The Get Up Kids

In the two and a half decades since the release of their landmark second album, Something to Write Home About, the four core members of The Get Up Kids—Matt Pryor, Jim Suptic, Rob Pope, and Ryan Pope—have explored side projects, helmed solo ventures, and held stints in high-profile bands. They’ve also started businesses, found spouses, and raised kids. Still, run into them on the streets of Lawrence, Kansas, these days, and you’ll find that—perhaps beneath a beard—each has retained the high-spirited, unwavering authenticity that fans stood feet from at basement shows before the band’s sophomore breakthrough.

Something to Write Home About has landed in a similar place: recognizable as the same electrifying, scrappy album it was upon release, but also transformed by time into one of the most seminal records of the band’s scene. And to mark 25 years since its arrival, The Get Up Kids will perform the album in full throughout a lengthy North American headline tour.

Released in September of 1999, Something to Write Home About has been established as an important late-millennium rock-and-roll document; a convergence of power pop, alternative rock, and punk, it provided the parameters for emo’s Midwest-centered second wave. Youthful yet assured, the album expands and refines the sound of the band’s 1997 debut Four Minute Mile. Amplified and acoustic guitars by Pryor and Suptic are coupled with keys and synths provided by former member James Dewees. Throughout, strings and celeste mesh with pop-indebted harmonies as the Pope Brothers’ rhythm section propels each song. The lyrics, carried primarily by Pryor’s pugnacious vocals, use relationships as a springboard to explore betrayal, conviction, and ambition. His plainspoken poetry is in turn direct and oblique, all kindling for fresh fires in addition to those already burning for decades of faithful listeners.

Today, Something to Write Home About still sounds like the lodestar it was for its fleet of followers, but it also retains something singular: an affecting, unaffected quality richer than its genre associations, bigger than its hooks, and deeper than mere twenty something turmoil. And through emo’s reappraisals and revivals, the band–which now includes keyboard player Dustin Kinsey–has carried on, releasing albums, remaining friends, and playing all over the world.

The upcoming Something to Write Home About anniversary tour will be a chance for fans to rediscover the album or to revel in a classic they’ve never forgotten, and experience it live with the brash, big-hearted band that loves it as much as them. “Anybody can start a band when you’re 20 and go on tour and have a couple of years of fun with that. But what it became, at least to us, is the reason that we can still do this now,” says Pryor. “We are doing this as a celebration, and we’re going to have a party every night on stage.”

Hot Rod Circuit is an American alternative rock band that originated from Auburn, Alabama, in the late 1990s. Founded in 1997, the band swiftly gained recognition for their dynamic sound, fusing elements of emo, punk, and indie rock. Comprising members Andy Jackson (vocals, guitar), Casey Prestwood (guitar), Jay Russell (bass), and Mike Poorman (drums), Hot Rod Circuit embarked on a musical journey that resonated with fans seeking a balance between raw emotion and infectious melodies.

The band’s breakthrough came with their debut album, If I Knew Now What I Knew Then, released in 1999. The album showcased Hot Rod Circuit’s ability to craft catchy hooks and poignant lyrics, earning them a devoted following within the burgeoning emo and punk scenes. Their sophomore effort, If It’s Cool with You, It’s Cool with Me (2000), further solidified their status, featuring emotionally charged tracks that explored themes of heartbreak and self-discovery.

Hot Rod Circuit’s energetic live performances and relatable songwriting endeared them to audiences across the United States. Their music, characterized by Jackson’s emotive vocals and the band’s tight instrumentation, captured the spirit of the early 2000s emo movement.

The band’s third album, Sorry About Tomorrow (2002), marked another significant chapter in their career, showcasing their growth and evolving sound. Reality’s Coming Through (2004) continued this trajectory, displaying a more mature and experimental side of Hot Rod Circuit. The album featured a blend of introspective lyrics and dynamic musical arrangements, further solidifying their reputation as a band capable of pushing boundaries within the alternative rock genre.

Over the years, Hot Rod Circuit continued to experiment with different musical elements while maintaining their signature sincerity. The Underground Is a Dying Breed (2007) served as another testament to their evolving sound.

Hot Rod Circuit disbanded in 2007, but re-formed in 2011 and has since continued to tour, delighting both longtime fans and newcomers alike. Their live performances serve as a testament to their enduring appeal and the lasting impact they’ve had on the alternative music scene. Hot Rod Circuit’s legacy endures as a symbol of authenticity and emotional resonance in the ever-evolving landscape of alternative rock.