The Get Up Kids – A few years later

I'd like to begin this with a quote from TGUK themselves:

If we had known what we know now…
One year later, we’d still be around.

Of course, many people draw the idea that TGUK is doing this because of money. They are re-releasing, arguably, their best record Something to Write Home About, and doing a reunion tour in support of it. Their first set of shows they played StWHA in it's entirety, playing songs some haven't heard live since their inaugural StWHA tour. Everyone hasn't heard songs like Holiday and Ten Minutes live since 2005. And with the idea that every single member is living in the shadow of TGUK, except for Reggie-himself James Dewees (a member of MRC's Black Parade), a reunion would reignite the money machine for everyone and their shortcomings. I don't think this is the case at all personally.

I actually believe the only person who wasn't that well off in their post-TGUK experiences was Jim Suptic (my favorite "Kid"). But even Suptic had his reasons and ways to work around it. He had a fucking kid, who wants to be touring the US like the Popes in Koufax, or Dewees with Reggie and MCR?? Suptic also had his project, Blackpool Lights, and a somewhat underground following with their CD This Town's Disaster.  Now, even though Matt Pryor, in all his glory, was also bestowed with a child (two of them now), Suptic also didn't have a somewhat structured project like Pryor, who had The New Amsterdams to fall on. Suptic, other than having a record label and a studio (Black Lodge Recordings in Eudora, KS is for sale for $300,000 for anyone who is interested), has a somewhat disbanded project and now a kid. Unfortunately, this isn't the best position when trying to raise a family. Especially when you're band has sold out every single show you've played since your annoucement of breaking up in 2005.

Jim Suptic - from Wikipedia

Rob and Ryan Pope have had a steady performance after TGUK. Joining up with Koufax and also drumming/bassing for bands like White Whale, Tijuana Crime Scene, and, more notably, Spoon. Ryan, the younger of the two, ended up making a techno-rock band called Roman Numerals lately. WTF indeed, people.

Rob Pope - from Wikipedia

Ryan Pope - from Flickr

James Dewees, when he's not supposedly molesting scene girls, has done most notably well. Reggie and the Full Effect have been a band with a cult following since they released their insanely entertaining CD Promotional Copy back in 2000 (I think it was 2000...). Their following releases were just as culty, and their shows have never let down. Along with a prominent base of fans, a move to be the keyboardist during The Black Parade world tour for My Chemical Romance. Also, becoming an official member (his own words) and saying Reggie and the Full Effect would be taking a backseat to MCR is all good reasons for being "busy".

Dewees - thanks MTV!

Leaving us with Matt Pryor. Not as explosive as Dewees in his own news, Pryor released three albums with The New Amsterdams and his own Confidence Man under his own name. Along with many solo tours and touring with blues and roots bands with his own bands, Matt Pryor kept in the low light. Most say on purpose. He too with a kid in tow went from being in a demanding five piece rock band to a more mellow, less demanding, four piece, as well as his own solo tours. Why jump back into the thick of things when he packs in east coast sit down shows?

Matt Pryor - from zooglobble.com

Maybe the push came from Jim Suptic. Maybe Matt Pryor, during the solo tours, while playing old TGUK b-sides, had second thoughts. Some of the best songs I've heard were from TGUK. Some very amazing songs came out of Pryor's other stuff. No one really knows why the Kids got back together. Maybe AP will find that out for us.