The Get Up Kids emerged from the underground American Midwestern scene in 1995 during emo’s “second wave,” and continue to influence generations of pop punk and emo music. The band’s first album, Four Minute Mile (1997), was recorded over a weekend in Chicago and garnered international attention for its edgy and DIY style. A polished second effort, Something to Write Home About (1999), cemented the band’s reputation and high perch among emo’s dearest poster children. Two more albums, On the Wire (2002), and Guilt Show (2004), showcased slower and softer melodies with uneven returns: they drew mainstream success while alienating diehard fans. After a temporary breakup and farewell tour in 2005, The Get Up Kids reunited in 2008, released There Are Rules (2011), and continue to perform live.
