Matchbox Twenty performs at Concord Pavilion in Concord, Calif., on May 21, 2023. Photo by Jim Trocchio. CONCORD, Calif. — Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas made an observation as he looked out over the large gathering at Concord Pavilion during the home stretch of his band’s set. “It’s funny,…

Matchbox Twenty, “Where the Light Goes.” Where the Light Goes may have been as much as a surprise to alt-rockers Matchbox Twenty as anyone. The band had no plans for new recordings for years; each member was locked into his own side project. It seemed unlikely that a light would shine…

It seems that with many duet albums that bring disparate popular music talents together, there’s a sort of sliding scale of how much influence the “host” is willing to give up. Sometimes the host artist lets guests take command. In other instances, the guests function as little more than…

Matchbox Twenty performs at HP Pavilion in San Jose on March 12, 2008. This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. SAN JOSE — Nineties nostalgia overtook the HP Pavilion Wednesday night as recently reunited Matchbox Twenty, touring in support of greatest hits/new material double album “Exile on Mainstream,”…