Last Wednesday, Matt Pryor, famed front man of The Get Up Kids and New Amsterdams, played Philadelphia’s Trocadero balcony in support of his recently released solo debut Confidence Man. Local Temple University student Sean Lee kicked off the show with a country-tinged set in which he played several originals and covered Steve Earle‘s “Galway Girl.”
Sean Lee
Next up was Brooklyn singer-songwriter and forever PopWreckoning favorite Kevin Devine. Devine’s set was a wonderful mix of new, unrecorded material including opener “Carnival Song” and “Another Bag of Bones” and material from each of his previous records. Highlights included “A Flatline Blur,” “Lord, I Know We Don’t Talk” and “Trouble.” He also covered Nada Surf‘s “Inside of Love.” Much to my delight, many in the audience were there for Devine and I overheard several people new to his music say nothing but positive things following his set.
Kevin Devine
The air was full of anticipation before Matt Pryor took to the stage. A quick survey of the room betrayed long-time fans from the earliest Get Up Kids days eager to hear Pryor’s solo material but hoping for a set list heavy with GUK and New Ams songs. The crowd was not disappointed. Pryor played a set so heavy with songs from his other projects that at one point he said, “Oh, right. I have a new record. I keep forgetting to play songs off that,” following a cover of GUK band mate James Dewees‘ side project Reggie and the Full Effect.
Pryor bantered with the crowd, who playfully heckled him after he regaled them with tales of tour past and called a couple of Philadelphia venues by the wrong names. In spite of the hecklers, Pryor announced his love for Philadelphia for keeping it real rather than being overly polite and quiet. His only insult of the evening was directed towards Disney World as he explained the origin of the title “Strangled By The Thought.” Pryor wrote the song in the parking lot of Disney World when playing with Dashboard Confessional and Thrice for three days straight and, according to Pryor, “Disney World fucking sucks,” or at least being trapped in a van in the parking lot for three days straight.
Banter aside, Pryor played an amazing set and should not be missed by any GUK or New Ams fan.
Matt Pryor
Set List: (* solo, ^ New Ams, # GUK)
Confidence Man *
The Spoils of the Spoiled ^
Loralai *
Stay On The Phone ^
Central Standard Time #
Never Treat Others ^
Lovers Who Have Lost Their Cause
Goodbye ^
Hannah Hold On #
Picture In The Paper ^
Only *
The Blood On The Floor ^
MIchele With One L #
I Won’t Run Away ^
Girl, Why’d You Run Away? (Reggie and the Full Effect cover)
Still There’s A Light *
Out Of Reach #
Strangled By The Thought ^
Overdue #
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Every Double Life ^
I’ll Catch You #
Tour Dates:
Sep 07 – The Living Room / Providence
Sep 09 – Mod Club / Toronto
Sep 10 – Grog Shop / Cleveland
Sep 11 – Shelter / Detroit
Sep 12 – Schubas / Chicago
Sep 13 – Schubas / Chicago
Sean Lee: myspace
Kevin Devine: myspace | Phila., Iowa City live reviews
Matt Pryor: myspace |
