A pop-punk band from Poughkeepsie, New York, is set to make a highly anticipated return. On January 16, 2024, Matchbook Romance will release their first new song in two decades, titled “Something Worse Than the Night.” The announcement was made on Monday via the band’s Facebook page, where they shared a teaser clip with their nearly 70,000 followers.
The video accompanying the announcement features an individual dressed in a Superman costume gazing at a grainy television displaying the band’s logo. This nostalgic imagery resonates with fans who have followed the band since their rise to fame during the Warped Tour and MySpace era.
Matchbook Romance, formed in 1997, initially performed under the names Fizzlewink and The Getaway. In 2001, they signed with Epitaph Records, leading to the release of two albums in the early 2000s, including their most recent, “Voices,” in 2006. The lineup includes singer-guitarist Andrew Jordan, bassist-vocalist Ryan Kienle, and guitarist Ryan “Judas” DePaolo, along with drummer Aaron Stern, who graduated high school just as the band gained traction.
In an interview, Jordan reflected on their early days, saying, “We never thought it was something that could actually come true for us. We always thought, ‘What are our chances?’” The group dropped their college plans to focus on the band, releasing notable tracks like “Monsters,” which has garnered over 50 million streams on Spotify.
As the early 2000s witnessed an explosion of pop-punk, emo, and alternative rock, Matchbook Romance gained attention through magazine features, including the cover of Alternative Press, appearances on MTV Spring Break, and headlining the Epitaph Tour. Despite their success, the band went on hiatus after 2006, only to regroup for a few shows between 2013 and 2018.
In December 2023, they hinted at a more significant reunion with a post that read “Indefinitely,” accompanied by a photo of a microphone. While it remains unclear if a full-length album will follow the new single, the announcement has sparked excitement among fans, with comments reflecting their eagerness: “Finally!!!! I am so excited!!!” and “We have only been waiting like 20 years.”
The resurgence of pop-punk and emo music has been notable in recent years, with artists like Goldfinger, Good Charlotte, The Ataris, Hawthorne Heights, New Found Glory, and The Cab releasing new music and embarking on tours. As Matchbook Romance prepares to release their new song, they join a wave of nostalgia that continues to captivate both old and new fans alike.
