Biography

Introduction

Matchbook Romance is an American emo band from Poughkeepsie, New York and were formed in 1997.

They were signed to Epitaph Records. They released two full length albums and one EP. Their EP, West for Wishing, released in 2003 was their first recorded album during their time on Epitaph; their full-length debut album, Stories and Alibis, was recorded in the same year.

History

Lead singer/rhythm guitarist Andrew Jordan and bassist Ryan Kienle previously played in Poughkeepsie punk-rock band Fizzlewink. Later, as The Getaway, they were signed to Epitaph Records after the label's owner, Brett Gurewitz, heard the song "Ex Marks The Spot" via Punknews.org. Due to legal reasons (there is a Canadian band with the name The Getaway), they changed their name to Matchbook Romance. The name Matchbook Romance comes from the thirties and forties, where at bars, patrons would write their address on matchbooks and hand it to his/her suitor.

Epitaph released the group's debut EP, West for Wishing, in early 2003, and their first LP, Stories and Alibis, in September 2003. They also appeared on a 4 song split with Motion City Soundtrack in which an acoustic version of "Playing for Keeps" and "In Transit for You" appeared. In fall 2003, Matchbook Romance headlined a US tour and appeared on the cover of Alternative Press magazine.

In 2006 on their second album, Voices, the band decided to change their sound and get away from what they had originally been producing. Their song "Monsters" appeared in Madden NFL 07, Arena Football: Road to Glory, and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.

On March 12, 2007, after a 10 year career, they announced via a MySpace bulletin that they were going on an indefinite hiatus. Lead singer/rhythm guitarist Andrew Jordan, bassist Ryan Kienle are now working on a new project with new music that was to be released in late 2007. The status of this album is unknown. Drummer Aaron Stern joined the band God or Julie and filled in for Mark O'Connell of Taking Back Sunday for the Projekt Revolution tour during summer 2007, and later joining the band You, Me, and Everyone We Know. Lead guitarist Ryan DePaolo started a new band, HILLvalley, in December 2007.

On February 9, 2009, rumors surfaced on Absolutepunk.net that the band would be reuniting. In early 2008 lead singer Andrew Jordan put up a blog on his personal MySpace that he was writing a new album. It was not specified if he was making a solo album or if it was to be Matchbook Romance's third studio album.

On March 12, 2009, more rumors surfaced that the band would be reuniting when the official Matchbook Romance MySpace turned into a counter. It counted down to midnight on March 13. Shows in May 2009 were confirmed on their MySpace page on 13 March 2009.