The Matches- Oakland Band Returns to Former Employer as Headliner
Matches, Fillmore S.F. 6/14, now headliners, once were Fillmore cooks and food servers
The Matches headline the Fillmore, San Francisco, on Saturday, June 14, supported by Scissors for Lefty and Brilliant Red Lights. This is a homecoming for the Matches, not just returning to play the Bay Area as headliners for the first time since the March release of their third CD, A Band In Hope (Epitaph Records), but returning to where they once worked as employees for several years.
Before the Matches stated touring non-stop, back when they were known as the Locals (out of Oakland), three of the four members worked at the Fillmore. Matt Whalen (drums) was first to get a job there, falsifying his age in order to land a position while still a senior in high school, eventually becoming head food server. Six months after starting there, Whalen was surprised to arrive to work to find Shawn Harris (vocals/guitar) in the kitchen washing dishes. Harris soon trained at the Fillmore as a cook, and cooked there and at the Warfield (run by the same promoter then) until the Matches' touring schedule left no time at home. About a year after Harris started, Justin SanSouci (bass/vocals) also joined the staff as a food server.
The Matches were drawn to the Fillmore employment as much for the exposure to the range of music on stage as for the paychecks. While, of course, they were thrilled to witness hugely popular bands to inspire them, they made sure to request work shifts for acts far different from the genre labels that might be applied to their own young, rock band. They were eager to see any great performer display the gifts that made that connection with their audiences, from the Tracy Chapman to the White Stripes to Willie Nelson. And as food preparation and service for the performers is handled by the same staff that serves the paying audience, the Matches-as-workers have vivid recollections of famous musicians' quirks and habits, backstage drama, and some memorable (if brief) interactions.
The Matches have played the Fillmore previously supporting other bands. The first time was 2003 when they opened a multi-band bill for headliner Reel Big Fish; the Matches came on stage all wearing long kitchen aprons to acknowledge their history, much to the amusement of friends still working there.
The Matches are fondly remembered by the Fillmore crew as good people with warmth and humor and as dependable and capable. When they've appeared at the Fillmore previously, the long-time staffers stopped work to watch with pride from the back of the hall, to share in the unusual experience as some of their own take the famous stage. It will be more emotional this time with the Matches rising now to headliner status.
The Matches, Scissors for Lefty, Brilliant Red Lights
presented by Live105 and Performer Magazine
Saturday, June 14, 2008
The Fillmore
Doors: 8:00pm, Show: 9:00pm
1805 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94115
415 346-6000 all ages $18.50
The Matches headline the Fillmore, San Francisco, on Saturday, June 14, supported by Scissors for Lefty and Brilliant Red Lights. This is a homecoming for the Matches, not just returning to play the Bay Area as headliners for the first time since the March release of their third CD, A Band In Hope (Epitaph Records), but returning to where they once worked as employees for several years.
Before the Matches stated touring non-stop, back when they were known as the Locals (out of Oakland), three of the four members worked at the Fillmore. Matt Whalen (drums) was first to get a job there, falsifying his age in order to land a position while still a senior in high school, eventually becoming head food server. Six months after starting there, Whalen was surprised to arrive to work to find Shawn Harris (vocals/guitar) in the kitchen washing dishes. Harris soon trained at the Fillmore as a cook, and cooked there and at the Warfield (run by the same promoter then) until the Matches' touring schedule left no time at home. About a year after Harris started, Justin SanSouci (bass/vocals) also joined the staff as a food server.
The Matches were drawn to the Fillmore employment as much for the exposure to the range of music on stage as for the paychecks. While, of course, they were thrilled to witness hugely popular bands to inspire them, they made sure to request work shifts for acts far different from the genre labels that might be applied to their own young, rock band. They were eager to see any great performer display the gifts that made that connection with their audiences, from the Tracy Chapman to the White Stripes to Willie Nelson. And as food preparation and service for the performers is handled by the same staff that serves the paying audience, the Matches-as-workers have vivid recollections of famous musicians' quirks and habits, backstage drama, and some memorable (if brief) interactions.
The Matches have played the Fillmore previously supporting other bands. The first time was 2003 when they opened a multi-band bill for headliner Reel Big Fish; the Matches came on stage all wearing long kitchen aprons to acknowledge their history, much to the amusement of friends still working there.
The Matches are fondly remembered by the Fillmore crew as good people with warmth and humor and as dependable and capable. When they've appeared at the Fillmore previously, the long-time staffers stopped work to watch with pride from the back of the hall, to share in the unusual experience as some of their own take the famous stage. It will be more emotional this time with the Matches rising now to headliner status.
The Matches, Scissors for Lefty, Brilliant Red Lights
presented by Live105 and Performer Magazine
Saturday, June 14, 2008
The Fillmore
Doors: 8:00pm, Show: 9:00pm
1805 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94115
415 346-6000 all ages $18.50
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