The Matches: 20 Years of E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals—A Love Letter to the Music and Community

I was 13 the first time E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals hit my ears. 20 years have passed like an agonizing flash since then. The Matches weren’t just a band—they were the soundtrack to my figuring it all out, the anthem of awkward teenage nights, and the heart of a community I didn’t know I needed. Two decades later, that magic hasn’t faded one bit.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut album, The Matches lit up The Fillmore in San Francisco, brought the house down at the House of Blues in Chicago (though, sadly, I missed that one) and tore the roof off the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles. I was lucky enough to be in the crowd for two of those shows, where the energy felt like coming home and the cracks of 30+ year old knees kept tempo with songs from the SmartPunk Warped Tour stage.

When I tell you these shows weren’t just performances, I mean it. They were reunions. From the first note of “Dog Eared Page” to the closing chords of “Sick Little Suicide,” the crowd wasn’t just singing along—we were screaming, living every moment like it was 2003 all over again. The Matches didn’t miss a beat. If anything, they’ve only gotten better, somehow balancing the same raw intensity they’ve always had with a reverent love for the art, each other, and the audience.

But it wasn’t just the music that made these nights unforgettable. It was the people. Every time I’ve gone to a Matches show, I’ve walked away with new friends. Filmmakers, hair stylists, jewelers, teachers—people who pour their hearts into their craft the same way The Matches pour their souls into their music. That sense of connection, of finding your people, is something this band has always done better than anyone else.

Seeing this community come together again—30-somethings with young hearts and older knees—was everything I didn’t know I needed after a few rough years. For a couple of hours, we weren’t adults with jobs and responsibilities; we were the kids who fell in love with this band back when we were figuring out who we were. And let me tell you, it felt good.

E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals isn’t just an album—it’s a time capsule. It’s the sound of growing up in the Bay Area, of discovering what art and culture could be, of realizing it was okay to be weird and messy and loud. The Matches gave us a place to belong, and 20 years later, they reminded us it’s still here.

The videos and photos—they’re my way of saying thank you. Thank you to The Matches for the music and the memories. Thank you to the fans who make every show feel like a family reunion. Here’s to 20 years of incredible songs, unshakable friendships, and the kind of community that spans generations.

I’ll see you all at the next one. Let’s keep this going forever.