The New Amsterdams is a Lawrence, Kansas-based American band featuring Matthew Pryor of The Get Up Kids.

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History

The New Amsterdams began as a solo project to then-lead singer for The Get Up Kids, Matt Pryor. In 2000, he released his debut album Never You Mind, which was comprised largely of acoustic tracks with sparse accompaniment. However, the album also featured Alex Brahl and 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 plans to go in a small hiatus after that, until the end of the year. After that, they will start working on the next album.

Discography

Albums

Year	Title	Record Label
2000	Never You Mind	Vagrant Records
2002	Para Toda Vida	Vagrant Records
2003	Worse for the Wear	Vagrant Records
2005	Story Like a Scar	Vagrant Records
2006	Killed or Cured	Vagrant Records
2007	At the Foot of My Rival	Curb Appeal Records

EPs

Year	Title	Record Label
2007	The Companion of My Rival	Curb Appeal Records
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

• (2006)
• (2007)

Reviews

• AbsolutePunk.net
• PopMatters
• Pitchfork