Pop-rockers matchbox twenty have enlisted supporting acts Everclear [ tickets ] and Lifehouse [ tickets ] for their first North American tour dates of 2001. The outing is scheduled to open in late February in Minneapolis, and 14 dates have been confirmed.

“Mad Season” (Atlantic), matchbox twenty’s latest album, was released in May 2000, and has been certified for sales of more than 2 million by the Recording Industry Association of America. The Grammy-nominated album is the follow-up to matchbox twenty’s 1996 release “Yourself or Someone Like You,” which has sold more than 11 million copies.

Billboard magazine ranked the matchbox twenty single “Bent” at No. 7 on its list of the top videos of 2000. The survey was compiled by Broadcast Data Systems, which monitored airplay on the MTV, VH1, BET and CMT cable networks.

Everclear will warm up for the tour with a brief stint of North American headlining dates in early February. The group released two albums in 2000: the power chord-driven "Songs from an American Movie, Vol. Two: Good Time for a Bad Attitude" (Capitol) and a softer companion titled "Songs from an American Movie, Volume One: Learning How to Smile."

Lifehouse released its DreamWorks Records debut album, “No Name Face,” in October 2000. Its first single, “Hanging by a Moment,” is currently receiving strong support from modern rock radio stations.