The Matches without a doubt have been influenced by fellow East Bay acts Rancid and Green Day. Not only do they play a distinct brand of Oakland pop punk, The Matches are incredible entrepreneurs. In their underage days it was hard to land a gig so they fathered a series of shows called L3: Live, Loud, and Local, that served as a launching pad for local bands, including the aforementioned Street To Nowhere. The Matches invented the promotional tactic “Commo Promo,” playing anywhere and everywhere, including outside restaurants, malls, and letting out concerts. They were signed by Epitaph Records and released their second album, Decomposer in 2006. Look for the star-studded producers Tim Armstrong (Rancid), John Feldmann (Goldfinger), Mark Hoppus (Blink 182), and Nick Hexum (311).