Rob Thomas is celebrating a couple of musical anniversaries this year.
It’s been 30 years since he co-founded Matchbox Twenty from the ashes of Tabitha’s Secret in Orlando, Florida. And it’s been 20 years since he stepped out of the band he still fronts to make his first solo album, the double-platinum “… Something To Be.”
“I’m fortunate that the job I do is literally part of the fabric of my life, but it’s a weird thing to get to this point,” Thomas, 53 — who also had Grammy Award-winning success co-writing and singing Santana’s “Smooth” in 1999 — says via Zoom from his home in New York. “Everything about it feels simultaneously like it’s happened forever and it just started a couple days ago. You spend a whole lot of time on it, and then it just pops up on you. ‘Well … that’s right, it’s been this long. ‘Cause there’s nothing about me that feels the age I am, even if there are certain hard truths when we look in the mirror, or that our knees are telling us at certain times.
“But creatively you just feel like, ‘Ah, there’s gonna be something really great around the bend if I just keep working at it.’”
For Thomas, that next thing is “All Night Days,” his sixth solo album, which is due out Sept. 5. Some of the songs were considered for Matchbox Twenty’s last studio album, 2023’s “Where the Light Goes,” and Thomas says his album would have preceded that if not for pandemic delays that altered scheduling. Some of his bandmates appear on the solo album track “I Believe It,” and the first single, “Hard To Be Happy,” even dates back to 2020.
“I had a long time to curate this record,” says Thomas, whose son, Maison Eudy, plays guitar on the album and in the singer’s current band. “I had more time to sit with those songs and write better songs and go, ‘Let’s replace that with this’ and ‘Let’s do that.’ I think it became a better record for it.”
Rob Thomas and A Great Big World perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24 at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre, 14900 Metro Parkway, Sterling Heights. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
Other music events of note this weekend (all subject to change) include …
FRIDAY, AUG. 22
• Country hitmaker Hardy’s Jim Bob World Tour plays at 6:30 p.m. and again on Saturday, Aug. 23 at Pine Knob Music Theatre, 33 Bob Seger Drive, Independence Township. Koe Wetzel, Stephen Wilson Jr. and Sikarus are also on the bill. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• Nine Inch Nails brings the Peel It Back World Tour 2025 to Little Caesars Area at 7:30 p.m. Boys Noize opens. 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• R&B stalwarts Maxwell and Marsha Ambrosius are paired at 8 p.m. and again on Saturday, Aug. 23 at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 Atwater St. at Chene, Detroit. 313-393-7128 or TheAretha.com.
• Coheed and Cambria and Taking Back Sunday co-headline at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre, 14900 Metro Parkway, Sterling Heights. Foxing also performs. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• Michigan-bred JR JR and Ohly combine for a sold-out night at the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-544-1991 or themagicbag.com.
• Hotline TNT presents its new album, “Raspberry Moon,” at 7:30 p.m. at Third Man Records, 441 W. Canfield St., Detroit. 313-209-5205 or thirdmanrecords.com.
• verygently and Brother Elsey team at Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.
• Pianist Mr. B presents a Blues and Boogie Piano Celebration for free at 7 p.m. in the Rivera Court at the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-833-7900 or dia.org. He also plays at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23 at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1800 or theark.org.
• West Michigan’s Hacky Turtles celebrate the release of a new album at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
• The Alley Deck in Detroit’s Masonic complex will be going all weekend long, with Raedy Lex followed by Simon Doty, Sherif and Ro Low on Saturday, Aug. 23 (9 p.m. doors for both) and DJIRL headlining a matinee on Sunday, Aug. 24 (doors at 3 p.m.). 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 9 p.m. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.
• The electronic duo Ezybaked will man the decks as well, at 9 p.m. at El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.
• Comic rockers Green Jelly top a multi-act bill at 6:30 p.m. at the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.
• Lakeview and Jason Cross & Ryan Jay play blue collar country at District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte. Doors at 7 p.m. district142live.com.
• Vultures of Culture, Mad Vandals and more rock at 7 p.m. at the Diesel Concert Lounge, 33151 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township. 586-933-3503 or dieselconcerts.com.
• Allen Dennard presides through Saturday, Aug. 23 at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, 97 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe. 313-882-5399 or dirtydogjazz.com.
• The Michael Malis Quintet jazzes it up through Saturday, Aug. 23 at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• Saxophonist Walter Blanding and his Quintet play at 7 p.m. at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
• Virtual: The Devon Allman Project plays at 7:30 p.m. from Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club in New Hampshire, via veeps.com.
• Virtual: Disco Biscuits livestream at 8 p.m. from Ardmore, Pennsylvania, and again on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 23-24, via nugs.net.
• Virtual: Costumed monster rockers Gwar perform “Live From Hellmouth,” celebrating the band’s 50th anniversary, at 9 p.m. via veeps.com.
• Virtual: Billy Strings plays live at 10:30 p.m. from Everett, Washington, and again at the same time Saturday. Aug. 23 from Eugene, Ore. via nugs.net.
SATURDAY, AUG. 23
• New Orleans rap legend Lil Wayne and his Tha Carter IV Tour play at 8 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Tyga and Belly Gang Kushington support. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• Canada’s Simple Plan tops a package that includes 3OH!3, Bowling For Soup and LOLO at 6:30 p.m. at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre, 14900 Metro Parkway, Sterling Heights. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• Detroit rock troupe We Came As Romans celebrates the release of its new album “All Is Beautiful … Because We’re Doomed” at the Fillmore Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave. After The Burial, Currents and Johnny Booth also perform. Doors at 6 p.m. 313-961-5451 or thefillmoredetroit.com. For an interview, visit theoaklandpress.com.
• The Smithereens make an annual visit to the Magic Bag, this time with John Cowsill — yes, of “The Rain, the Park & Other Things fame — handling lead vocals. Doors at 7 p.m. 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. 248-544-1991 or themagicbag.com.
• Techno hero Stacey Pullen lays an open-to-close set at TV Lounge, 2548 Grand River Ave., Detroit. Doors at 9 p.m. paxahau.com.
• Jazz saxophonist Marcus Elliot hosts the first concert at the restored Michigan State Fairgrounds, now known as the Palmer Park bandshell, at 2 p.m. The bandshell is now located in the northwest section of Palmer Park, off Seven Mile Road. For more details, visit detroitmi.gov.
• Houston DJ Kayzo headlines the two-stage Unleashed ’25 showcase at the Crofoot Ballroom, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-858-9333 or thecrofoot.com.
• The Wholesome Boys come from Nashville to play at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
• Vincent Neil Emerson brings his Texas-bred country to El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.
• Autopsy tops a sold-out night of death metal at 6 p.m. at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• Seattle death metal troupe Nox Novaculo brings the doom at Small’s, 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. Doors at 7 p.m. Immaculate Conception, Vazum and Amaranth are also on the bill. 313-873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.
• Plush and Days of Disaster take over at 6:30 p.m. at the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.
• Theater Girl, Fit For Treason, One Exit Down and Squish pile up at 8 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• Tatyana O’voce and Luna present The Selena Experience at the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 8 p.m. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.
• Singer-songwriters Jan Krist and Jim Bizer perform at 6 p.m. at The Gazebo, 1437 W. Marshall St., Ferndale.
• The United States Air Force Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble plays a free show at 7 p.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave., Dearborn. 313-943-2354 or dearborntheater.com.
• Drummer Nick Collins and his Sextet perform 6:30-9:30 p.m., followed by a late night set at 10:15 p.m. by the Alonso Umana Quartet at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
• Virtual: The Marcus King Band streams its Family Reunion festival at 4 p.m. and again on Sunday, Aug. 24 from North Charleston, South Carolina, via nugs.net.
• Virtual: The WLDLFE plays its latest album, “Heaven is a place,” in its entirety at 9 p.m. from Nashville, streaming via veeps.com.
SUNDAY, AUG. 24
• San Diego hardcore group Thousand Below headbangs at Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 6 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.
• Crowbar and Eyehategod have sold out both shows — 2:30 and 8 p.m. — and Autopsy tops a sold-out night of death metal at 6 p.m. at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• Los Angeles’ Youth Code headlines a four-act bill at the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 6 p.m. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.
• Nashville blues guitarist Stacy Mitchhart plays at The Roxy, 401 Walnut Blvd., Rochester. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-453-5285 or theroxyrochester.com.
• Detroit Wheels and Rockets alumni Jim McCarty and Johnny “Bee” Badanjek join the Kenny Parker Band for a special memorial concert at 2 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• Another guitar hero, Alastair Greene, presides at 7:30 p.m. at the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.
• Dichi closes the weekend at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys make their way to The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor for a 7:30 p.m. show. 734-761-1800 or theark.org.
• Pianist Keigo Hirakawa leads a trio at 6 p.m. at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
• Virtual: Umphrey’s McGee livestreams at 7:30 p.m. from Grand Rapids, via nugs.net.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.theoaklandpress.com ’
