The Get Up Kids celebrate two decades with a sold out Troc

The Get Up Kids | Photo by Matthew Shaver | brightloud.com

20 years is a long time in the music industry. Plenty of popular musicians change bands, change styles, or change mediums. For smaller bands that toured pretty constantly, the threat of growing tired of each other constantly looms, and many crack under the pressure until there is a notice put up on a website informing us that they are splitting up. While the latter did plague Missouri emo stalwarts, The Get Up Kids, it was to be short lived, and so we find ourselves celebrating their platinum anniversary, with much deserved fanfare in a fitting venue.

My intro to Matt Pryor, Ryan and Rob Pope, James Dewees, and Jim Suptic came via Led Zeppelin. Namely an album cover songs by metalcore band Coalesce. Dewees was a member, and in an interview he mentioned his time in The Get Up Kids. Now, I knew who they were, but I hadn’t cared to listen to them, but I thought anyone bold enough to do hardcore covers of beloved classic rock tunes deserved a shot in any of their endeavors. So, in 1999, a few years after their first album Four Minute Mile, but in the same wonderful year as the far superior Something To Write Home About, a new friendship began.

At the Trocadero on Friday night, a fair amount of fellow friends showed up to celebrate a milestone. By fair amount, I mean they sold the place out. Met with the kind of raucous fanfare you’d expect (and hope for) from a Get Up Kids show, they tore through a good deal of the classics. Songs like “I’m A Loner Dottie, A Rebel” and “Holiday” still sound fresh. Matt Pryor still sounds like a teenager when he sings, and the guys seem as spry as ever despite pushing 40.

James, Jim, and Rob provided him with plenty of energy to bounce back and forth, while Ryan seemed to be having a blast in the background on drums. Complete with crowd singalong, the ever looming threat that an inappropriate mosh pit would break out, and acoustic numbers, it was a great anniversary, and with all they’ve given over the last 20 years, a lost of positive energy about facing the future together.

Chicago’s Into It. Over It. were on a bit of a homecoming, as Evan Weiss is a Cherry Hill native. Packed with family and friends, they charged in to the festivities full of heart and nostalgia. The Trocadero was a place of legend when they were starting out, and they were clearly appreciative to be playing for their people.

West Virginia’s Rozwell Kid did their best to warm up the sparse crowd at the beginning of the night. Playing the kind of alt-rock emo that The Get Up Kids helped create, they were definitely on fire, shredding to the heavens for the duration of their short set.