The Get Up Kids

Prior to the earliest incarnation of The Get Up Kids, members Ryan Pope, Rob Pope and Jim Septic had been in a band entitled Kingpin, and Matt Pryor had been frontman in the band the Secret Decoder Ring. After the disbandment of both, The Get Up Kids were formed with Pryor on guitar and lead vocals, Septic on guitar, Rob Pope on bass, and Ryan Pope on drums. The band’s debut release was a 7-inch entitled “Shortly/The Breathing Method”, and before long The Get Up Kids became staples in the underground Midwestern music scene alongside Rocket Fuel Is The Key and Braid.

The Get Up Kids subsequently released the single “A Newfound Interest in Massachusetts”, and the EP “Woodson”. With the success of the releases, the label Doghouse signed the band for a two-album contract, the result of which was “Four Minute Mile” released in 1997. The release and subsequent tour sent ripples across the U.S. and The Get Up Kids signed a new record deal with Los Angeles-based Vagrant Records. In a collaboration with the band Coalesce’s drummer James Dewees, Matt Pryor and Rob Pope released the album “Greatest Hits 1984-1987” under the moniker Reggie and the Full Effect, before returning to the studio as The Get Up Kids.

“Red Letter Day”, a five-track EP arrived in 1998, followed by the band’s genre-defining sophomore album “Something to Write Home About”. Released on Vagrant records, the album propelled the emo genre into the mainstream, and influenced countless bands that would succeed them – with its carefully crafted melodic and introspective energy.

After releasing the album “Endora” featuring previously released material, and touring alongside the likes of Green Day, Hot Rod Circuit and Weezer, The Get Up Kids, released their third full length “On a Wire”. The album was far more minimalist than its predecessor and took the emo genre in a new and sombre direction. Followed by “Guilt Show” in 2004, and a live album “Live @ Granada Theatre” in 2005, the band decided to call it a day and played their last show at their hometown’s Uptown Theatre in July 2005. The Get Up Kids returned in 2009 to marked the 10 year anniversary of “Something to Write Home About”, and subsequently released the EP “Simple Science” and the full-length “There Are Rules”.

Consisting of brothers Toby Morse (lead vocals) and Todd Morse, alongside rusty pistachio (guitars,vocals), Todd Friend (drums, percussion) and Adam Blake, (bass), H2O began after Toby, a Sick Of It All roadie, decided to form his own band, desiring a taste of the spotlight. The band toured relentlessly up and down the East Coast, supporting the likes of Rancid, No Doubt and Social Distortion. Released independently, "H2O" (1996), "Thicker Than Water" (1997) and "F.T.T.W." (1999) helped to raise the band's profile and in 2000, Five years of hard work paid off, and the band signed to major label, MCA Records.

Major debut, "Go" arrived in 2001, followed by appearances on Warped Tour. H2O travelled to Europe in 2005, for a wide scale tour, before returning to the US for shows with The Used, Pennywise and Dropkick Murphys. A fifth record, "Nothing to Prove," was released in 2008, with the release supported by worldwide tours, performing at major UK festival, Reading and Leeds.

In 2011, H2O decided to pay respect to their influences, recording a 15-track cover album, "Don't Forget Your Roots." It was not until 2013 that an album of new material began to surface, with recording for "Was Here" put on hold due to touring commitments alongside New Found Glory and Alkaline Trio.