Melisma/Atlantic rock group matchbox twenty is returning to the North American concert circuit this fall for a major cross-continental tour. Slated to open on September 24th in Tallahassee, Florida, the itinerary will keep the band on the road through the end of the year. The first two weeks of shows have just been announced, with more dates being added daily.
In early July, matchbox wrapped up a ten-week headlining tour of North America, and the quintet has just returned from a sold-out arena tour of Australia. In September, the matchbox show moves on to Europe, with a schedule which includes sold-out shows at such venues as London’s famed Wembley Arena.
The announcement of matchbox twenty’s return to North American stages coincides with the ongoing success of their current album, “MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE.” The album’s record-breaking second single, “Unwell,” has held the #1 spot on the Adult Top 40 radio charts for 16 weeks, holding the all-time spin record at the format and becoming the group’s longest-running chart-topper. “Unwell” is also a smash at Top 40/ CHR outlets, where it remains in the top 10; and the song is now in its tenth week in the top 10 of the Billboard “Hot 100.” In addition, the song’s companion video continues to be in X-Large rotation on VH1, where it has been the #1 most-played clip.
At the same time, the album’s just-released third single, “Bright Lights,” has been the #1 most-added song for two weeks in a row at the Top 40 Adult format, where it has already bulleted into the top 30. Penned by the band’s lead singer/songwriter Rob Thomas, the rockin’ track is already shaping up to join the band’s remarkable string of hit singles, which includes such radio smashes as “Push,” “3AM,” “Real World,” “Back 2 Good,” “If You’re Gone,” “Bent,” “Mad Season,” “Disease” (the current album’s first single), and “Unwell.”
matchbox twenty holds the distinction of having had more #1 hits and spending more weeks at #1 on both the national Modern AC and Adult Top 40 charts than any other artist in history, according to the Nielsen BDS airplay monitoring service.
The RIAA platinum-plus “MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE,” the third matchbox twenty album, is currently in its ninth straight month on The Billboard 200.
North America Fall 2003 (Additional Dates TBA):
- 9/24 – Tallahassee, FL – Leon County Civic Center
- 9/26 – Greenville, SC – Bi-Lo Center
- 9/27 – Wilmington, NC – Trask Coliseum – at UNC
- 9/28 – Winston-Salem, NC – Lawrence Joel Veterans Mem. Col.
- 10/1 – Portland, ME – Cumberland County Civic Center
- 10/3 – Halifax, NS – Halifax Metro Centre
- 10/4 – St. John, NB – Harbour Station
- 10/6 – Ottawa, ON – Corel Centre
- 10/7 – London, ON – John Labatt Centre
- 10/8 – Hamilton, ON – Copps Coliseum
