Matchbook Romance Recent News

GUITAR HERO III FUELS MATCHBOOK ROMANCE SALES

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:01:00 -0800

Matchbook Romance's Hit Song "Monsters" Gets Boost From Hot New Game

Since Activision's release of the cultural phenomenon Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, which features 2006's hit song "Monsters," sales of Matchbook Romance's digital single have skyrocketed. Featured on the group's 2006 album, Voices, "Monsters" is currently averaging sales of over 5,500 digital copies per week since the game's release. Sales of the digital single have also driven album sales, which saw a significant increase since the games introduction.

"With limited opportunities for young bands to make a real connection with new fans, games like Guitar Hero III are having a huge impact on sales," explains Epitaph's Vice President of Sales Jon Strickland. "Matchbook Romance's sales were up over 1000% over the holiday period due to their appearance as one of the few newer bands featured in the game."

Also featured in Madden NFL 07 and Arena Football: Road to Glory, "Monsters" inclusion on Guitar Hero III marks the singles continued success in the gaming world. Matchbook Romance joins fellow labelmates Bad Religion, Rancid and Gallows who have also been featured in the franchise's games.

Matchbook Romance is interviewed by Popworld.com!

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:10:00 -0700

Matchbook Romance seem to be have a moodier, more mature sound than other emo bands, such as their current touring buddies All American Rejects. We spoke to Andrew (vox/guitar) and Ryan (bass) to see if something has p*ssed them off...

So to anyone who doesn't know who and what are Matchbook Romance?
RYAN: A lot of bands have gotten too caught up in the super, super specific genre names, like, we're post hardcore, screamo, emo, metalcore but we just call ourselves a rock band. We're very moody. We play very beautiful, uplifting, romantic songs to very scary, very dark, hard-hitting parts.

Why the name Matchbook Romance?
RYAN: We are kinda romantic, Andy sings a lot about personal experiences and relationship based things. I mean, we definitely have a romantic vibe as a band so it fits. It didn't really start out with a specific meaning for who we were. We've kind of made our own meanings out of it since then. In old movies when people met at a bar they wrote their number down on a matchbook and gave it to each other. It doesn't really have any super special hardcore meaning for us, it's just a name we came up with when we had to. The music speaks for itself and the name just goes along with it

Have you ever written your number down on a matchbook to give to a girl?
RYAN: No, cell phones nowadays. You just programme it right in.

Last time you couldn't help laughing when you really shouldn't have?
RYAN: When we were in Amsterdam we saw this guy on a scooter. He was clearly handicapped but he's flooring it through a busy street. We were just laughing straight at him and then we were, like, we feel bad because he's handicapped.
ANDREW: But he could work that thing. He could be a stunt double. He was kicking ass, he was insane.'

What is always bound to cheer you up?
ANDREW: My woman and my dog
RYAN: I don't have a dog anymore but my dog did used to cheer me up. Just hanging out with my friends back home.

Stupidest question you've ever been asked by someone?
RYAN: How do you feel about downloading your music on the Internet? How the f*** do you think I feel? I want the money [laughs]. It's not like Lars Ulrich [Metallica drummer who really hates illegal music downloading] style or anything but that was a stock question for the past four years.
ANDREW: Do you have it on your list?

No, we have some much more stupid questions.
ANDREW: Ah, we got a real reporter [laughs].

Last time you had a bit of a crisis?
ANDREW: Ryan losing his passport in Japan.
RYAN: There's that, and more recently than that Ryan Kienle almost losing his passport on the Sea France ferry. There was also Aaron [drums] losing his passport in France.

So you're a bit of a clumsy band?
ANDREW: We have this thing that I call the bad luck machine. It's got it out for us, we get nailed with it a lot.

Last time you threatened someone or felt threatened?
RYAN: I haven't felt threatened in a while. I mean, I roll around with 10 other guys so a whole soccer team would have to show up for me to feel threatened.
ANDREW: Last time we felt threatened we got into a fight in Montana and we beat the crap out of some kids
RYAN: We were at a truck stop and these guys were talking to us. Then they were, like, 'Hey, let's have a dance off.'
ANDREW: Then they started disrespecting a load of people. They were dancing up on this girl right in front of her boyfriend and it was just super uncomfortable. They were completely wasted and high on some kind of drug and they were just hassling everybody. Little did they know that there were a ton of us in a bus right next to place. I went and made a phone call as soon as they started talking sh*t and threw a punch. That's when it just went into an entire fight, right outside the gas station. It was extinguished pretty quick because they were so wasted. There was no backing up, though. You could have beaten them 'til they were dead so we eventually just walked away from it.

Weirdest phone call you've ever received?
ANDREW: I get weird prank calls from kids who end up getting my number somehow. I had one once that was just insane. This girl called me, telling me that something was wrong with her and that she had blood all over her. I freaked out but she was obviously bullsh*ting.

What would really shock us about you?
ANDREW: I don't really think we're that shocking
RYAN: I think the only thing that shocks people... nah, that doesn't even shock anyone 'cos everyone knows we're stoners.

So you're not secret Britney fans then?
ANDREW: No, but I like that Kelly Clarkson song. Maybe we should be more shocking, and that's our downfall.

If you could have an event from your past on video so you could watch it back whenever you want, would event would it be?
RYAN: Oh, man, the day I started a riot at the Midhudson Civic Centre. I was playing hockey and sadly enough one of the kids that was on my team, Nick, his older sister died of an epileptic seizure her first weekend at college. Nick scored a goal and some kid said, 'Why don't you shut up before I put you where your sister is.' That was it. We started fighting the hell out of the kid in centre ice which turned into his mother in the crowd saying, 'Someone get that animal off of my kid'. Then my mum stood up and was, like, 'That animal is my son'. Then the entire crowd clashed and it turned into a 22-player brawl on the ice. It was epic and my mum's no longer allowed at the Midhudson Civic Centre as long as she lives. Her picture is still on the wall saying do not let her in.

Bet you were proud of your mum.
RYAN: Hell, yeah. My mum's a brawler.

Vote Matchbook Romance for Fuse.tv Chainsaw Award!

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 00:09:00 -0700

The Matchbook Romance video for "Monsters" has been nominated for a Fuse.tv "Chainsaw" award; the video is in the category of Best Female Villain and we need your help in voting for them!

Hit the link below and vote for their video; it would be a great honor for these guys to win this award, so let�s help them do it!

www.fuse.tv/chainsaw/

Catch Matchbook Romance on the Carson Daly show!

Mon, 22 May 2006 00:05:00 -0700

Matchbook Romance's killer performance on the Carson Daly show will re-air this Wednesday May 24, 2006! The band will be performing their song "You Can Run But We'll Find You" from the Voices album, and if you saw this the first time around, you know how great it sounded.

Get more information at the link below:

www.nbc.com

mtvU.com posts Matchbook Romance tour video log!

Mon, 08 May 2006 00:05:00 -0700

While Matchbook Romance were out on the road headlining the Take Action! Tour, mtvU gave them a video camera and had them keep a "video log" of the events out on the road!

The video log is now done and posted on their website, so check it out at the link below!

www.mtvu.com

Take Action! Tour feature to air on mtvU!

Sat, 29 Apr 2006 00:04:00 -0700

This weekend, mtvU will be airing a killer feature/news piece on the 2006 TAKE ACTION! TOUR this Sunday and Monday. As you all know, Matchbook Romance headlined this tour, so you can bet you will get a heaping dose of MBR in this piece!

The airtimes are as follows: (Est/Pst)

Sun 4/30: 1:15pm, 2:15pm, 3:15pm, 4:15pm, 5:15pm, 7:15pm, 8:15pm

Mon 5/1: 9:15am, 11:15am, 1:15pm, 3:15pm

Matchbook Romance to hit the road with Yellowcard!

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 00:04:00 -0700

(Epitaph, Los Angeles, CA) With their new album Voices receiving critical acclaim and just coming off a stellar headlining run on the Take Action! Tour, MATCHBOOK ROMANCE has accepted the post as main support for the summer-long Yellowcard headlining tour!

MATCHBOOK ROMANCE will pick-up the tour on June 1st, in Tempe, AZ. From there, they will continue as main support for ten of the thirteen scheduled dates, until the tour finally concludes on June 26th in Philadelphia, PA. This will be the first time MATCHBOOK ROMANCE and YELLOWCARD share the stage together.

In a review of Voices, AP Magazine said ��forget what you know about MBR; this is the new noise!� The band will be performing songs from Voices, including the hit single, �Monsters,� as well as fan favorites off their Epitaph debut LP, Stories And Alibis.

All confirmed MATCHBOOK ROMANCE / YELOWCARD dates are as follows:
01-Jun Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre
02-Jun Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre
03-Jun Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theatre
05-Jun Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
07-Jun Bakersfield, CA - Rabobank Convention Center
10-Jun Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
11-Jun Santa Barbara, CA - County Bowl
14-Jun Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom
15-Jun Omaha, NE - Rosenblatt Stadium
17-Jun Birmingham, AL - City Stages Festival
19-Jun Norfolk, VA - NorVa
21-Jun New York, NY - Nokia Theatre
26-Jun Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory

Check out a killer Matchbook Romance feature from the Poughkeepsiejournal.com!

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 00:04:00 -0700

Local papers love local bands, and the Poughkeepsiejournal.com is no exception! They have put together a really great Matchbook Roamnce feature/slideshow and have done it with all of the positive bias a hometown can spare!

Check it out here

Matchbook Romance land "Featured Band" on Fuse.tv!

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 00:04:00 -0700

Fuse has developed a new featured webpage titled "Just For The F Of It" and Matchbook Romance is the featured band for the entire month of April!

There is a bunch of photos, videos, information and much more on this special webpage, so hit the link below and check out what Fuse.tv has to offer!

www.justforthefofit.com

See Matchbook Romance on the MTV2 Dew Circuit Showcase!

Fri, 24 Mar 2006 00:03:00 -0800

Live from Austin, TX! See Matchbook Romance perform live on the MTV2 Dew Circuit Showcase. The show premieres on MTV2 on Saturday March 25th at 8 PM (EST).

Along with Matchbook Romance, you can catch acts like Morningwood, Halifax, Hellogoodbye and many more!

Check out this killer show here