The Get Up Kids Celebrate 25 Years of Emo Classic at a Triumphant Electric Ballroom Show
- Alan Bryce
- Jun 14
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 16
Electric Ballroom, London, 11th June 2025
WORDS / IMAGES ALAN BRYCE
The Get Up Kids formed in Kansas City in 1995 with Matt Pryor, Jim Suptic, and Rob Pope, cycling through a few drummers before settling on Rob’s younger brother, Ryan Pope. Their 1997 debut Four Minute Mile was critically acclaimed and became a cornerstone of the emo genre, influencing bands like Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance. In 1999, they released Something to Write Home About on Vagrant Records, a seminal album that charted on the US Heatseekers list and remains a defining work in emo and pop-punk circles.
The band followed up with On a Wire (2002) and Guilt Show (2004) before disbanding in 2005. They reunited in 2009 for the 10th anniversary of Something to Write Home About, which led to new material and the 2011 release There Are Rules. From 2011 to 2017, they played sporadically while focusing on other careers, but recommitted full-time in 2017, touring South America and signing with Polyvinyl in 2018.
Their sixth album arrived in 2019, earning praise as a return to form and reaching No. 11 on the US Independent Albums chart. Though no new music has followed, the band continues to tour, most recently celebrating the 25th anniversary of Something to Write Home About with a 2024–25 North American and European tour, concluding at London’s iconic Electric Ballroom.
The support band for the evening was Lakes, a dynamic six-piece indie outfit hailing from Watford, UK. Known for their self-styled genre of "glock-rock"—a nod to their creative use of the glockenspiel—Lakes delivered a engaging performance that set the tone beautifully for the night ahead. Their sound was a refreshing blend of shimmering melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and rhythmic intricacy, with the glockenspiel adding a whimsical but effective layer. It was clear that the band had earned their place on this bill, not only complementing The Get Up Kids musically but also connecting with the crowd through genuine energy and charm. During their set, they announced the upcoming release of their new album Slow Fade, due out on July 4th—a project that, judging by their performance, promises to be a musically rich listen.
The atmosphere in the Electric Ballroom was electric—no pun intended—by the time The Get Up Kids took to the stage. With a sold-out crowd packed tightly into the iconic Camden venue. They launched straight into their seminal 1999 album Something to Write Home About, performing it in full, track by track, in its original order. This approach offered a rare and intimate insight into the album’s narrative and musical flow, presenting it just as the band had envisioned more than two decades ago. The songs, despite their age, felt anything but dated. Instead, they were re-energised, full of urgency and vitality, breathing new life into each chord and chorus.
It was immediately evident just how deeply this band has influenced an entire generation of musicians and fans. The audience—ranging from long-time listeners in their forties to new fans who discovered the band years after their peak—sang every word with enthusiasm. Moments like ‘Action and Action’ and ‘10 Minutes’ were particularly powerful, erupting with energy that had the crowd bouncing and belting along in unison. It was one of those rare shows where the divide between performer and audience dissolved completely.
After finishing the Something to Write Home About set, the band took a short break before returning for an encore that spanned their wider discography. They began with ‘Campfire Kansas’ and ‘Walking on a Wire’ from their introspective On a Wire album—tracks that showcased the band’s more contemplative side, offering a contrast to the pop-punk energy of their earlier work. This was followed by a triumphant return to their roots with a trio of fan favourites from Four Minute Mile, including ‘Stay Gold, Pony Boy’ and the ever-urgent ‘Shorty.’ To the delight of long-time fans, they continued with ‘Woodson’ and ‘Forgive and Forget,’ before closing the set with the emotionally charged anthem ‘Don’t Hate Me.’
Throughout the night, the band sounded as tight and invigorated as ever. Matt Pryor’s vocals were in fine form—clear, expressive, and emotionally charged. The entire band seemed genuinely pleased to be on stage, embracing the moment and the audience’s enthusiasm with gratitude and warmth. Their chemistry and musicianship showed a band that not only remembers its legacy but continues to evolve within it.
It’s no surprise that The Get Up Kids are still selling out venues across the UK, thirty years into their career. This performance was a testament to their enduring appeal and to the timeless quality of their songwriting. While nostalgia played a role in the night’s success, it was the strength and sincerity of their live performance that truly stood out.
With six years having passed since their last album, there is certainly a growing appetite for new material. Based on their performance during this tour, there’s every reason to believe that The Get Up Kids still have more to say—and the ability to say it with relevance, maturity, and melodic power. Their sound has grown, as have they, and it would be fascinating to hear what comes next.
Overall, it was a thrilling evening of music—equal parts reflective and raucous—that reaffirmed the band’s place in the hearts of their fans. The show ended with a sense of collective satisfaction and an unmistakable desire for more. Here's hoping we won’t have to wait too long before The Get Up Kids return to our shores once again.
SET LIST
1/ Holiday
2/ Action & Action
3/ Valentine
4/ Red Letter Day
5/ Out of Reach
6/ Ten Minutes
7/ The Company Dime
8/ My Apology
9/ I'm a Loner Dottie, a Rebel
10/ Long Goodnight
11/ Close to Home
12/ I'll Catch You
13/ Campfire Kansas
14/ Walking on a Wire
15/ Stay Gold, Ponyboy
16/ Shorty
17/ Overdue
18/ Woodson
19/ Forgive and Forget
20/ Don't Hate Me
FOLLOW THE GET UP KIDS
Comments