Matt Pryor Succeeds His Past With New Solo Album

This Kansas Musician Has Finally Found a Comfortable Place

Jul 23, 2008

Matt Pryor just recently announced his first solo album, pushing his career ahead, and leaving his reputation behind. He's finally found his place.

Matthew Pryor got his musical career started in leading The Get Up Kids, a rock band that existed through 1995 to 2005. Starting in 2000 he also fronted a second group, called The New Amsterdams, who played a more acoustic, folk-like style of music.

Reunion Unlikely for The Get Up Kids

The Get Up Kids have had a large impact on the alternative music scene, and has spawned many side projects other than The New Amsterdams. Sadly, it's taking a long time for people to let go of The Get Up Kids and let Pryor free of his reputation. Even in recent interviews, questions about a Get Up Kids reunion still appear. But in the past, the group has made it quite clear that a reunion is extremely unlikely.

In his spare time, Pryor has also taken up another project, a children's music band called The Terrible Twos. The group features members of The New Amsterdams, and has to date only released one album together, but have completed a second, out soon on Vagrant Records.

The New Ams have put out six albums, the latest one being 'At The Foot Of My Rival' in September of 2007. Following that release, the group went on a short tour including some overseas venues. The latest record is the most ambitious of all the past attempts, and is quite an achievement. But due to strains on touring, and a lack of exposure, the record hasn't been as successful as past ones.

Change is All the Rage

After the release of the album and it's tour, Pryor went through some revelations about the music business, which he documented in a blog at The New Amsterdam's MySpace page. They certainly mesh with the actual changes underway in the business. Vinyl is becoming popular again, and CDs are almost obsolete, because of illegal sharing but also because of bands starting to release their music digitally. The New Amsterdams are no different. Pryor also made references to the fact that concerts used to promote the albums, while now it seems as if the albums are promoting the concerts.

There is lots of speculation about what is going to become of all these changes, but most people (including Pryor) seem to have a solid outlook.

Finally, an Individual

Now Matt Pryor is embarking on a solo tour, and is releasing his first solo album 'Confidence Man' on Vagrant Records. The album features a stripped-down approach, and a simplified folk style. A few of the songs on the album were written many years ago, but have been newly recorded for the new release. A following tour will cover most of the United States, and along with Pryor will be Chris Conelly from Saves The Day for the first half of the tour, and Kevin Devine for the second half.

It seems that Pryor is a die-hard musician, and even though some people won't let go of his past, he is moving forward. Pryor is making some incredible music, and thankfully people are coming to realize that there is music after The Get Up Kids. And they should, because Pryor's work is not the kind you can miss out on.

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