Rob Thomas mulls plans while touring with Jewel
Although he’s looking forward to “a nice long break” after his summer tour with Jewel,
Rob Thomas has no shortage of projects on his plate — including his own label, production work and, of course, a new album from his band matchbox twenty.
Thomas was circumspect about the label, telling Billboard.com only that “we’re right in the point of getting it sealed up, and before it’s solidified I really don’t want anyone else finding out about it.” But he did acknowledge, “I’ve got an artist I’m really behind that I’m going to start working with when I get off the road.”
Matchbox twenty’s plans are equally hazy, although Thomas said the group’s fourth studio album is “the next record I plan on making.” But because it’s been four years since “More Than You Think You Are,” and because the group is now a quartet after the 2005 departure of guitarist Adam Gaynor, Thomas said that “we don’t readily know where we’re all at.”
“I think it’s just going to be about getting in the studio and drinking a bunch of beers and jamming for awhile and being a band again,” he said. “I don’t want to write anything for (the band) until I get together with the guys and see where our heads are at.”
Thomas, who is planning to shoot a concert DVD on June 28 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, and producer Matt Serletic are currently collaborating on a song, “Little Wonders,” for the upcoming Disney feature “Meet the Robinsons.” The artist has also submitted a song that’s being considered for Aerosmith’s next album. “But,” he added, “just because you write a song doesn’t mean it’s going to wind up on a record.”
As for touring with Jewel, Thomas described it as “a little love fest” that’s included a joint performance of the
Stevie Nicks-
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers hit “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” and plenty of interaction.
“We’ve just been having a really nice time hanging out and bull
ing after the shows,” Thomas reported. “And during the shows we hang on each other’s side-stage watching each other. It’s been very cool.”
The Thomas-Jewel tour finishes July 5, and Thomas has five solo dates after that before he finishes touring in support of his hit Atlantic solo debut, “Something to Be.”
Reuters/Billboard
