Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty sings at Sands Bethlehem Event Center on July 15
From a press release:
Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Rob Thomas, best known as the lead vocalist of Matchbox Twenty and the singer of Santana’s hit single “Smooth,” has announced the release of his highly anticipated fourth solo album, “Chip Tooth Smile” – arriving everywhere April 26 and heralded today by the new single “One Less Day (Dying Young).”
Penned by Thomas and produced by Butch Walker (Panic! at the Disco, P!nk), “One Less Day (Dying Young)” is available now alongside a video companion directed by Andy Morahan (George Michael, Elton John, Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses), seen below.
“This is an anthem about life and living,” Thomas said. “Living one more day is a privilege not afforded to everyone, so do all you can with the ones you get.”
He will celebrate the release of “Chip Tooth Smile” with an extensive North American summer tour with special guest Abby Anderson. The outing kicks off May 28 in Red Bank, New Jersey at the Count Basie Center for the Arts and will continue through early August, stopping at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center on Monday, July 15 at 7 p.m.
Tickets, which are $71.50, $92, and $107.50, plus applicable fees, go on sale next Friday, March 1 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at sandseventcenter.com, the Event Center box office (77 Sands Blvd., Bethlehem), ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets, or by phone at 800-745-3000. A pre-sale for members of the venue’s Music Insiders Club will take place on Thursday, Feb. 28 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Fans pre-ordering the album will receive exclusive first access to tickets beginning this Monday, Feb. 25 at 10 a.m.
Rob Thomas is one of the most distinctive artists of this or any other era – a gifted vocalist, spellbinding performer, and acclaimed songwriter known worldwide as lead singer and primary composer with Matchbox Twenty as well as for his multi-platinum solo work and chart-topping collaborations with other artists. Among his countless hits are solo classics like “Lonely No More,” “This Is How a Heart Breaks,” and “Streetcorner Symphony,” Matchbox Twenty favorites including “Push,” “3AM,” “If You’re Gone,” and “Bent” and, of course, “Smooth,” his three-times RIAA platinum certified worldwide hit collaboration with Santana, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
Thomas earned three Grammy Awards for his role as co-writer and vocalist on “Smooth,” which topped Billboard’s Hot 100 for an astounding 12 consecutive weeks and spent 58 total weeks on the chart, the No. 1 song in Billboard’s Top Hot 100 Rock Songs chart history and No. 2 Hot 100 song of all time. As if that weren’t enough, “Smooth” was declared the all-time No. 1 song on Billboard’s Adult Pop Songs radio airplay chart, the No. 1 song of the rock era based on chart performance on the Hot 100, and recently declared to still hold the spot as the second most successful song of all time by Billboard.
In 2004, Thomas was the first artist to be honored with the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s prestigious Hal David Starlight Award, created to recognize a composer in the early years of his or her career that has already made a lasting impact. He has won numerous BMI and ASCAP Awards and twice earned the Songwriter of the Year crown from both Billboard and BMI. Overall, he has contributed to sales of more than 80 million records.
Thomas made his solo debut with 2005’s platinum-certified “Something to Be” and immediately made history as the first album by a male artist from a rock or pop group to ever debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. His sophomore solo album, 2009’s “Cradlesong,” marked still another milestone, generating two No. 1 singles in “Her Diamonds” and “Someday.” Billboard chart history was made once again, with Thomas tying P!nk for the most No. 1 Adult Top 40 hits by a solo artist as well becoming the first male solo artist to score multiple chart-toppers on the format.
In 2012, Matchbox Twenty returned with their first all-new album in a decade, “North.” Fueled by the hit singles “She’s So Mean,” “Overjoyed,” and “Our Song,” “North” proved a landmark for the band, their first ever No. 1 debut and Billboard 200 chart-topper. Thomas’ third solo album, 2015’s internationally acclaimed “The Great Unknown,” had a Top 10 debut on the SoundScan/Billboard 200 upon its release and featured hit singles “Hold on Forever” and “Pieces.”
A charismatic, engaging, and indefatigable live performer, Thomas has spent much of the past two decades on the road, fronting massive world treks with Matchbox Twenty and on his own as well as a series of intimate acoustic tours. He is also a dedicated philanthropist, establishing the Sidewalk Angels Foundation with his wife Marisol Thomas in 2003. The organization is dedicated to providing critically needed funds and support to over 20 no-kill animal shelters and animal rescues across the country that help to fight for the rights and fair treatment of those with no voice.
