2. Something to Write Home About – The Get Up Kids

The Get Up Kids are my favorite band. I first heard the song “10 Minutes” while searching Napster for new music. I liked it enough so I started finding more Get Up Kids music. They had just released their first wide release album Something to Write Home About through Vagrant Records when I heard them. This album became so popular it gave Vagrant credibility as a indie label which could find quality bands (Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Alkaline Trio, etc.) and produce albums for the bands to break into main stream.

The Get Up Kids music became the launching pad for the term “emo”. Matt Pryor’s lyrics mixed with keyboards and driving beats make boys cry and girls melt. TGUK’s are able to produce upbeat fun songs as well as songs that make you want to lay in your bed and think about lost loves and beautiful dreams. This album doesn’t have my favorite song “Anne Arbour” on it, but it still represents everything I love about The Get Up Kids.

Without a doubt, my favorite concert ever was a Get Up Kids/Weezer concert in San Fransico with my buddy Joe. When TGUK came on stage: I sang the songs, I had my eyes fixed on that stage, and I prayed to God that they would never stop playing.