THE BEST OF MATCHBOX - INDEPENDENT - OUT NOW ( Official release date 2 MAY 2004 ). See the Launch Party pics below. 

The long awaited and overdue "Independent - The Best of Matchbox" album is eventually complete and is available to buy now. The album hit all U.K record shops on the 2 May 2005. The album features a selection of the finest Matchbox bands and artists since we began in 2000 and is distributed by Matchbox/Genepool/Universal Music Operations. Look out for The Treliks, Groovycide, The Drown, Frogland, Rusty Springfield, Just, John Jackson, Trevor John,  Playing Nervous, Lucky, The Mariachis and many more.  

There was a rock n' roll launch party for the album at the Carling Bar Academy in Islington in London on the 26th April 2005. The launch was part of Live and Exposed and was supported by Carling and Marshall. 4 bands played live ( The Treliks, Sweet Black Angels, The Mariachis and Just ) and there were hot Indie and retro tunes till everyone fell over. If you missed the fun don't worry there is a full report and photos of the nights antics below. 

Independent - The Best of Matchbox is also now available to order online from Woolworths, Amazon, HMV and Virgin. Click the links above to get it now.  

YOU CAN ALSO BUY THE VERY COOL T-SHIRT - CLICK HERE 

FULL TRACKLISTING 

Nathan Persad – Clean up my Act

The Treliks – I just Don’t Get it

The Drown – When I sleep Next to You

Playing Nervous – Beautiful Face

Esque – Start Letting it go

Just – As Monday Comes

Frogland – Aiming High

The Mariachis – Condolences

Groovycide – She’s the One for Me

Matt Saxton – Anybody Care

John Jackson – Calling Mr In-Between

Graeme Hughes – Humankind

Dale Olivier – Mary

Lucky – Superstar

Trevor John – I Went to school with Elizabeth Hurley

Regan – Heaven Knows

Jon Smith – Hymn 69

NIALL JAMES HOLOHAN (The dark prince of pop)– Unsigned Pretty Little Girl

Sweet Black Angels – Envy

Rusty Springfield – Drop a Bomb   

THE LAUNCH PARTY PICS - FIND OUT WHO OWNS THE FAMOUS LEGS. 

The launch party for the Best of Matchbox was almost sold out with just under 300 music loving punters packing themselves into the very cool Carling Bar Academy in London. The atmosphere was great and and we spotted Rene from Frogland ( who flew over with an entourage from Holland) , James and Richie from Regan, Matt Saxton, Graeme Hughes, John Jackson, Ash and Cliff from Diner, Trevor John, Gigolo John, Dale O, Nathan Persad and Alex Malloy from Kooba Radio in the crowd . The Sweet Black Angels kicked the evening off with a great set showing they are a truly tight and powerful band belting out tracks off their current "Beneath Shadows" album. They sounded better live than on record what a great start to a great evening. The very cool "Just" followed with their delicious blend of melancholy Indie rock and melodic pop songs. They had the audience gripped, played their lovely " As Monday Comes" single and later ended up jamming backstage with members of The Mariachis who followed them. The Mariachis are simply wonderful. They bopped, rocked and got the audience into a folk pop/country frenzy playing the wonderful classic "Condolences". Lead singer Richard Mariachi and keyboard player Sian Mariachi were later seen backstage doing a photo session and getting their legs out ( Well Sian did see the pic's below phwaaaaar-ed ). A great pop band of the future. The very cool Treliks ended the night with a bash as they belted out hits like " Mexican Road Movie" and current single " Stereo". The set was tight, catchy, garagey and energetic and lead singer Phil Speed ( Is that his real name ? -ed ) proved he is one of the best proper rock n' roll frontmen out there today. Even minus an organ player they sounded as hot as their singles and impressed all that were lucky enough to be there. Can you play the organ ? If so They are looking for a new keyboard player. Email: trelikband@hotmail.com to apply. After the bands finished tracks from the Best of album and modern Indie hits blasted out of the speakers as the crowd enjoyed drinks, sex, drugs ( There is caffeine in coke that's a drug - Ed) and gossip. All in all a successful, packed out night showing we are the only true Indie label out there actually making a difference. The evidence is below.  

Back: Members of Just, Richard Mariachi and Rene from Frogland. 

Front: Phil Speed ( The Trelik in a hat ), Dale O and Trevor John get cosy backstage.  

More Rock n ' Roll fun backstage with Just, Mariachis, frogland, Treliks, Dale O and Trevor John. 

Zany Matchbox Radio 24 DJ Gigolo John tries his luck with Sian Mariachi. 

Label Head Dale Olivier enjoys the benefits of his position while Sian from The Mariachis gets her legs out. 

Phil Speed from The Treliks shows us he is the ultimate rock n ' roll leader. Hot set. 

Dale O, Rene Frogland, Gigolo John and Trevor John laugh with joy. ( About what were not sure it may just be the beer - Ed )

The Mariachis strut their stuff on stage showing us they rule the new folk country pop revolution. ( Cool shirt, did you know Richard the singer ( right) is actually a teacher....coooool - Ed). 

Baz the very rock n ' roll bass man from The Treliks beats Kings of Leon at their own game. Rock on Wild man. 

Just, Rene Frogland and Trevor John pose for the cameras.