Matchbook Romance is a melodic hardcore unit from Poughkeepsie, NY. The band started in 1997 when bassist Ryan Kienle, vocalist/guitarist Andrew Jordan, and drummer Aaron Stern's band, Fizzlewink, added guitarist Ryan Judas DePaolo and became the Getaway. All computer-savvy, the bandmembers hit the Internet hard, designing their own website and using it for shameless promotion of their wildly emotional take on crashing, midtempo hardcore. The band gained exposure through listings on unsigned band sites like /MP3.com, and eventually began playing to a growing audience throughout the Northeast.
Epitaph honcho Brett Gurewitz heard the Getaway's demo via /punknews.org, got in touch with Jordan, and soon the bandmembers found themselves in California, signing a deal with the famous punk rock label. Legal issues encouraged the Getaway to become Matchbook Romance, Gurewitz volunteered to produce their debut EP, tours were arranged, and Joe Barresi (Weezer, Pennywise) was lined up to produce the band's eventual full-length. Not bad for a bunch of guys who had faith in /MP3.com. The West for Wishing EP appeared in April of 2003 with their debut full-length, Stories and Alibis, surfacing five months later. Lots of touring helped the latter release sell upward of 200,000 copies, and a 2004 split with Motion City Soundtrack satisfied fans until the more ambitious Voices was issued in February 2006. The guys spent much of the year on the road, including summer dates opening for Yellowcard. However, by March 2007, it all came to a sudden end as Matchbook Romance announced it was going on an indefinite hiatus for unspecified reasons. ~ Johnny Loftus, Rovi
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