matchbox Donates Tix For Charities

NY (Top40 Charts) - A handful of front row tickets to second leg shows on matchbox twenty's ongoing U.S. tour have been donated by the band to VH1 Save the Music and Musicians on Call. Each organization will auction the tickets via the VH1 Web site to raise funds for their programs.

Save the Music works to restore music education programs in public schools, and raise awareness of the positive impact such a curriculum has on students. Musicians on Call, meanwhile, uses music to promote and complement the healing process in health care facilities, through performances, music lessons, and a CD library donation program, and other efforts.

The tour in support of the Melisma/Lava/Atlantic album "mad season by matchbox twenty" kicked off July 31 at North Dakota's Fargodome. Aware/Columbia artists Train will appear as a special guest on all dates through the tour's close Sept. 29 in Phoenix. Along the way, a host of acts will support: Old 97s (through Aug. 12), matchbox' Atlantic labelmates Seven Mary Three (Aug. 14-Sept. 2) and David Garza (Sept. 4-14), and Pete Yorn (Sept. 15-22, 25-28). In addition, former Dog's Eye View frontman Peter Stuart will perform on most of the dates through tour's duration.

Certified by the Recording Industry Association of America for U.S. shipments of 3 million copies, "mad season" debuted at No. 3 on The Billboard 200 upon its release in June 2000; it is currently at No. 96 in its 63rd week on the chart.

Following in the wake of "Bent," which reached No. 1 on The Billboard Hot 100, "If You're Gone" (No. 13), and the set's title track (No. 48), album cut "Last Beautiful Girl" will be released later this month as the next radio single.