The Matches

The exuberant Oakland pop-punk outfit the Matches initially formed as the Locals in 1997 when vocalist/guitarist Shawn Harris, drummer Matt Whalen, and bassist Justin San Souci were still in the early days of high school together. Frustrated with the lack of under-21 venues in the Bay Area at the time, the guys took matters into their own hands, seizing a local warehouse that had been converted into a webcasting soundstage and launching a series of shows called L3: Live, Loud and Local. The band, which now also included guitarist Jon Devoto, initiated what they called "Commo P...