For the past two decades, multi-platinum, Grammy-winning artist Rob Thomas has made it a tradition to kick off the new year with a series of special benefit concerts supporting his Sidewalk Angels Foundation.
Founded with his wife, Marisol, the nonprofit provides critical funding to more than 20 no-kill animal shelters and rescue organizations across the country, with all proceeds from the shows going directly to the cause.
Thomas, of course, needs little introduction. From fronting Matchbox Twenty to a wildly successful solo career, he’s been a defining voice in modern pop and rock. His collaborations are just as legendary, including the iconic 1999 hit “Smooth,” which he co-wrote and then recorded with Carlos Santana. The song spent 12 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard charts, earned three Grammy Awards, and was once ranked as the second most successful song in Billboard history.
On Friday, Thomas will bring his stripped-down, acoustic Sidewalk Angels performance to Wind Creek Event Center. The intimate evening will feature career-spanning hits, deep album cuts, and personal stories behind the songs that shaped his journey.
I recently caught up with Rob Thomas to talk about the Sidewalk Angels show, Matchbox Twenty, memorable moments and more in this new interview.
Q, What inspired Sidewalk Angels?
Thomas: When we started off my wife and I would go to this place in Middletown, N.Y., called Pets Alive and would donate money and our time. We began to realize we were missing an opportunity with all of the platforms I had. We thought if we wanted to do something on a bigger scale, we could figure out a way to help out with all of the organizations. The foundation is still small in that it’s still me, my wife and her mother. The thing that helps make it work is that my business managers donate their time. So we don’t have the overhead of salaries or giant galas that we have to pay for. If we raise a million dollars in a year, then a million dollars goes directly to no kill shelters and animal rescues.
What can fans expect from your Wind Creek performance?
We’ve been doing these shows for 21 years now and every year it’s special. It’s something we all mark on our calendars. When we do these shows it’s a four-piece acoustic and we don’t necessarily have a set list in mind. We know that we’ll start with certain songs and end with certain songs. In between we’ll feel the room out and maybe take some requests. Unlike a regular set there’s an opportunity to play some B-sides, album tracks and lost songs and the stories behind them, When you do a full set with a full band there’s an expectation to do songs you know people want to hear. When people come see this show you can pull out songs that mean a lot to you and a lot to the fans.
2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the first Matchbox Twenty album. What thoughts come to mind when you think of that milestone?
It’s crazy to think about because up until that first album the way people experienced music hadn’t really changed since the fifties. Who would’ve known that after we started out, every time we put out a record there was something changing in the industry. When you’re young and thinking about wanting to have success you never think very far ahead. You always want to play clubs, get a record deal, make another album and play wound the world. You never really stop to think that maybe, if you’re lucky, you’re going to wind up being someone else’s nostalgia.
Did you have any idea of how special that record was going to be?
I think there’s always a part of you that thinks you have a shot. When we came out and were the big local band, we thought we were the [expletive.] [laughs]. I remember we had just signed a record deal and then the next big show we did was us, then the Dave Matthews Band, and then Smashing Pumpkins and then The Rolling Stones. I remember watching those guys and being like, “We really have a lot of work to do!” It became our mission to become the best live band that we could. It was a learning curve the whole way through. We thought we’d do well enough just to get us through the door but then were stubborn and hard working enough to do the leg work to make it all happen.
Are there any other projects you have lined up for 2026?
I have a few Sidewalk Angels shows we’ll be doing and then one-offs with Matchbox Twenty. 2027 will be the year of major touring for the 30th anniversary of the first album but this year we have some cool festivals lined up to kick the dust off our equipment, so to speak.
What are some memorable moments of your career? Was it the No. 1 song with Carlos Santana, an album, a tour?
All those things were amazing. I think for me, one of the greatest things about our success is that it’s given me the opportunity to sit with some of my idols and play music with them. Like being able to sit to in a room for days with Willie Nelson and write music or with Mick Jagger. Or to perform in front of a million people in Philadelphia with Steve Wonder. Those are make a wish items for me.
Is there a message you have for fans of the Lehigh Valley prior to your performance?
One of the great things about these shows is that 90% of the people who attend have been coming out for the last 20 years. It’s kind of like a reunion with us and what we like to call the super-initiated fans. It’s become one of my favorite traditions for both me and the guys in the band. Wind Creek is a fun room too. I love the two levels and the way it envelopes you like one big club.
James Wood is a freelance entertainment writer. His latest music-themed novel, “Beyond What We Know,” is available now. You can contact him at jimmywood@gmail.com