The Matches, a recent addition to the legendary Epitaph Records line-up, formed in 1997 in Oakland, California. Their pop-punk sound, steeped in the influence of fellow east bay bands Green Day and Rancid, immediately grabbed the attention of young concert-goers in the Bay Area under the name "The Locals". As "The Locals," they played what could be characterized as reggae influenced pop-punk. Gradually, their style started shifting towards new-wave influenced rock, noting influences such as Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson, even recording a cover of Jackson's "Got the Time." "The Locals" moniker soon brought them copyright infringement complications when Yvonne Doll, the frontwoman from the Chicago indie rockband of the same name, contacted the band and, according to rumor, bitterly demanded that the band change their name!
The band gained notoriety for "commo-promo," or commotion promotion, in which they would bring their acoustic guitars and play outside of various bay area venues as concerts for larger acts were letting out. In conjunction with Oakland's iMusicast venue, the band started producing their own shows called L3 (Loud, Live, & Local), which became a launchpad for many other bay area bands, as well as attracting such headlining acts as Link 80, Sugarcult, and Zebrahead, among others.
Eventually, the band under the new name, landed a record deal on Brett Gurewitz's Epitaph Records, although they had already successfully recorded and released the album "E. Von Dahl Killed The Locals," without a recording contract. The version released by Epitaph lacks the song "Superman," but adds the songs "Borderline Creep," and "More Than Local Boys," as well as slight changes to lyrics on "The Jack Slap Cheer," and the last untitled track (often referred to as "Track 11," or "Scratched out.")
