I never really heard The Get Up Kids until their PR guy Andy sent me an e-mail to hype the Blue Moose show. They are one of many musical groups that were so far out on the periphery of my musical interests that I never made the effort to check them out. I’d heard the name, was vaguely aware of ‘Emo’ as a genre, but when the Get Up Kids were a big deal in the 90s I had other fish to fry. Judging from their Wikipedia page, they were seminal in a scene, got big, broke up, reformed, influenced a bunch of younger bands, etc etc.
What I do know is that their album “There Are Rules” sounds great. They remind me of bands I really like — New Order, XTC, even a bit of Fugazi at times. They can write, they can play, and they’re still making satisfying, engaging music, long after they have no doubt become the Get Up Guys With Mortgages And Minivans.
So I think that if, like me, you never gave them a chance, this is a good time to check them out. If you were in Junior High when they first blew up and doodled their names on the cover of your Trapper Keeper, I can safely say they are still exciting and vital. Different from, and perhaps even better than they were back in the day.
Friday, July 8
The Blue Moose Tap House
211 Iowa Avenue
Iowa City, IA
phone: 319.358.9206
http://bluemooseic.com/
doors at 8:00 PM / show at 9:00 PM
tickets: $17.00 in advance / $20.00
Ages: 19+