Matt Pryor

Matt Pryor gained widespread recognition as the lead vocalist of The Get Up Kids, a prominent band in the second-wave emo music scene, particularly with their critically acclaimed 1999 album, Something to Write Home About. Pryor co-founded The Get Up Kids in 1995 alongside Jim Suptic, Rob Pope, and Nathan Shay, following earlier musical pursuits in post-punk band Take a Joke, avant-garde group Secular Theme, and co-founding pop-punk band Secret Decoder Ring. During his tenure with The Get Up Kids, Pryor also launched his solo acoustic project, The New Amsterdams, releasing its debut album Never You Mind in 2000, which subsequently evolved into a full band. After a period of extensive touring, The Get Up Kids disbanded in 2005, leading Pryor to fully concentrate on The New Amsterdams, which solidified into a three-piece ensemble.

Beyond his musical endeavors, Pryor initiated ‘Nothing to Write Home About,’ an interview podcast that launched in 2012, showcasing his commitment to exploring the music industry’s narratives and history. Further solidifying his presence in the podcasting space, Pryor became the host and producer of ‘Vagrant Records: 25 Years on the Streets’ podcast in 2021, a comprehensive series documenting the influential label’s history. Most recently, Pryor expanded his creative portfolio into authorship, publishing his memoir, ‘Red Letter Days,’ in 2024. These multifaceted achievements underscore Matt Pryor’s enduring influence and versatility across music, audio production, and literature.