Photos + Review: The Matches @ House of Blues (Chicago, IL)
The Matches (Oakland, CA), Steady Hands (Philadelphia, PA)
September 28th, 2024
House of Blues in Chicago, IL
Another successful trip to Chicago in the books.
I’m a newcomer to the world of The Matches. I feel like I might have had vague idea of the band 20 years ago when they were hitting the road hard, but never becoming a mainstay for myself.
2020 was the year that changed. Well, a lot of things changed, but one of them in particular being my connection to the band. My fiancee Jamie has been a huge fan of the band, they’re among the many bands she’s introduced me to over the years of knowing her. The year also saw the release of a movie, Bleeding Audio, by Chelsea Christer that was all about the Matches’ upbringing.
I love a good music documentary and there were two very apparent things I got while watching. The Matches had a way farther reach across the scene I did grow up listening to than I realized. They toured with everybody. They were mainstays in the Warped, emo, pop punk scene just as much as bands like Fall Out Boy and Motion City Soundtrack were. The other was just how rabid of a fan base they had was. Like a big ol’ family coming together of sorts. It blew my mind how crazy and hard the crowds went at their shows. I ended up watching the documentary countless times; when it very first released over film festival streaming (because pandemic), showing friends, seeing it in person for a special screening with Chelsea there, and many more.
Four years later, I never really thought that it would happen, but I got to experience the Matches in person! They announced a tour celebrating 20 years of E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals in Chicago and boy am I glad that I made the trip. The show being at House of Blue was the cherry on top; an iconic venue that I’ve been itching to attend and/or photograph a show at for the longest time.
The energy and anticipation was palpable right away after stepping in line. We got in early and the line was already wrapped around the block. Opener Steady Hands were a solid choice of an opener, learning that the drummer from Modern Baseball is the frontman.
To the fans of the Matches: Y’all are crazy, but in the best kind of way. One thing I was not prepared for was the House of Blues turning into a actual bounce house. I felt like I was back in the inflatable Snoopy in Camp Snoopy at the Mall of America, and I had legitimate worry that the floor was going to give. Is that just how the House of Blues is?
Musically the band was phenomenal. Pretty much all of E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals was played and the 20 years of time and improvement at playing the song was very apparent. I love it when good yet raw albums sound even better live because of the band improving at their craft.
I know I had an experience, when after the band went off stage for their encore, the whole audience started singing “Meow, meow-meow, meow” repeatedly. This wasn’t some like minute long fake encore length of time, it was at least five minutes. It was surreal. It was weird. It was also super unique and a memory of the show that’ll stay with me forever.
It’s moments like that that I just say thank you The Matches. I get why fans are so fervent when is comes to you guys now, and thank you for putting on a night like that for a fan like me who didn’t think they’d have the chance toW
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