songs together. We were like, "Let's start from the beginning and let's just write stuff and see what happens."

We were in Rob's basement, and we just sat and watched Live Aid. We were so, so into the Boomtown Rats and their whole performance. We just all were so inspired by the feeling that we got from watching it, and then we did some deep dives and stuff. That so informed that writing session, which all of those [new] songs on that CD came from.

Thomas: We all stayed at my house for like three or four days, and it was nice because we'd all go out to dinner and really get to hang out as a band. And then we were coming back and being more creative and collaborative than we'd ever been at the time.

I had done a solo record, and we were coming back again, and coming out with something that's different for us — taking the chance on moving forward into a different direction, and hoping that fans would be generous enough and forgiving enough to come along on that journey with us. And we were really glad when they did. That's another, I think, really crucial part of a live show for us.

"She's So Mean," North , 2012

Thomas: We were really informed from our way that we started writing during Exile [on Mainstream] . That was in Kyle's studio, we're all standing in a circle and coming up with different parts of that song. I think Kyle's was [ sings ] "She'll make you take her to the club, but then she leaves with her friends."

And for the official record, that's not about anyone in particular. We have had toxic relationships, and we've been toxic to other people. We've run the gamut.

Doucette: When we were writing that song…it was more a metaphor — this thing that you were attracted to that is terrible for you, but you just keep doing it. That could be anything, it could be biting your nails. Like you can't stop doing this thing that is harming you.

Thomas: Oh, actually, by the way, Paul did physically set himself on fire in the video. That was real.

Doucette: And let me tell you — what you don't see is, on each side of me were two fire marshals, and they both had extinguishers. And I was wearing a flame retardant underneath my suit. But it had its moments where I was like, "Why am I doing this?"

There was one shot that they didn't get, like the flames had kind of died, and they really wanted to use it, so they enhanced that one shot and I was so bummed because it looks fake. And I was like, "People are gonna think this thing is fake, when I did it like four times."

The funny thing about that video is, everybody got hurt except me — except the man that was on fire.

Thomas: He had a little red necker for a little while after that though.

"Wild Dogs (Running In a Slow Dream)," Where the Light Goes , 2023

Doucette: So much of what you put out as the first single, there's a lot of voices in that conversation. We wanted it to be "Wild Dogs," because we liked the energy of it. We think it's a good song that does a couple things: It's a different song than people may be used to hearing from us, but we [also] think that it showcases an element of this record. So it was kind of important for us to come out and be like, "We're still Matchbox Twenty, but things have changed a bit."

Thomas: We were done with the record, we thought. We were packing it up and getting ready to start calling mixers, and Paul came in with a track that became "Wild Dogs" just right in the fourth quarter. It seemed really special, so we were like, "Let's give it a shot." 

Gregg Wattenberg, who produced this record, really kept it lean. There was a sense of a lot of this record of not spending too much time on something to keep that kind of vitality. There's this great thing when you first write a song, and you play it just enough where you've kind of got it on your fingers, but you haven't played it so much that you're trying to craft it — you still keep some of that vitality. And Gregg was really good about finding that point in those songs and getting out before we lost the vibrance.

"Don't Get Me Wrong," Where the Light Goes , 2023

Thomas: On other records, we've never had outside writers in, and there's a couple on this record. That song is one of those — I did it with Craig Wiseman and David Garcia .

As much as I love that song, and I would have been fine with it being a single, it felt better that the first single was a song that me and Paul and Gregg wrote — even though what Matchbox as a band did to that song is the reason why it sounds the way it sounds and it has the personality that it has. Because it doesn't sound like the demo that we did originally. That's just that sense of, as we get older, that idea of like, "We like that song, it doesn't really matter who wrote on it. It's a good song — let's make it our own."

Blink-182 Essentials: 15 Songs That Prove They're Rock's Most Serious Unserious Band

Rob Thomas And Carlos Santana

Photo: Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images

GRAMMY Rewind: Watch Santana & Rob Thomas Self-Assuredly Win Record Of The Year For "Smooth" In 2000

In the newest episode of GRAMMY Rewind, watch Santana and Rob Thomas win Record Of The Year at the 42nd GRAMMY Awards for "Smooth," the unlikely smash-hit pairing of the classic rock legend and Matchbox Twenty leader

By all accounts, Santana 's and Rob Thomas ' 1999 megahit "Smooth" almost didn't happen . In its embryonic stages, Carlos Santana was skeptical of the tune; the AM-radio effect on Thomas's voice alone engendered its own smattering of arguments.

But in a quintessential lesson about why you should never, ever give up, "Smooth" became the second-biggest single of all time , second only to Chubby Checker 's "The Twist." It also led to the 2000 GRAMMY Awards , where the unlikely pair won the GRAMMY for Record Of The Year .

In the newest episode of GRAMMY Rewind , revisit the moment 21 years ago when an unlikely gambit paid off in dividends, putting a feather in the cap of Matchbox Twenty 's leader and landing a classic rocker back on the airwaves.

Check out the throwback GRAMMY moment above and click here to enjoy more episodes of GRAMMY Rewind.

Why Can't Anyone Get Woodstock Right? 15 Of The Original Fest's Performers Weigh In

Travis Scott

Photo: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

Everyone's A VIP At Clive Davis' Pre-GRAMMY Gala: From Travis Scott To Jimmy Jam To Brandi Carlile

Pass through the velvet rope at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles for an exclusive look at the star-studded 2019 Pre-GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons

On Feb. 9, on the eve of Music's Biggest Night, the 61st GRAMMY Awards , artists from across genres and decades gathered at the glitzy Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. for the 2019 Pre-GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons.

Less than 24 hours before the big red carpet walk today, the likes of current GRAMMY nominees Ella Mai , Dua Lipa , Diplo , Shaggy , Alice Cooper and Weird Al Yankovich , and GRAMMY winners Melissa Etheridge and Quincy Jones , brought their vibrant energy and killer looks at the annual celebration hosted by the Recording Academy and Clive Davis . Onlookers tried to spy the glam looks on the red carpet as they peered into the hotel's glass—we'll let you past the velvet rope and walk it with us as at this exclusive music industry event.

Dua Lipa & Ellie Goulding | Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images

This year's who's-who of music gala celebrated iconic industry veteran Clarence Avant , known as the Godfather Of Black Music, as the honoree of the evening. Like event host and fellow legend Davis, he helped launch the careers of many great artists, working with the likes of GRAMMY-winning greats Bill Withers , Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis of The Time.

The video celebrating Avant had countless heroes such as Former President Barack Obama, Jones, Diddy and JAY-Z sharing how much they love Avant, the powerful impact he's made on their lives and music, and how he always knows the right thing to say. Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow introduced him with a fitting complement, and a huge one given the company they were in: "You're the ultimate music person." The Time properly brought the funk on stage to celebrate Avant with a performance of their '80s hits "The Bird" and "Jungle Love," dancing as if no time had passed.

Current GRAMMY nominee Travis Scott set the mood opening the evening's performances with "Goosebumps" and "Sicko Mode," while sisters and fellow nominees Chloe x Halle  brought home a rousing cover of the late GRAMMY-winning Queen Of Soul Aretha Franklin 's "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves." Brandi Carlile , another current GRAMMY nominee, returned to the stage to join the duo, along with past nominee Valerie Simpson and Broadway star Keala Settle , ending the evening on quite the high note.

Chloe x Halle | Photo: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

Other musical guests for the evening included current nominees Bebe Rexha , Florida Georgia Line and H.E.R. , along with past nominees Jazmine Sullivan and Ledisi , plus GRAMMY winner Rob Thomas . Sullivan and Thomas offered a powerful duet, belting out Aretha and George Michael's "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)."

As the evening rolled on, Davis made sure to highlight all the countless legends in the room, as the crowd continuously burst into applause and often up on their feet to celebrate the likes of music greats Barbara Streisand , George Clinton and Dionne Warwick , along with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Apple's Tim Cook and even former-L.A. Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Don't forget to tune in to the 2019 GRAMMYs live from Staples Center today. Start with the  GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony at 12:30 p.m. PST/3:30 ET, then follow us to the red carpet at 2:00 p.m. PST/5:00 p.m. ET—both will be live streamed right here on right here on  GRAMMY.com .

Then the moment you've all been waiting for, the 61st GRAMMY Awards, hosted by 15-time GRAMMY winner  Alicia Keys , will air live at 5:00 p.m. PST/8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT on CBS .

GRAMMY Nominees In Their Own Words: Brandi Carlile, H.E.R., Shawn Mendes, Janelle Monaé & More

Photos: WireImage.com

Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Adele: Record Of The Year GRAMMY Rewind

Time travel through GRAMMY history and revisit the impressive lineage of Record Of The Year winners

Numerically speaking, it's the first category on the GRAMMY Awards nominations list. Conversely, it is typically one of the final categories announced on the annual GRAMMY telecast. And its winners have spanned jazz, pop, rock, R&B, and Latin, among other genres.

What's the category? It's Record Of The Year, which is an award that goes to a track's artist, producer, engineer, mixer, and mastering engineer.

The Record Of The Year category's 59-year history offers a unique aural tour through the annals popular music — one that certainly has the makings for one powerfully diverse playlist. Record Of The Year: Full List Of Winners And Nominees There's Bobby Darin's swingin' "Mack The Knife" (1959), Henry Mancini 's exquisite "Days Of Wine And Roses" (1963), Frank Sinatra 's velvety "Strangers In The Night" (1966),  Simon And Garfunkel's inspired "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Roberta Flack's radiant "Killing Me Softly With His Song" (1973), and Captain & Tennille's breezy "Love Will Keep Us Together" (1975).

In the '80s, radio-friendly hits such as Toto's "Rosanna" (1982), Michael Jackson 's "Beat It" (1983) and Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It" (1984) were among the winning recordings.

The '90s netted the likes of Eric Clapton 's moving "Tears In Heaven" (1992), Whitney Houston 's ubiquitous "I Will Always Love You" (1993) and Santana featuring Rob Thomas' infectious "Smooth" (1999).

The Record Of The Year lineage continued into the 2000s and beyond with unforgettable hits such as U2 's "Beautiful Day" (2000), Green Day 's "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" (2005), Amy Winehouse 's "Rehab" (2007), Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers' "Get Lucky" (2013), and most recently, Adele 's "Hello" (2016).

Which recording will become the 60th Record Of The Year GRAMMY winner? Tune in to the 60th GRAMMY Awards on Jan. 28 to find out. What's The Difference? GRAMMY Record Of The Year Vs. Song Of The Year

Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images

Concerts & Technology: The Future Is Now

From fan-friendly apps and RFID bracelets to virtual reality, augmented reality and holograms, technology is changing how we experience live concerts

During Matchbox Twenty 's A Brief History Of Everything tour this year, fans who couldn't physically get to a concert could still enjoy the show: The GRAMMY-nominated band made use of state-of-the-art 360-degree cameras to present a fully immersive, fan-controlled virtual reality experience of their Oct. 4 performance in Denver. Additionally, fans purchasing VIP tickets could employ cutting-edge technology to get even closer to the band by entering a virtual space as a hologram to sing alongside a hologram of frontman Rob Thomas. <iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cwTxNdH-6CI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

VR is just one example of the wide range of technologies — from apps and RFID bracelets to augmented reality and holographic projection — that is having a profound impact on the way audiences experience live music. To forward-thinking artists like Thomas, the future for concerts and technology is now .

"I think we're at the moment where this stuff is really here," says Thomas. "There's skepticism, but I also remember when people were skeptical about whether the internet would take off. When Matchbox Twenty started, we connected with fans through bumper stickers and cassette tapes. Twenty years later, we're in virtual reality, which is pretty amazing. But with every jump forward in technology, it's still about connecting with fans."

In the near future, it's likely virtual reality concerts will shift from newsworthy to commonplace, but technology is also opening up some brave new possibilities for live shows themselves.

Metal fans looking ahead at this winter's concert schedule may be surprised to learn that Ronnie James Dio, who died in 2010, will be back on the road for a series of European shows starting in November. Attendees at the shows will indeed be hearing the estimable voice of Dio, but what they will see onstage will be members of his longtime band fronted by a hologram.

"Ronnie was always an innovator in music so why not an innovator in technology?" asks Wendy Dio, the singer's longtime manager. "There are plenty of fans of Ronnie's that would love to see him back up on the stage, and there a lot of people that never had a chance to see him — this is the only way that's possible now. I'm hoping I have Ronnie's blessing because I think this is the wave of the future and I think as more people experience it, they'll accept it.”

Eyellusion is the Los Angeles-based hologram company recreating Dio for the stage, and the company has also teamed with Frank Zappa 's estate to produce a new show centered on the iconoclastic artist. While the idea of bringing back deceased artists in virtual form has sparked debate, Eyellusion CEO Jeff Pezzuti points out that the technology can do much more.

<iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7eiWahgEnFg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

"Hologram technology might be the main part of a show, or just part of a live show, or a way of capturing something for posterity that's never been possible before," Pezzuti explains. "And the digital assets we create can move across platforms into all sorts of uses. We know a hologram is not the real thing, but it's close enough now to have you walk out of a show saying, 'Holy s***!' We want to create those 'holy s***' moments."

The Zappa concerts are planned for late 2018  and will include a variety of holographic elements sharing the stage with musicians who toured and recorded with Zappa.

"My father was a futurist and a visualist who wanted to do this kind of thing in his lifetime," says son Ahmet Zappa, a co-trustee of the Zappa estate and an executive with Eyellusion. "'Hologram' describes the way in which Frank can come back, but that's a limited way of thinking. Really, what we're doing is using technology to unleash a whole new way of witnessing the bizarre world of Frank Zappa. It won't be just watching a hologram play guitar. If the band's performing Frank's song " Stink-Foot ," maybe it's sung by an 800-pound snakeskin platform boot. That's a different approach than what you'd expect for Dio, but it fits Frank."

Some might be tempted to write off such new technology as a novelty rather than a game-changer. But, according to Matchbox Twenty manager Nick Lippman, that depends on how the technology is used.

"It's only a gimmick if you don't know what you're doing with it," explains Lippman. "If you just step into the technology without a clear intention of what you're doing as an artist, it's not going to feel authentic. Artists shouldn't fit themselves to new technology — the technology has to actually serve the artist and the artist's fans."

<iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iUjtSO8RaBQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Many industry insiders are embracing new technology as a boon to the concert business. Kevin Chernett, executive vice president of global partnerships & content distribution at Live Nation, oversees live streaming and virtual reality projects for the entertainment company, which this summer live-streamed Coldplay 's massive A Head Full Of Dreams concert in virtual reality.

"People are having their first VR experiences now and are surprised to find that the VR evokes the same emotions and thrills and energy that you'd feel when you're actually at a show — people stand up for the encore just like they would at the arena," says Chernett. "But we don't see any indication that people prefer their living room to the actual experience of a concert — all the technology actually helps to promote the live experience."

At those live experiences, concertgoers may not even be aware of the degree to which cutting-edge technology shapes what they're hearing and seeing.

"There have been quantum leaps forward in terms of the sound and lighting technology that's present in modern-day concerts compared to what it was a decade ago," says Gary Bongiovanni, editor of the concert trade publication Pollstar . "From the visual and audio perspective, we're producing a much higher-quality event all around and the technology is top notch — though it still takes talent onstage to make it all work."

<iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A09Vx6RvV6Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Roger Waters' current Us +Them tour features lighting controlled by infrared sensors, real-time video editing of giant screen images and stage technology so new it's considered to be a prototype. Waters collaborated closely with artistic director Sean Evans to create a high-tech spectacle that would be powerful but still serve to showcase the music.

"We didn't want the tail to wag the dog," says Evans. "'Oh, here's some cool technology, let's find a way to use it.' On a tech level, there are all these great crazy new toys, but on a creative level you still have to figure out how to use it all in a compelling way." <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:33.33333333333333% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BZSTC5gAdyl/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">CLEVELAND TOMORROW NIGHT! : @kate.izor</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Roger Waters (@rogerwaters) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-09-21T02:13:51+00:00">Sep 20, 2017 at 7:13pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote><script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>

One effect in Waters' show — a laser-light representation of the prism from the album cover of Pink Floyd's 1973 album, Dark Side Of The Moon — was designed with a very specific purpose in mind.

"That image has been all over Instagram," says Evans. "And that was the idea — we wanted to make something iconic that people were going to put all over social media. It's a weird way to think about a show, but that's the environment now."

Technology is also extending the concert experience and upgrading audience amenities.

<iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ndpICHt5-TA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Apps such as Pavemint help concertgoers find parking before the show while others help order food that can be delivered during the show. RFID bracelets enable festival attendees to go cashless, and USB bracelets let fans leave a venue with a download of the show they just witnessed. Live Nation recently launched a Facebook Messenger bot that lets the social experience of the concert begin during the ticket-buying process.

"I don't look at this kind of technology as a demographic thing — it's a psychographic thing," says Lisa Licht, chief marketing officer at Live Nation. "It's for people who really love concerts and are spending so much time on social media. Concerts have always been both a personal and a social experience, and now we're finding ways to bring those experiences together."

Over the next few years, today's extraordinary technology is likely to become ordinary, as financial barriers to entry drop, ease-of-use increases, and artists, fans and the industry embrace new tech-friendly horizons.

Thomas is looking forward to some added benefits of the virtual concert world.

"Fans want to jump onstage with us in VR, but I'm more excited to be out in the crowd watching us play — that's a point of view I've never really had before. And if we get to the point where I could just play the live show and then send my hologram to the after-party to do the mingling, that would be awesome."

( Chuck Crisafulli is an L.A.-based journalist and author whose most recent works include  Go To Hell: A Heated History Of The Underworld, Me And A Guy Named Elvis, Elvis: My Best Man,  and  Running With The Champ: My Forty-Year Friendship With Muhammad Ali.)

Should You Be Using Musical.ly?

• 1 Behind Matchbox Twenty's Biggest Hits: How A Camel, Real-Life Stunts & Happy Accidents Influenced "3AM," "Unwell," "Push" & More
• 2 GRAMMY Rewind: Watch Santana & Rob Thomas Self-Assuredly Win Record Of The Year For "Smooth" In 2000
• 3 Everyone's A VIP At Clive Davis' Pre-GRAMMY Gala: From Travis Scott To Jimmy Jam To Brandi Carlile
• 4 Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Adele: Record Of The Year GRAMMY Rewind
• 5 Concerts & Technology: The Future Is Now

Matchbox Twenty: ‘We’re Still The Greatest Pop Rock Band In The World’

“I wouldn't want to take a song that we think is a good song and not do it because we don't think it sounds like Matchbox Twenty. Because at the end of the day, whatever we do is Matchbox Twenty.”

Matchbox Twenty (Credit: Jimmy Fontaine)

“Few acts have dominated the contemporary music landscape in this country, from the mid-’90s right through the 2000s, quite like Matchbox Twenty ,” Christo Van Egmond, Managing Director of TEG Van Edmond, said in a press release about the band’s upcoming Australian tour. He’s right.

Whether you jam Matchbox Twenty CDs in your car or listen when they come on the radio, there’s a good chance that their music has soundtracked some of your dearest memories. They’re an intergenerational band now – with Gen X parents bringing their millennial and Gen Z kids to the shows and streaming their albums on Spotify.

In February 2024, Matchbox Twenty will return to Australia for the first time in nearly twelve years. That news was teased a few months ago when founding members vocalist Rob Thomas and multi-instrumentalist Paul Doucette appeared on The Plug podcast with Neil Griffiths and dropped the information that they were  planning an Australian tour , immediately thrilling the band’s longtime, patient Australian fans. And they can’t wait to be back.

When  The Music catches up with Rob Thomas, he immediately comments on this writer’s rage  shirt. “I used to love that show – I used to just sit in front of a television for hours watching that,” he laughs from the band’s tour bus in San Diego, California. “ Rage  was like your MTV, right? Like what we had for our MTV? Only rage  kept playing music when we stopped.”

Is there a rage  Guest Programmer slot in Thomas’ sights? He’d be honoured to be asked. “Oh, I’d love that. You can have me! That’s my lane – I can drive in that lane all day.” And what songs would he choose? “A lot of INXS would be in there.

“Those guys have been really, really good friends. Like, we've all stayed in touch and stayed close. That's a wonderful band with some bad strings of luck every now and then.” Talking to Thomas, a few things are immediately evident: for one, he’s a pretty fast talker, but no less engaging to talk to. And that energy he carries on a tour bus translates to studio recordings and arena stages every night.

Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter

From the 3 AM singer’s perspective, he observed rage and plenty of dark clouds looming over people. Nobody needed any more of that negativity in their lives, “So we wanted to write a song that had a little more joy and a little more positivity in it. We didn't start with that intention; it was just when we got halfway through the record that we threw around out of all the songs that were out there; we picked six that we knew we liked.

“We could tell that they all had a certain theme and were trending a certain way. You know what I mean? We tried to keep almost everything positive. There's still moments of doubt, just like in life; there's moments of doubt that creep in there. But we think, on the whole, we try and trend towards joy.”

That joy makes  Where The Light Goes another release that Matchbox Twenty fans will undoubtedly lap up. The first single, Wild Dogs (Running In A Slow Dream) , is an upbeat pop-rock number destined for radio success, while Don’t Get Me Wrong elicits nostalgia with its grunge-rock grooves. No matter what Thomas is actually singing, he comes across as so likeable and relatable that despite the album having no distinct unifying theme, it’s unquestionably the band their fans know and love. Matchbox Twenty are well and truly back.

“There's no unifying themes on the album; I think there's always just a certain bar there because I write all the time,” Thomas laughs, but every six songs, he finds himself hitting that dreamy sweet spot. “We kind of look back at our records, and we're like, ‘Oh, shit, that's where we are now. That makes sense!’ We’re like, ‘Oh, it turns out that we have a lot of thoughts about mortality going on. And we have a lot of thoughts about our families and our friendships. So, it's a learning process for us as well.”

Thomas explains, “Everything still sounds like Matchbook somehow, even though this song might sound a little more Americana or country, or this one might sound a little more like a 90s rocker. This one could sound a little more alternative, or this one's just straight-up pop. That's just where we're at on that day.

The new songs are also receiving an ecstatic response from fans across the band’s mammoth 50-date US tour, and recent setlists are a good indicator of what Australian fans will behold.

It’s a good balance – five Where The Light Goes songs, five songs from More Than You Think You Are , five from Yourself Or Someone Like You , three from Mad Season and for North , and two from  Exile On Mainstream . For a band with five albums packed with hits everyone knows and loves, it must be pretty tricky to curate a setlist, right? For Matchbox Twenty, they’re just having a lot of fun.

“We’re just getting the tour kicked off, so that meant we were playing a lot of these new songs before the record was out,” Thomas notes. “We felt like they [fans] were responding to the new songs just hearing them live for the first time. So, that was a really good sign for us.” Unfortunately for some, like yours truly, the band hasn’t performed the stunning new piano ballad,  I Know Better , yet. There’s a reason behind it, though.

Thomas animatedly tells the story: “Here's what happened! We were doing four songs [from Where The Light Goes ], and we were keeping everything the same until we played the Hollywood Bowl, so everybody had some time to get going,” but then, “Pookie got sick. I had to bring in another bass player to play, and he's still playing tonight. And so, we're gonna start making certain changes and move songs around and try playing I Know Better .

“We’ve been on a holding pattern until that time, but right now, we're playing [those songs]. Kyle has another song called The Way that he sings on, but as soon as we get Pookie back, we're all excited about getting I Know Better onto the set. So, by the time we get to Australia, it'll 1,000% be in the set.”

“Like, literally, from show one, you're just like, ‘Oh, yeah, this is what we do,’” Thomas shares. He recalls looking out at his bandmates: “There’s Kyle, and there's Paul, and there's Pookie. This feels right. It's amazing how if you have a certain muscle that you've used for 27 years or whatever, even if you take three years away from it, as soon as you start doing it again, there's muscle memory to it. You know exactly where you're supposed to be.”

Throughout 2018 and 2019, Rob Thomas had gone out for a solo tour again, so “I was missing it even more.” He’s also missed Australia – it’s been far too long since Matchbox Twenty last visited our shores. Since November 2012, to be exact. But not too much has changed since then. To Thomas, “I think we're still the greatest pop-rock band in the world.”

Touring the world still means a lot to Matchbox Twenty. “To share the moment with fans, it's not just about us grandstanding and showboating and playing music for people; it's about… You know, we always think, that's not just their [the audience’s] Saturday night, it's our Saturday night too. And we want to have a good time too. We want that shared moment with everybody.

“We feel great if we leave there and everybody feels like the band and the crowd all shared the same moment like we're all part of something,” Thomas adds. “It takes a lot to get somebody to leave their house, drive to a show, find parking and get babysitting and go through the concessions. It's a lot to go to a show, man [laughs].” Matchbox Twenty knows and understand those struggles, so they appreciate your time and will put on a show that you won’t want to leave early and return to the car.

Where The Light Goes is out now. Matchbox Twenty will tour Australia in February 2024 – tickets are available via  TEG .

Matchbox Twenty

2024 Australian Tour Dates with Goo Goo Dolls

Tuesday 13 February – RAC Arena, Perth

Thursday 15 February – Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena, Adelaide

Friday 16 February – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Saturday 17 February – Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley

Tuesday 20 February – WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

Thursday 22 February – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

Friday 23 February – GIO Stadium, Canberra

Saturday 24 February – Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle

Monday 26 February – Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast

Tuesday 27 February – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane

Trending Today

Link to our Facebook Link to our Instagram

© 2024 The Music Press Pty Ltd

More From Our Network

• facebook-rs

Matchbox Twenty Mark First New Music in Over a Decade With ‘Wild Dogs (Running In A Slow Dream)’

By Emily Zemler

Emily Zemler

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Matchbox Twenty has debuted the first track off Where the Light Goes , out May 26 via Atlantic Records. The upbeat, optimistic song “Wild Dogs (Running In A Slow Dream)” is the rock group’s first new music since their 2012 LP North .

Where the Light Goes , the band’s fifth studio album, was produced by Gregg Wattenberg with band members Paul Doucette and Kyle Cook.

In the years since North , the members of Matchbox Twenty have been pursuing other projects. Frontman Rob Thomas released his fourth solo LP, Chip Tooth Smile , in 2019 and reunited with Santana in 2021 for the single, “Move.”

The Slow Dream Tour is the band’s first since 2017’s A Brief History of Everything tour, which celebrated the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You .

Tickets are currently on sale via the band’s website . Fans can also purchase limited-edition “instant” collectible CD sets and digital downloads from each tour show via Ticketmaster for a $5 discount when they purchase tickets. VIP ticket buyers will receive a free download card with their purchase of every VIP package.

'SNL' Cold Open: Indicted Trump Hawks Bible Complete With Miranda Rights

Beyonce finds a new freedom and redefines country music on 'cowboy carter' , michigan gop congressman suggests using nuclear strikes like ‘hiroshima’ in gaza, jerrod carmichael had a crush on tyler, the creator, so he invited the rapper to the emmy awards, editor’s picks, the 250 greatest guitarists of all time, the 500 greatest albums of all time, the 50 worst decisions in movie history, every awful thing trump has promised to do in a second term.

* Matt Nathanson supporting ^ Ben Rector supporting ~ Hudson Thames supporting

'SNL': Watch Travis Scott Perform 'My Eyes,' 'Fe!n'

• By William Vaillancourt

Travis Scott, Playboi Carti Spin Through New ‘Fe!n’ Video

• Pre-'SNL' drop
• By Althea Legaspi

Beyonce Finds a New Freedom and Redefines Country Music on 'Cowboy Carter' 

• ALBUM REVIEW
• By Brittany Spanos

Hot Boys Rapper B.G. Arrested for Probation Violations After Boosie Concert Appearance

• Crimes and Court
• By Daniel Kreps

Black Keys Strike Mellow Gold on 'Ohio Players'

• By Jon Dolan

Most Popular

Anne hathaway lost roles after oscar win because of 'how toxic my identity had become online,' says christopher nolan backed her: 'i had an angel' in him, where to stream 'quiet on set: breaking the silence' episode 5 online, buckingham palace rushes to clarify queen camilla’s statement that a certain grandson is ‘a handful', touré says diddy terminated his cousin's internship after refusing to sleep with him, you might also like, shekhar and kaveri kapur examine fear and the dark side in philosophical cinevesture talk: ‘panic is a huge form of creativity’, how to watch iheartradio music awards red carpet livestream for free: see the best dressed nominees and stars, the best exercise mats for working out, according to fitness experts, ‘gen v’ star chance perdomo dies at 27, washington post story on mulkey unlikely to spark defamation suit.

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

Verify it's you

Please log in.

After 11 Years, Matchbox Twenty Is Back And Done With ‘Manufactured Angst’

Senior Culture Reporter, HuffPost

When Matchbox Twenty returned to the studio to record its first studio album in 11 years, lead singer Rob Thomas and his band mates had a few stipulations.

“We didn’t want to make a record about all the negative sides of the past few years, especially when there’s been so much positive that’s been going on,” Thomas told HuffPost. “We didn’t want to talk about the isolation. We didn’t want to talk about the division. We didn’t want to talk about rage.”

He went on to note: “There’s so much joy and so much looking to the future that’s happening right now as we speak. So we started gravitating toward songs that were about that. That’s the record we wanted to make.”

Released last week, “ Where the Light Goes ” finds Thomas, guitarist Kyle Cook, drummer and rhythm guitarist Paul Doucette and bassist Brian Yale in both reflective and celebratory mode. The result is a thoughtful collection of songs that doesn’t dwell on sonic nostalgia but will nonetheless thrill the band’s longtime fans.

Songs like “ Hang on Every Word ” and “ Queen of New York City ” are thoughtful musings on marriage and fatherhood. Other tracks ― notably the anthemic first single, “ Wild Dogs (Running in a Slow Dream) ” ― will remind listeners that the band hasn’t lost the youthful sense of abandon it embraced on 1996’s “3AM,” 1998’s “Unwell” and 2000’s “If You’re Gone,” among other beloved hits.

HuffPost caught up with Doucette and Thomas shortly before Matchbox Twenty embarked on its Slow Dream Tour , which kicked off last month in Vancouver, Canada, and will hit Houston, Nashville, Toronto and other North American cities before wrapping Aug. 6 in Tinley Park, Illinois. The two musicians shared their thoughts on returning to the studio after more than a decade, their current tour and why looking to the past isn’t always a bad thing when it comes to rock music.

Talk to me about the creative genesis of “Where the Light Goes,” Matchbox Twenty’s first new studio album in 11 years.

Paul Doucette : We were going to tour in 2020 and obviously the COVID-19 pandemic had other plans. 2021 came, still no tour. 2022 came, and … there was a general sense that we were letting people down. Prior to that point, there had been conversations about doing a new song or two. I was busy doing other stuff, so I was like: “You guys go ahead and do that, and I’ll see you on the road.”

So when our 2022 tour got canceled and [Cook] was like, “Let’s do a record,” I thought, “OK, I’m into that.” Once we made the final decision to do it, it all came together quickly.

Rob, you’ve said repeatedly that you had no interest in making a “pandemic album.” Why was that distinction important to you?

Rob Thomas : We were never, like, we’re going to make this kind of record or that kind of record. But there’s enough cynicism in the world right now. There are songs on the album about love, loss and the dark side of relationships, but for the most part, I don’t think there’s anything that’s been done with any sort of cynicism.

When you come from a 1990s rock band — a ’90s alt-rock band, which is what we were when we started — you realize that a lot of what you’ve done in the past is manufactured angst. At the time, you feel like it’s real, but when you go back and listen to it, you’re like: “Wow, I wasn’t really that angry. This is what I felt I was supposed to be doing.” As we’ve gotten older, we don’t have that in our tank anymore.

We’re thrilled to see Matchbox Twenty back onstage this summer for the first time since 2017’s A Brief History of Everything Tour . What can we expect from the new shows?

Thomas : I can say truthfully that there are certain songs from our first record [1996’s “ Yourself or Someone Like You ”] that I’m OK if I never hear again. But I love playing them every night because the experience of sharing them is different. It’s new every night. We’re fortunate enough to have [27 years] of music to be able to draw from. That’s a really, really good problem to have.

Rob, you’ve had great success as a solo artist with 1999’s “ Smooth ” with Carlos Santana and 2005’s “ Lonely No More .” Your last album, 2019’s “ Chip Tooth Smile ,” was an incredible 1980s throwback. Do you make any distinction between the music you write for yourself as a solo artist versus the music you write for Matchbox Twenty?

Thomas : The difference between a solo song and a Matchbox song that I write is just that a Matchbox song is a song that the guys like. That’s the only difference. When I write a song, I have to believe in it when I sing it, so I just do a bunch of those when I’m writing, and if the guys like them, they wind up on a record.

The more interesting thing is that Paul has written four or five songs that I’ve felt that connection with. In 30 years, Paul’s the only person who [has ever written] me an entire song on multiple occasions.

Doucette : There’s a song on this album called “Hang on Every Word,” which I wrote for my daughter [Mathilda Plum, 18]. And Rob sings it in a way that feels genuine, even to me. That’s an amazing superpower to have. To have someone take your songs to that level is a gift.

Watch Matchbox Twenty’s video for “Don’t Get Me Wrong,” from “Where the Light Goes,” below:

What would you most like listeners to take away from “Where the Light Goes”?

Doucette : I just want people to listen to it and feel good about themselves. I’ve hit a point in my life where I’m exhausted by anger. I’m exhausted by rage and by conflict, so I’m just, like, can we just take a minute?

If the record can provide even a little bit of that, if the tour can provide that for a night for somebody — that’s all I want. If we get that, then check.

Thomas : You have no control over anything other than your motive, your intention, your purpose and everything that you put in. But I really love this record. I’m really proud of this record, and I can’t wait for people to hear it. That’s a victory in itself right there.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed.

Support HuffPost

Our 2024 coverage needs you, your loyalty means the world to us.

At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.

Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.

Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.

Dear HuffPost Reader

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.

Popular in the Community

From our partner, more in entertainment.

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Credit card rates
• Balance transfer credit cards
• Business credit cards
• Cash back credit cards
• Rewards credit cards
• Travel credit cards
• Checking accounts
• Online checking accounts
• High-yield savings accounts
• Money market accounts
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Car insurance
• Home buying
• Options pit
• Investment ideas
• Research reports
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Matchbox Twenty co-founding member discusses communal joys of tour that's headed here

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

BURGETTSTOWN ― They hadn't toured in six years, and only released one album in the past 11, but Matchbox Twenty members have faced no trouble reconnecting with fans this summer on the road.

"We get slapped in the face by how lucky we are when people show up every single time," Matchbox Twenty guitarist and co-founder Paul Doucette said. "We take a break for years and years and years and we come back and we're still playing to 19,000 people. and we're just like, 'How is that possible?'"

Credit the stamina of songs like "Push," "3 A.M." and "Unwell," which Matchbox Twenty fans can expect to hear Friday when the rock band headlines The Pavilion at Star Lake. Tickets are $39.50 to $130 at livenation.com

Doucette knows the way to Star Lake; as a teen who grew up in North Huntington Township, that was where he attended his first hometown amphitheater concert.

"It was a weird one. It was the Yes Union Tour," Doucette said. "Jon Anderson was singing and Trevor Rabin was singing. I wasn't a huge Yes fan, but I used to work at a car dealership called #1 Cochran − I'm sure it's still there. That was my second job out of high school, and a guy I worked with was a big Yes fan and I went with him. I saw a bunch of shows at Star Lake. I saw the second Lollapalooza there; I drove to D.C. to see the first one."

Doucette looks back fondly on his western Pennsylvania upbringing.

"We did what everyone does on 'Stranger Things' except for the whole demon (stuff)," he said. "It was very much like a Spielberg movie. You went to school, your parents went to work. You came home. They didn't come home for a few more hours. You hung out with your friends, you rode around, you hung out in the woods. And then eventually someone gets a guitar and says, 'Hey, let's start a band.' My teen years were playing in my parents' basement learning Metallica songs, Slayer, Anthrax, all metal. It was a completely innocent place to grow up."

Destiny took him to Orlando, Fla., where he ended up in a band with a charismatic singer and lyricist named Rob Thomas.

The first original song Doucette heard from Thomas was "3 A.M.," which a few years later, in 1997, would top the rock charts.

"I went to an audition and heard a demo for '3 A.M.,' so I've known that song before Rob even walked into the room," Doucette said. "Rob and I have known each other for 30 years. So, it's a song I know very, very, very, very, very, very well and have played it many times. And as with anything − if that's your favorite tune and you hear it every day, it stops being your favorite tune − but what we get out of people when we're playing it for them, it feels new to us every time.

"I mean that's the thing that keeps it incredibly exciting for us," Doucette said. "You hit that point when you realize these songs mean something to people and that's like an honor. So, when you see what a good time they're having, it makes us have a good time. And they see what a good time we're having, and they have a better time. It's a communal experience playing live if you give into it. And we definitely embrace that. We want to make sure everyone is having the best time of their life."

Casual fans in attendance might be pleasantly surprised by the catchy optimism of songs from the band's two-month-old "Where The Light Goes" album.

The Doucette co-written leadoff song "Friends" sounds ready for a sports stadium.

"That was very much the thing we were going for," Doucette said. "The record itself is incredibly optimistic. It wasn't intentional at first. We just started putting the record together and Rob and I were in the studio going through what we had done to that point, we were halfway through, and we started to realize that's what we're doing, we were making something positive. And then we decided, well, let's lean into that. Let's just keep going because there's been so much negative, and we just don't want to do that."

The band had experienced frustrations, postponing several times a tour originally scheduled to play Star Lake on Aug. 26, 2020.

This might be the end of an era, as the region's last postponed-by-COVID tour to finally happen.

"We definitely went through a period of time of frustration and disappointment about not being able to go out," Doucette said. "Obviously, the whole world shut down for the first bit of it. But the last bit was kind of all on us. Everyone else was going out and people in our camp weren't ready to go out. And that was tough."

To make the tour visually interesting, the band brought in a new production team.

"And they killlled it," Doucette said. "We wanted something that was simple and gave a strong image, but we didn't want it to be super, super, super flashy. One of the things with tours that can happen is people see you have a lot of cool stuff, but by song No. 4, they don't care anymore. It's just background. We wanted to be conscious of that. and we also wanted to put it together like a film. We have an arc. We have a way we want people to feel at the top. We have a journey we want to take them on and then to a certain place we want to bring it down, and then we want to bring it back up. There are points in the show we worked very closely with the lighting and the visuals to make sure that's all tied in together."

Part of that story arc will include new songs "Wild Dogs (Running in a Slow Dream)" and "Rebels."

"Wild Dogs" is about being a kid and finding your tribe, Doucette said.

"In Rob's case, the kids he met were thought of as the bad kids, the wrong side of the tracks thing, but they were really the arty kids and sensitive kids," Doucette said.

A line in "Rebels," often played before the encore says "you can't go back to rainbow hair and ripped jeans... you blame the rebel that you sold out."

"That's a Rob line," Doucette said. "He was very much coming from a place of we're older, obviously. We're in our 50s and so you battle all kinds of feelings when you get older and some of them are positive and some are negative and some are neither, they're just feelings. One of them is looking back to when you were 20 and how you thought things were going to turn out and realizing maybe you didn't do all the things you thought you were going to do and maybe that's OK and you kind of gave yourself a pass and be happy with what you did do."

Things turned out well for Matchbox Twenty, though Doucette can't recall the specific moment when he thought the band would become platinum-selling headliners.

"When it starts happening, I don't know if you have the click moment because it's just all growing so fast and we were young and didn't necessarily have a birds-eye view to see how fast it was going. It was just like we put out a record and we went around and played to nobody and kept playing to nobody. And then one day we got to Birmingham, Ala., and there were 1,000 people there. Up until then, we had played to, at most, 50 people a night. A radio station in Birmingham started playing 'Push' before everybody else did and that song really took off. I guess that was kind of the start where, 'OK, something might happen here.' But then we put the record out and there was nothing. Our first single was 'Long Day' and got played on the radio, which was exciting to us, but nobody was paying attention to it. Nothing was happening. Fountains of Wayne was on the same label as us and they were getting all the attention, and no one cared about us at all. And then 'Push' happens."

"Push" topped the Modern Rock chart, and the rest is a lucrative history.

Doucette came up with the band's name, when he was working at a Florida tavern.

"We were looking for a name and someone walked in with a 20 on their shirt and I was like, 'Matchbox 20.' It just popped into my head. It has no meaning whatsoever," Doucette said.

Matchbox Twenty is touring with the band's dear friend Matt Nathanson, who has headlined 1,000 to 1,400-seat venues like Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall and the Palace Theatre in Greensburg.

"I actually opened up for Matt doing my solo stuff like 16 years ago and that's how we became really good friends," Doucette said. "He's one of the best openers a band can ever ask for because Matt is incredibly good with a crowd. He's been doing it a long time, and he's doesn't always have a band. So, he's had to be the guy with an acoustic guitar playing to a room who are sitting there going, 'OK, what have you got?' And he just brings it. He brings so much fun to this tour."

Headliner and opener both know what's at stake.

More: Concert Review: Ed Sheeran + Pittsburgh = spectacular

"If I want to see a concert it's not cheap," Doucette said. "There's a lot of things. There's parking, there's food, there's babysitters all kinds of stuff goes in. You're making an effort to come out to Star Lake. That's a long drive, too, for a lot of people, so we want to make sure people think it's worth it. That gives us the energy to keep going."

More: Counting Crows & Dashboard deliver theatrical, intimate goodness at Moon concert

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at [email protected] .

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Matchbox Twenty co-founder says what to expect from tour headed here

Recommended Stories

Nfl mock draft: trades galore as one of the best qb prospects slides outside the top 10.

Charles McDonald and Nate Tice's latest mock draft has five quarterbacks off the board in the top 13, a big-time weapon for Aaron Rodgers and some steals in the second half of the first round.

Longtime ESPN anchor John Anderson says he's retiring from 'SportsCenter:' 'The operation has changed'

Anderson has been hosting "SportsCenter" since 1999.

Draymond Green ejected less than 4 minutes into Warriors vs. Magic after arguing with official

Stephen Curry appeared to fight tears as he reacted to the ejection.

Mets pitcher ejected for throwing behind Brewers' Rhys Hoskins a day after heated exchange

Rhys Hoskins had a big day for the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday, continuing his grudge match against the New York Mets.

Stocks just had their best first quarter in 5 years — here's where strategists think the market is headed

With stocks off to their best start in five years, many strategists on Wall Street still make a case for the S&P 500 to keep chugging higher.

One fateful decision summed up North Carolina's Sweet 16 demise

Jae’Lyn Withers shot UNC's most important 3-pointer of the game when he had no business firing away. And now the No. 1 Tar Heels are going home.

Benches clear in Blue Jays-Rays after Génesis Cabrera shoves José Caballero

We have our second bench-clearing brawl of the season.

Kenny Brooks leaves Virginia Tech for Kentucky job in stunning end of era

Within a couple of weeks, Virginia Tech's Final Four hopes dropped because of Elizabeth Kitley's injury and Brooks exited for the SEC.

2024 New York International Auto Show Editors' Top 5 Picks

Though not the biggest New York International Auto Show, there were still some exciting reveals and even a surprise or two. We pick the best of show.

Ex-Jaguars employee who once hacked team's Jumbotron sentenced to 220 years in prison for child molestation

The FBI searched Samuel Arthur Thompson's home after figuring out he hacked the Jaguars' jumbotron. What they found next was awful.

Matchbox Twenty Had Written Off Future Recordings, Then Turned in a New Album About Now

'Where the Light Goes,' due out May 26, features a guest turn by Amanda Shires

By Leena Tailor

Leena Tailor

• Backstreet Boys Reveal Surprising *NSYNC Influence on New Christmas Album, Tease Plans for 30th That Will ‘Break Everyone’s Brains’ 2 years ago
• AJ McLean Reveals How Backstreet Boys Linked With Drake for ‘I Want it That Way’ in Toronto, Debuts Provocative Video for New Solo Song 2 years ago
• Abercrombie & Fitch Controversy Is Not Putting a Crimp in LFO’s Return to Touring: ’Summer Girls’ Is ’Not About That’ 2 years ago

Asked by a Twitter follower if Matchbox Twenty ’s forthcoming album “Where the Light Goes” features bonus tracks, band co-founder Paul Doucette replied, “No. But really the record is a bonus, so yes 12.” Fans may have chuckled, but the multi-instrumentalist wasn’t kidding. In his mind, future recordings with the Grammy-nominated group were not in the cards.

“Your dreams at 20 don’t have to be your dreams at 50,” continues Doucette, a composer on Apple TV’s “For All Mankind.” “I thought, ‘We can always go out and play, but if we never make another record, it’s okay. We had a great run.’ I had written us off.”

Throw in Kyle Cook’s solo ventures and brief departure from the group and Thomas’ hesitations around losing the autonomy of his solo career (releasing “Chip Tooth Smile” in 2019, a Christmas album in 2021 and co-writing songs with artists including Carlos Santana and Conrad Sewell) and the band could have simply continued touring with hits like “Push,” “3AM” and “Long Day.”

But as their anthemic album opener, “Friends,” notes, “There’s a rhythm to the way life goes,” and for Thomas (vocals), Cook (guitar, vocals, keys), Doucette (guitar, drums, keys, background vocals) and Brian “Pookie” Yale (bass), that meant finding their way back to the studio — even if it takes 11 years.

Initially planning several new songs for tour, a full album — their fifth full-length for Atlantic Records –naturally culminated from three postponements, antsy fans and a pile-up of tracks.

“Once songs develop color and personality, it’ like, ‘Hey, this is who we are now,’” says Thomas. “Then we can build on that because part of the journey’s figuring out what our individual parts sound like when they’re together again — and do we still like it? Luckily, we did.”

While lyrics like “All my friends are here” are itching to be performed live amid long-awaited reunions with fans and crew, Thomas initially dismissed the challenging track. However, Doucette defiantly persevered.

“It was about the joy it brought me when I came up with that opening,” says Doucette, who produced the album alongside Cook and Gregg Wattenberg. “It made me so happy because it reminded me of T’Pau. I went, ‘I can’t ever give up on this song,’ so kept going and going.”

Featuring vocals from Doucette and Wattenberg’s children, the track was almost as arduous as “One Hit Love,” which Doucette started then relinquished to the too-hard basket. Thomas, Wattenberg, a choir and poignant strings arrangement helped rescue the stirring slow-tempo.

“It was like slaying a dragon,” confesses Doucette. “But what’s great about Greg Wattenberg is he’ll push, push and keep pushing, even when Rob and I go, ‘We’ve got it.’”

It was Wattenberg who suggested singer-songwriter Amanda Shires duet with Thomas on the cheerful “No Other Love.” Cook, who released solo effort “Wolves” in 2019, meanwhile, takes center stage in soulful, self-penned “I Know Better.”

But it’s punchy tunes like “Don’t Get Me Wrong” and the title track which encapsulate the DNA of Matchbox Twenty, perfected after 30 years of music-making. Sounding like it was plucked from an ‘80s movie, rock-fuelled “Where the Light Goes” reflects the unwavering influences the era left on the band. Sure to command concert-goers to their feet, the feel-good track’s finishing touch was Doucette’s drumming.

“[Drummer] Gunnar [Olsen] played phenomenally, but there was something that didn’t feel like Matchbox Twenty,” says Doucette. “It’s tiny things like where I lay the snare against Rob’s voice or the way Kyle or Pookie play, which is the sound of Matchbox.”

“If people imagined the next phase of Matchbox Twenty, they would imagine that song,” adds Thomas . “It needed Paul playing drums to add the last ingredient.”

The core ingredients of all four band members were key to Matchbox Twenty’s return. Yet, just like Doucette, Cook once wrote off further music-making with the group. The father-of-two exited in 2016, citing a communication breakdown.

Thomas reflects on the conflict as a “non-event” given that the band weren’t working together at the time and made amends in time for 2017’s “A Brief History of Everything” tour.

“It’s funny because had you not brought that up, I’d forgotten,” adds Doucette. “We’ve all had that period [of doubts]. Kyle was maybe more public and went further with it.”

“We joke about that,” says Thomas. “It’s like, ‘Dude, we found out on Twitter!’”

And while the foursome still faces tense moments — like the band’s first album meeting ending in a fight — they swiftly move on.

“It doesn’t escalate the way it used to,” says Thomas. “There were definitely periods where I’d do something with Paul and Gregg and Kyle’s initial response wasn’t favorable, but because we weren’t all in there fighting, he would live with it for two days then call back saying, ‘I see where that was going now.’ Or I’d tell Paul, ‘That’s not a bridge,’ then days later, I’m saying, ‘That’s a perfect bridge.’ There’s something to be said about living with something to really see how you feel about it.”

Adds Doucette: “There’s a love between us that’s eternal and the only time that’s hard is when we’re creating. With four people trying to make something, it’s tough, but for this record that was less so, maybe because we made it in chunks.”

Working virtually on songs before recording batches in New York helped accommodate the individual commitments and passions which have tugged the musicians in different directions. Today, they acknowledge their priorities largely lie outside Matchbox Twenty, with Doucette recounting how sending his child to college recently sharpened his focus.

“I realized how little of their life was spent around Matchbox Twenty,” says Doucette. “It’s like, ‘Here’s the most important thing — being a father — and here’s how little Matchbox [has featured in that].’ Matchbox isn’t unimportant and I’ll be in Matchbox until I die, but that put it into perspective.”

“In our twenties, it was like being in an army family for our families,” adds Thomas. “Everything was in service of Matchbox Twenty. If we had to leave, we never questioned it. Years went by and we gave everything because it meant everything to us. As you get older, you have other gardens to tend to and Matchbox Twenty becomes far from the only important thing, so it’s easier to imagine letting go.”

“The thing about where we are now is it feels like where we should be,” Thomas continues. “There was a moment making this record where I went, ‘This is the exact record I’m supposed to be making and these are the people I’m supposed to be making it with.’ Not because we swore we’d keep the band together, but because our lives converged again in a natural way that felt like this is where we’re supposed to be.”

More From Our Brands

‘snl’: watch travis scott perform ‘my eyes,’ ‘fen’, joseph eichler’s personal silicon valley home is up for grabs at $6.4 million, washington post story on mulkey unlikely to spark defamation suit, the best loofahs and body scrubbers, according to dermatologists, snl helps out fasting muslims with ‘ozempic for ramadan’ — watch, verify it's you, please log in.

Matchbox Twenty

Matchbox twenty interactive fan network.

Go backstage and be a part of the show with Matchbox Twenty like never before through ‘The Matchbox Twenty Network’ – a super fan community that lets you connect directly with Rob, Kyle, & Paul.

As a member, you’ll enjoy incredible access to live behind-the-music meet and greets and exclusive behind-the-scenes events. You can ask questions, connect with the band and fellow fans, and even virtually go on tour with the band! What’s more, a portion of proceeds goes to charity, making your experience even more meaningful.

Join Matchbox Twenty for a VIP seat for conversations about their creative process, the stories behind their music, everything that happens on the road and have all your questions answered by the band. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to be part of Matchbox Twenty’s journey!

Membership Benefits include:

• Behind the Music Live Interactive Meet and Greets:  Each meet and greet is hosted by a band member where they will connect and chat with fans.
• Interactive Fan Club Community Meet Ups:  Virtually join Fan club events.
• Virtual Backstage Pass:  Go on tour with Matchbox Twenty with your virtual backstage pass and get access to pre-show rituals, after shows, behind the scene moments on the tour bus.
• Special Giveaways:  Win exclusive merchandise, signed swag, tickets, opportunity to win VIP experiences ($300+ value)

There are limited early access memberships available.

For questions regarding the Matchbox Twenty Network, please contact [email protected]

Here's Matchbox 20's 2023 tour setlist in Phoenix, from 'Push' to 'Don't Get Me Wrong'

The Slow Dreams Tour brought Matchbox Twenty to Phoenix for first time since 2017’s A Brief History of Everything Tour marking the 20th anniversary of their 10-times-platinum debut, "Yourself or Someone Like You."

And this time, that brief history includes their first new album in 11 years, the much anticipated "Where the Light Goes."

They set the tone for their performance with "Friends," the song that opens “Where the Light Goes,” and made their way through five selections from the album by the time their set was through, including the singles “Wild Dogs (Running in a Slow Dream)” and “Don’t Get Me Wrong.”

But that still left time for the hits, including all five singles from “Yourself or Someone Like You.”

Rob Thomas spoke to The Arizona Republic about how it feels to sing a song like “Push” or “3AM” nearly 30 years after recording them.

Weekend plans? Capt. Kirk, drag queens and street art are the best things to see in Phoenix this weekend

“I'm OK if I never heard those songs ever again,” he says. “But I'm OK with playing them every night.

"Like, there's a living, breathing energy we're sharing with everybody through these songs that have just kind of been around in their life for 27 years. There's no other way for us to look at it other than it's like a member of your family. It doesn't matter whether you like their politics or their conversation at dinner, they're in the (expletive) family."

Matchbox Twenty 2023 setlist for Phoenix stop on Slow Dreams Tour

“How Far We've Come”

“Real World”

“Wild Dogs (Running in a Slow Dream)”

“She's So Mean”

“All I Need”

“Queen of New York City”

“Hand Me Down”

“If You're Gone” (acoustic)

“Mad Season”

“Don’t Get Me Wrong”

“These Hard Times”

“Back 2 Good”

“Bright Lights”

Reach the reporter at  [email protected]  or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter  @ EdMasley.

Support local journalism.   Subscribe to azcentral.com today.