Can't Wait to hear something new from Rob Thomas!!

[ultramix1978]

i've heard a single could be out this fall or by end of summer, but those are just rumours until i see a release date with my own eyes. I don't think the cd will be released until around christmas season though. I don't know what it will be,what it will sound like but for some reason i just know it's going to be huge and i'm going to love it. After 11 top 10 hits at hot ac/pop i think
i can trust buying his cd without hearing first...........

[Rumors]

I know I'll be buying it on the first day of release. If you haven't gone over to the Music News board you might not know that he will be playing an acoustic show in NYC on Aug 3rd. He'll be playing his new songs. Show is by invite only except for some tickets going for sale on ebay.

[ultramix1978]

Rumors said:

I know I'll be buying it on the first day of release.  If you haven't gone over to the Music News board you might not know that he will be playing an acoustic show in NYC on Aug 3rd.  He'll be playing his new songs. Show is by invite only except for some tickets going for sale on ebay.

awesome

[Ragin]

I seriously could do without this. Yes, I'll probably buy the album, but I would've just as soon had them do another Matchbox Twenty album. I mean they only have 3 albums out, what's this going solo business?

Anyway, I'm not sure I'm really rooting for this to be a hit because I want to see the group stay intact.

[roamer]

RT has said that MB20 would probably have broken up for good if the band members hadn't decided to take a break and do other things. Look at this solo thing as just a prelude to another MB20 album.

[prenatt1166]

I mean they only have 3 albums out, what's this going solo business?

Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham launched their solo careers after only three studio albums with Fleetwood Mac (Fleetwood Mac, Rumours, Tusk).

:)

[ultramix1978]

get used to it, rob thomas has so many song ideas that in 20 years he'll be like Phil Collins & Genesis. It won't hurt either one. Some songs he writes he says are great but they don't sound like something matchbox as a whole want to do so that's why he venting.

[NORTHCOAST]

Don't forget to watch the Bravo special tonight (July 18th) at 9:00 on the Songwriters Hall of Fame.  Rob Thomas sings an piano version of 3AM.  Can't wait.  The rest of the show should be pretty good too. 

[NORTHCOAST]

Thought you'b be interested in this:

The Hollywood Exclusive: Rob Thomas, Jewel join forces for charity event, songs

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith


Don't be surprised if music stars Rob Thomas and Jewel collaborate in coming months.

The beautiful blonde solo artist has agreed to perform at the August 3 fundraiser Thomas' wife Marisol and fashion designer Ron Chereskin are hosting at New York's China Club. Rob's also performing, natch, at the invitation-only event benefiting Rob's and Marisol's Sidewalk Angels Foundation.


Reports the Matchbox 20 frontman, "I've met Jewel a few times. We're on the same label (Atlantic), so we've crossed paths quite a bit. She's really nice, and she's got a hell of a voice on her.


"We'll probably be getting together and writing together for her next record. Mine will be done by then," adds Thomas, who is in the thick of recording a solo album.


Rob and Jewel have each experienced homelessness, and he says, "I think it serves to make us really more cautious. In the back of your mind you think it could all go away someday."


He credits his wife, a model, for doing the heavy lifting when it comes to Sidewalk Angels, which the couple started to help homeless people who cannot afford proper medical attention and animals that have been abandoned or abused.


"Through Sidewalk Angels, we can help out some of these smaller, home-grown charities," he says. Proceeds from the China Club event are going to New York's Pets Alive animal shelter.


Thomas tells us his solo CD will arrive "either the end of this year or early next year." And don't expect a Matchbox 20 record, he advises. "Parts of it sound to me like an '80s soul record."

[Rural Juror]

Thanks for the article, NORTHCOAST!

OMG, Jewel and Rob together on a record?? That's awesome. Should be interesting.

An "80s soul record"? Rob, you're killing us, lol.

[NORTHCOAST]

Here's a recent interview with Rob.  Thought you guys would be interested:

Neala Johnson finds that Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas doesn't do things by halves...


Are you hard at work on this solo album everyone’s talking about? Is it a chance for you to try sounds that people wouldn’t’ approve of in Matchbox Twenty’s world?

Yeah, I’ve been working on it for quite some time; as soon as Matchbox stopped touring the last record. It has been nice and easy, but its weird, quiet, ‘cos there are a lot less people.



Yeah, this record is definitely different enough that people could very well hate it (laughs). So that’s always fun. The question has always been, if I wrote the bulk of songs for Matchbox, what was the difference for me to go do a solo record? But that doesn’t really say a lot about my band, and those guys are the reason Matchbox sounds the way it does.

Just how different might it sound? Rumour has it you might even work with hip hop producers.

I’m working with Matt Serletic, who we made all the Matchbox records with. I didn’t wanna be like, “so, what I’m gonna do now is go find a bunch of hip hop producers and have them paint me up like this”. I wanted him and I to work with different hip hop drummers and bass player, and guitar player that don’t play a lot of rock, and just completely change the way I look at writing. So there’s a hybrid in there, without me going, “Ok, this is my half-salsa, half-hip hop, half-rock record.” That’s three halves…

Do you feel the need to compete with whatever’s hot right now?

I don’t think that’s gonna happen. Part of my blessing in life is I’ve never been hip. We were successful early on, but it was never built on heat, it was built of us playing music. So I’m just trying ot make something all the guys in my band are gonna listen to, be proud of, and still wanna make music with me when its over. And something I wanna put on in my car.

Are you also using this album as an excuse to play with some of you favourite musicians?

Man, you know it! Wendy Melvoin came in and played guitar, and John Mayer. Mike Elizondo, he plays on all the Dr Dre stuff, he’s a completely out-of-left-field guy, but an amazing bass player. It has been fun.

How have you felt looking on as a your label Warner has cut jobs and slashed its artist roster?

It’s scary. I went in after it happened and was having meetings with all the new people. It was weird because I felt like I had to reassert myself. We had a freedom for years, and now there’s a whole new regime that isn’t aware of how things work in our camp. They’re like, “We wanna stop by the studio! Hey, what’s with your hair? Are you thinking about cutting your hair?” and I’m thinking, “Wow, slow down.” I take it in small doses until I start to figure it out.

After three albums, are you happy with the way Matchbox Twenty is perceived?

Yeah, I’m even happen with the people who don’t like us. The more I go through life, I find I really don’t like a lot of those people anyway. I’m on my crusade against hip this year.

How does this crusade manifest itself in your everyday life?

I like to do really proactive things like get drunk and read Spin magazine and complain about hip bands. So far, that’s as far as I’ve gone. But I do plan to extend it in the future, to maybe complaining to other people about hip bands that suck. I don’t like to name names, but you go out and see some of these bands play and you realise part of the criteria for being really hip band is that you must suck live, you must not know how to tune up your guitar. If that’s hip, they can have it.

You let cameras follow you for the doco on Matchbox’s new live DVD, Show. What was off-limits?

The only people we let set rules were the wives. If the wives didn’t want to be seen, it was their prerogative because they didn’t sign up for that. But we were game for whatever.

You’ve been fairly open about your personal life.

Oh yeah. There’s nothing that we hide about our lives. Our wives are really amazing people and the fact they put up with this whole life is amazing in itself. I’m a married guy and that’s important to me. I don’t mind at all people knowing I’m a guy that loves my wife. She’s a huge part of everything I do, she’s’ a part of my music and a part of why I write. So to me, its all interrelated in some way. I mean, I’m lucky, like, I’m no a Backstreet Boy, I’m not Ben Affleck, so people aren’t following me when I go to the grocery store and wanting to know when we’re gonna have a baby.

When are you having a baby?

(laughs) Aw, soon, soon. My wife has been a little ill over this past year and she’s just getting better, so I think it’ll be one of our first priorities.

Last time you were in Melbourne you had to make an early exit when your voice gave out.

Oh my God, that was the worst. It was so awful. That was right when my wife started to really get ill. We were scheduled to go to Sydney to do a TV show and we had to cancel, and I had to leave early and take y wife home. It was the roughest time we’ve ever had, going through Australia. The crowds were great, but as soon as we’d get off the stage, it was hell and heartbreak everyday.

How often do you dip your toe into the celebrity party scene?

Well, you wind up going to a lot of industry things, and I meet a lot of ppl at shows. The beauty of it is, I can sit at home and do nothing, and there are enough rumours floating around.. I heard a great rumour that me and Kevin Spacey were picking up guys together at Hollywood parties for a threesome. I heard a great rumour that I was backstage at Conan O’Brian doing some girl in the prop room. That was in New York, and my drummer, Paul, in LA, heard about it from Janeane Garofalo. SO I realised I don’t have to do anything at all – everyone’s already has these different realities laid out for me. So I have more time to work, which is good.

[NORTHCOAST]

I just read that Darryl Hall and another surprise guest will accompany Rob Thomas & Jewel at the fundraiser this week.  Oh to be in that room!  A couple of people on the MB20 board are going to be there and have promised to report back on Rob Thomas' new stuff and the event in general.  Can't wait to hear the scoop!

[NORTHCOAST]

For MB20/Rob Thomas fans:

Rob Thomas did a fundraising concert the other night accompanied by Jewel, Darryl Hall and Rhett Miller from the Old 97s. 

Here's a recap from some fans who was there.  They posted their comments on the MB20 board:


Here's the setlist for Rob.  I can't find ones for the other artists.

Disease
Ever the Same  (NEW SONG!)
3am
Time After Time
If You're Gone
Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (with Jewel and D. Hall)

They each performed about 6 songs.

Rhett Miller from the Old 97s also performed (he was the 2nd special guest)


I think it would fit best on 'More than you Think You Are'. I give it a 10+. I ABSOLUTELY loved it right away! I can't wait to hear the rest of his new stuff (especially LIVE)!

Rhett Miller played about 5 songs. After Rhett's performance. Rob jumped up on stage to introduce Darryl Hall. He was like "I'm a big fan of this next performer". Darryl and his "guys" came out and played about 5-6 songs. Then after Darryl, Jewel performed (that woman has an incredible voice). She basically took requests from the audience. She seemed impressed that we knew her music. Then Marisol came out and introduced Rob. She goes "The next performer is my personal favorite." She also said "That with his new hair cut she thought that he was the sexiest rock star around". Rob came out and played Disease, Ever the Same(new song), 3am, TAT, IYG and Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (with Jewel & Darryl). Rob thanked everyone for coming out to support the cause.

From what I saw everyone the over all impression of the whole night was two thumbs up!

Rob took the stage after Jewell, and Jewell was after Darryl Hall....and he says "Can someone get me a water please?"....then he said "Oh wait! I see a water down here! Hey, maybe this is JEWEL's water bottle!" ...raises eyes and smiles..."Hey honey? I'm just gonna take a sip of Jewel's water bottle..."...gulp, gulp....Big smile to many hoots...." Feels like I've just had an intimate moment with Jewell"...and Mike yells out "ROB! I think that was Darryl's water bottle!" and Rob laughes and says "oh, I think I just had an intimate moment with Darryl Hall!!".....

soooo funny...

The new song was a quiet beautiful song...a soulful song...but this was an acoustic show for the most part, and that song can change tempo once its on his album, like Disease and 3am gets changed alot...


is absolutely one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in a long time. Here's a little bit of the chorus (that I can remember)

Just let me hold you while your fallin apart
Just let me hold you when we are breakin' down
Call on me
Tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you
Forever with me
Ever the same


He didn't really say a whole lot about his solo album. He just mentioned that he was working on it and that he was a bit nervous to play new songs that he had been working on for the album because no one not even Atlantic Records had heard them yet. Before the show, while we were outside in line Rob, Marisol and Marisol's mother Maria chatted with several of us. Someone asked if there would be a solo tour and Marisol said "Yes, there would be".

That was about the extend of the album/tour talk.

There was about 300 people at the event. The over all vibe was very positive. All the performers did an excellent job. Everyone seated around me really "recieved" the new song "Ever the Same" really well. I'm sure the Atlantic people (who were there in force - even the "big man himself" Amhet Ertengun was there) really thought it was great too.


Here is a link to a thread with some pics:

ubb.atlantic-records.com/matchbox20/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=NEWGD&Number=1275730&Forum=All_Forums&Words=55&Match=Username&Searchpage=7&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=1275703&Search=true#Post1275730