New Amsterdams
Encyclopedia
The New Amsterdams is a Lawrence, Kansas
-based American
band featuring Matthew Pryor
of The Get Up Kids
.
, Matt Pryor. In 2000, he released his debut album Never You Mind
, which was largely made up of acoustic tracks with sparse accompaniment. However, the album also featured Alex Brahl,Ed Rose, Jake Cardwell & Rob Pope
providing extra instrument tracks.
Two years later in January 2002, Pryor released Para Toda Vida
, this time sticking almost purely to acoustic guitar, with the exception of a few tracks utilizing harmonica and banjo as well. However, the next year the band went a step further in the release of Worse for the Wear
, which utilized a full band for the first time, which at this time included Get Up Kids bandmates Ryan Pope
and his brother Rob
, as well as longtime friend and producer Ed Rose
. The album was one of the earlier albums to be recorded at Black Lodge Studios, the recording studio renovated and co-owned by Ed Rose
and the members of The Get Up Kids.
The band's next album, Killed or Cured
was released in 2005. However, it was written during a turbulent time within The Get Up Kids leading up to the band's breakup. Because of this Vagrant Records
, the label to which both the bands were signed, didn't want to release the album until The Get Up Kids finished their farewell tour in the summer of that year. For this reason, a portion of the album was released online for free via the New Amsterdams website. The album was released in its full version through retail channels on April 10, 2007.
In 2006, the band released the album Story Like a Scar
with what is now the current lineup, including Bill Belzer
on drums, Eric McCann on upright bass, and Dustin Kinsey on guitar.
In September 2007, the band released another album, At the Foot of My Rival
on CD, Vinyl and Digital Download. However, after a long relationship with Vagrant Records
, the band decided to release the album on Elmar, (named after Pryor's son Elliot Marshall) an offshoot of Curb Appeal Records
, owned in part by former Get Up Kids
bandmate Jim Suptic
.
In January 2008 the band released a collection of demos and b-sides, available exclusively through their website.
In May of the same year, they went on their first European tour, starting in Amsterdam. The band planned to go into a small hiatus after that due to Matt Pryor's involvement with the Get Up Kids. In a November 2011 interview with MidcoastStation.com, Pryor said he had plans to release a New Amsterdams compilation.
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
-based American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
band featuring Matthew Pryor
Matthew Pryor
Matthew Pryor is an American musician who lives in Lawrence, Kansas. Pryor was in the band Secret Decoder Ring, and through playing shows in the Kansas City area, met the members of his future band, indie rock group The Get Up Kids, which was formed in 1995...
of The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids are an American alternative rock band from Kansas City, Missouri. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-90's emo scene, otherwise known as the "second wave" of emo music...
.
History
The New Amsterdams began as a solo project to then-lead singer for The Get Up KidsThe Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids are an American alternative rock band from Kansas City, Missouri. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-90's emo scene, otherwise known as the "second wave" of emo music...
, Matt Pryor. In 2000, he released his debut album Never You Mind
Never You Mind
Never You Mind is an album by The New Amsterdams recorded in March/April 2000 and released September 19, 2000.-Track listing:...
, which was largely made up of acoustic tracks with sparse accompaniment. However, the album also featured Alex Brahl,Ed Rose, Jake Cardwell & Rob Pope
Rob Pope
-History:Rob Pope grew up in Olathe, Kansas. In the summer of 1994, he was in a band called "Kingpin" with his brother Ryan and future Get Up Kids bandmate Jim Suptic. After the band broke up due to internal conflicts, Rob and Jim re-formed with Matt Pryor, who had been playing with Secular Theme...
providing extra instrument tracks.
Two years later in January 2002, Pryor released Para Toda Vida
Para Toda Vida
Para Toda Vida is an album by The New Amsterdams recorded in 2001 and released January 22, 2002.-Track listing:-Album Position:...
, this time sticking almost purely to acoustic guitar, with the exception of a few tracks utilizing harmonica and banjo as well. However, the next year the band went a step further in the release of Worse for the Wear
Worse for the Wear
Worse for the Wear is an album by The New Amsterdams, released in 2003. This is the first New Amsterdams album to have a full band, as the previous albums have always been primarily solo material from the lead singer Matt Pryor as a side project from The Get Up Kids. It was recorded over the...
, which utilized a full band for the first time, which at this time included Get Up Kids bandmates Ryan Pope
Ryan Pope
Ryan Pope is an American musician who lives in Lawrence, Kansas.-History:Ryan Pope grew up in Olathe, Kansas. In the summer of 1994, he was in a band called "Kingpin" with his brother Rob and future The Get Up Kids bandmate Jim Suptic...
and his brother Rob
Rob Pope
-History:Rob Pope grew up in Olathe, Kansas. In the summer of 1994, he was in a band called "Kingpin" with his brother Ryan and future Get Up Kids bandmate Jim Suptic. After the band broke up due to internal conflicts, Rob and Jim re-formed with Matt Pryor, who had been playing with Secular Theme...
, as well as longtime friend and producer Ed Rose
Ed Rose
Ed Rose is an American sound engineer and record producer. He has worked extensively with groups in the modern emo and pop punk scenes. He also co-owns Black Lodge Recording with Rob Pope and his brother Ryan Pope.-History:...
. The album was one of the earlier albums to be recorded at Black Lodge Studios, the recording studio renovated and co-owned by Ed Rose
Ed Rose
Ed Rose is an American sound engineer and record producer. He has worked extensively with groups in the modern emo and pop punk scenes. He also co-owns Black Lodge Recording with Rob Pope and his brother Ryan Pope.-History:...
and the members of The Get Up Kids.
The band's next album, Killed or Cured
Killed or Cured
-Band:*Matt Pryor - Vocals, Guitar*Bill Belzer - Drums*Eric McCann - Upright Bass*Dustin Kinsey - Guitar*Zach Holland - Keyboard-Production:*Roget Moutenout - Producer, Mixing*Colin Mahoney - Engineer, Mixing*Roger Moutenot - Mixing*Ed Rose - Engineer...
was released in 2005. However, it was written during a turbulent time within The Get Up Kids leading up to the band's breakup. Because of this Vagrant Records
Vagrant Records
Vagrant Records is an indie rock label based in Los Angeles, California and is home to such artists as The Hold Steady, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Active Child, PJ Harvey, Reptar, School of Seven Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Thrice, James Vincent McMorrow, Placebo, and many...
, the label to which both the bands were signed, didn't want to release the album until The Get Up Kids finished their farewell tour in the summer of that year. For this reason, a portion of the album was released online for free via the New Amsterdams website. The album was released in its full version through retail channels on April 10, 2007.
In 2006, the band released the album Story Like a Scar
Story Like a Scar
-Track listing:-Personnel:*Matt Pryor - Vocals, Guitar*Bill Belzer - Drums*Eric McCann - Upright Bass*Dustin Kinsey - Guitar*Jason Rich*Zach Holland - Keyboard*Roget Moutenout - Producer, Mixing...
with what is now the current lineup, including Bill Belzer
Bill Belzer
William Francis Belzer is an American musician. He played bass guitar and drums while in high school, first attending Catholic Savior of the World High School Seminary in Kansas City, Kansas under the patronage of the diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph in Missouri, and then Rockhurst High School,...
on drums, Eric McCann on upright bass, and Dustin Kinsey on guitar.
In September 2007, the band released another album, At the Foot of My Rival
At the Foot of My Rival
-Personnel:*Matt Pryor - Vocals, Guitar*Bill Belzer - Drums*Eric McCann - Upright Bass*Dustin Kinsey - Guitar*Zach Holland - Keyboard*Hannah Kendle - Vocals*Chris Leopold - Vocals*Colin Mahoney - Engineer, Mixing*Matthew Doyle - Layout Design...
on CD, Vinyl and Digital Download. However, after a long relationship with Vagrant Records
Vagrant Records
Vagrant Records is an indie rock label based in Los Angeles, California and is home to such artists as The Hold Steady, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Active Child, PJ Harvey, Reptar, School of Seven Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Thrice, James Vincent McMorrow, Placebo, and many...
, the band decided to release the album on Elmar, (named after Pryor's son Elliot Marshall) an offshoot of Curb Appeal Records
Curb Appeal Records
Curb Appeal Records is an American record label founded in Kansas City, Missouri by The Get Up Kids guitarist and Blackpool Lights frontman Jim Suptic.-History:In July 2005, The Get Up Kids split up, leaving the members to pursue their own side-projects...
, owned in part by former Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids are an American alternative rock band from Kansas City, Missouri. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-90's emo scene, otherwise known as the "second wave" of emo music...
bandmate Jim Suptic
Jim Suptic
Jim Suptic is an American musician and entrepreneur, best known for being the guitarist for Kansas City, Missouri band The Get Up Kids.-The Get Up Kids:...
.
In January 2008 the band released a collection of demos and b-sides, available exclusively through their website.
In May of the same year, they went on their first European tour, starting in Amsterdam. The band planned to go into a small hiatus after that due to Matt Pryor's involvement with the Get Up Kids. In a November 2011 interview with MidcoastStation.com, Pryor said he had plans to release a New Amsterdams compilation.
Albums
| Year | Title | Record Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Never You Mind Never You Mind Never You Mind is an album by The New Amsterdams recorded in March/April 2000 and released September 19, 2000.-Track listing:... |
Vagrant Records Vagrant Records Vagrant Records is an indie rock label based in Los Angeles, California and is home to such artists as The Hold Steady, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Active Child, PJ Harvey, Reptar, School of Seven Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Thrice, James Vincent McMorrow, Placebo, and many... |
| 2002 | Para Toda Vida Para Toda Vida Para Toda Vida is an album by The New Amsterdams recorded in 2001 and released January 22, 2002.-Track listing:-Album Position:... |
Vagrant Records Vagrant Records Vagrant Records is an indie rock label based in Los Angeles, California and is home to such artists as The Hold Steady, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Active Child, PJ Harvey, Reptar, School of Seven Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Thrice, James Vincent McMorrow, Placebo, and many... |
| 2003 | Worse for the Wear Worse for the Wear Worse for the Wear is an album by The New Amsterdams, released in 2003. This is the first New Amsterdams album to have a full band, as the previous albums have always been primarily solo material from the lead singer Matt Pryor as a side project from The Get Up Kids. It was recorded over the... |
Vagrant Records Vagrant Records Vagrant Records is an indie rock label based in Los Angeles, California and is home to such artists as The Hold Steady, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Active Child, PJ Harvey, Reptar, School of Seven Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Thrice, James Vincent McMorrow, Placebo, and many... |
| 2005 | Story Like a Scar Story Like a Scar -Track listing:-Personnel:*Matt Pryor - Vocals, Guitar*Bill Belzer - Drums*Eric McCann - Upright Bass*Dustin Kinsey - Guitar*Jason Rich*Zach Holland - Keyboard*Roget Moutenout - Producer, Mixing... |
Vagrant Records Vagrant Records Vagrant Records is an indie rock label based in Los Angeles, California and is home to such artists as The Hold Steady, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Active Child, PJ Harvey, Reptar, School of Seven Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Thrice, James Vincent McMorrow, Placebo, and many... |
| 2006 | Killed or Cured Killed or Cured -Band:*Matt Pryor - Vocals, Guitar*Bill Belzer - Drums*Eric McCann - Upright Bass*Dustin Kinsey - Guitar*Zach Holland - Keyboard-Production:*Roget Moutenout - Producer, Mixing*Colin Mahoney - Engineer, Mixing*Roger Moutenot - Mixing*Ed Rose - Engineer... |
Vagrant Records Vagrant Records Vagrant Records is an indie rock label based in Los Angeles, California and is home to such artists as The Hold Steady, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Active Child, PJ Harvey, Reptar, School of Seven Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Thrice, James Vincent McMorrow, Placebo, and many... |
| 2007 | At the Foot of My Rival At the Foot of My Rival -Personnel:*Matt Pryor - Vocals, Guitar*Bill Belzer - Drums*Eric McCann - Upright Bass*Dustin Kinsey - Guitar*Zach Holland - Keyboard*Hannah Kendle - Vocals*Chris Leopold - Vocals*Colin Mahoney - Engineer, Mixing*Matthew Doyle - Layout Design... |
Curb Appeal Records Curb Appeal Records Curb Appeal Records is an American record label founded in Kansas City, Missouri by The Get Up Kids guitarist and Blackpool Lights frontman Jim Suptic.-History:In July 2005, The Get Up Kids split up, leaving the members to pursue their own side-projects... |
EPs
| Year | Title | Record Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | The Companion of My Rival | Curb Appeal Records Curb Appeal Records Curb Appeal Records is an American record label founded in Kansas City, Missouri by The Get Up Kids guitarist and Blackpool Lights frontman Jim Suptic.-History:In July 2005, The Get Up Kids split up, leaving the members to pursue their own side-projects... |
| 2008 | Killed or Cured Appendix | Self-released |
| 2008 | Demos Etc. 2003-2008 | Self-released |
Non Album Tracks
- Thirty Three (From Helio Presents: The Smashing Pumpkins Tribute CD)
Music Videos
- "Turn Out The Light" (2006)
- "Fountain Of Youth" (2007)
Reviews
- AbsolutePunk.net review of Story Like a Scar
- PopMattersPopMattersPopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
review of Never You Mind - Pitchfork MediaPitchfork MediaPitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
review of Para Toda Vida
External links
- Billboard.com: Artist Biography
- The New Amsterdams' official website
- The New Amsterdams at PureVolumePureVolumePureVolume was the first independently run website of its type, allowing for the upload and stream of music files. It was created in 2003 by Jennifer Welch , in conjunction with the Unborn Media team; Brett Woitunski, Nate Hudson, and Mitchell Pavao; all from the University of...
- The New Amsterdams Interview at REDEFINE Magazine, August 2006
- The New Amsterdams collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive