The Get Up Kids, four one-time horsemen of the second-wave emo boom, are grown-ups these days. Its members are in their 40s. Some have kids of their own.
And vocalist Matt Pryor believes that’s an asset to their newest album, “Problems,” as well as the tour bringing the band to Newport’s Southgate House Revival Dec. 11.
“A big part of the reason why we started writing new songs in the first place is that we have things we want to say about this moment in time,” he said in a news release.
Fellow guitarist-slash-vocalist Jim Suptic seconded: “I’m 41 now. I could never write a song like when I was 19 — all those ‘I miss my girlfriend’ kind of songs. It’s always important to us to write about wherever we are right now.”
So that’s what Problems is: The most Get Up Kids album the band could make, per a spring Stereogum interview, seasoned by 20 years of life in and out of the music industry.
That means emotional riffs on guitar and piano, singable melodies and lyrics pinpointing the sharp, specific moments that comprise a life.
If it sounds like your scene, check out WCPO Lounge Acts on Facebook at 2 p.m. Dec. 11.
Catch The Get Up Kids at Southgate House Revival Wednesday, December 11.
If You Go:
- The Get Up Kids with Hebree, Sontalk
- 8 p.m. Wednesday, December 11
- The Southgate House Revival, 111 E 6th St. Newport KY 41071
- $20 advance ($24 day off show)
- https://www.southgatehouse.com/event/9830635/the-get-up-kids-hembree-sontalk/
