Dear, dear Matches fans,

We've spent 2009 soul searching, as a group and separately, starting new projects and having lives outside of our little white tour van. We've been lucky to have been 4 artists (well, 5, really) involved in a nearly decade-spanning group project, and have been even luckier to have you as an audience. However, our time to start new projects has come, and right now, The Matches has become something we prefer to look back upon proudly.

Not knowing if or when we might play together as The Matches again, we've decided to play a couple going-away shows in our home state of California in August. Sorry this could not be a world tour, for all of you who won't be able to make it. And for those of you who can, we want to make the shows a celebration of all of our years playing for you; including songs from our whole catalog, (yes, E. Von Dahl too!).

We extend our endless gratitude to all of you who have listened, seen us on tour, bought a CD or t-shirt, and inspired us with your energy and enthusiasm for our art. Matches fans have always been known as being uncommonly intense and dedicated. We thank you for supporting us over the past 8 years, and hope that you'll continue to be fans of our future music and life endeavors.

Final Shows:

Saturday August 22 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
Sunday August 23 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore

Justin San Souci will be joining us on a few songs at The Fillmore show.

Some of you in Northern California may have caught one of Jon's solo shows in the past couple of months. His new band (currently unnamed) is debuting at Blake's On Telegraph in Berkeley, CA on Friday August 21. Advance tickets are available through http://www.facebook.com/l/;..http://www.ticketweb.com. We're all going and so should you. He has acoustic versions of a few songs on his Myspace, http://www.facebook.com/l/;..http://www.myspace.com/..jonathandevoto.

Much love,
The Matches