The New Amsterdams

The New Amsterdams is an American band featuring Matthew Pryor of The Get Up Kids.In a certain sense, they represented the acoustic counter-project to the Get up Kids. In contrast to The Get Up Kids, this project features acoustic guitars, accordion, wind instruments, strings and mature elements of American folklore. Among the members were also numerous musicians and contributors of The Get Up Kids and other friendly bands.

The New Amsterdams
OriginLawrence, Kansas, U.S.
GenresAcoustic rock, indie rock
Years active2000–present
LabelsElmar / Curb Appeal, Vagrant
Associated actsThe Get Up Kids, The Terrible Twos, Koufax
Members
Past members

History

The New Amsterdams began as a solo project of lead singer for The Get Up Kids, Matt Pryor. The Band was named after the song New Amsterdam by Elvis Costello from 1980.[1]

Never You Mind (2000)

In 2000, he released his debut album Never You Mind, which was largely made up of acoustic tracks with sparse accompaniment. However, the album also featured Alex Brahl, Ed Rose, Jake Cardwell & Rob Pope providing extra instrument tracks.[2] It was released at a time when The Get up kids were already becoming more and more successful. The first five albums of the New Amsterdams were to be released on Vagrant Records.

Para Toda Vida, Worse for the Wear (2002-2003)

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.[3] 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.[4]

Story Like a Scar, Killed or Cured (2005-2007)

The band's next album, Killed or Cured was released in 2005.[5] 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.[6] In 2005 they played on the Austin City Limits Music Festival. The album Killed or Cured was released in its full version through retail channels on April 10, 2007.[7]

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.[8] In the same year The New Amsterdams played alongside bands like Depeche Mode or Daft Punk at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.[9]

At the Foot of My Rival (2007)

In September 2007, the band released another album, At the Foot of My Rival on CD, Vinyl and Digital Download.[10][11] 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 Get Up Kids bandmate Jim Suptic.[11][12]

In January 2008 the band released a collection of demos and b-sides, available exclusively through their website.[13]

In May of the same year, they went on their first European tour, starting in Amsterdam.[10] The band planned to go into a small hiatus after that due to Matt Pryor's involvement with the Get Up Kids. Dustin Kinsey joined the band Koufax.[14]

Outroduction (2013)

In a November 2011 interview with MidcoastStation.com Pryor said he had plans to release a New Amsterdams compilation.[15] In 2013 a compilation entitled Outroduction was finally released, which contains B-side material. This time on the label Nightshoes Syndicate, founded by Pryor himself.[16]

Discography

Albums
Year Title Record Label
2000 Never You Mind Vagrant Records, Heroes & Villains Records
2002 Para Toda Vida Vagrant Records, Heroes & Villains Records
2003 Worse for the Wear Vagrant Records
2006 Story Like a Scar Vagrant Records
2007 Killed or Cured Vagrant Records
2007 At the Foot of My Rival Curb Appeal Records
2013 Outroduction Nightshoes Syndicate

EPs
Year Title Record Label
2005 Killed or Cured Self-Released
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
  • 2007: Thirty-Three (from Helio Presents: The Smashing Pumpkins Tribute-Album)[17]

Music videos
  • 2006: Turn Out The Light
  • 2007: Fountain Of Youth[18]

Reviews

References
  1. Records, Vagrant. "Vagrant Records". Vagrant Records. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  2. Punknews.org. "The New Amsterdams - Para Toda Vida". www.punknews.org. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  3. "The New Amsterdams: Para Toda Vida". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  4. "Pryor engagements". LJWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  5. "The New Amsterdams - Killed Or Cured". Discogs (in French). Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  6. "The New Amsterdams - Killed Or Cured". Discogs (in German). Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  7. "The New Amsterdams - Killed Or Cured". Discogs (in German). Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  8. "The New Amsterdams – laut.de – Band". laut.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  9. "Huge 2006 Coachella Festival line-up announced". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  10. Punknews.org. "Tours: New Amsterdams (US and Europe)". www.punknews.org. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  11. "The New Amsterdams - At The Foot Of My Rival". Discogs (in German). Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  12. "Q&A: Jim Suptic of The Get Up Kids". idobi.com. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  13. "The New Amsterdams Store". 2008-02-03. Archived from the original on 2008-02-03. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  14. "Meet Koufax, the band". mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  15. "Interview: Matt Pryor talks about 'May Day', Lawrence life and his many projects | Midcoast Station". 2011-11-13. Archived from the original on 2011-11-13. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  16. Simon, Simon (2020-03-18). "The New Amsterdams: Outroduction [Album Review]". thefirenote.com. Retrieved Jul 25, 2013.
  17. "Release "Helio Presents: Smashing Pumpkins Tribute Album" by Various Artists - MusicBrainz". musicbrainz.org. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  18. "MySpaceTV Videos: Fountain Of Youth by THE NEW AMSTERDAMS". web.archive.org. May 15, 2008.
  19. "chorus.fm". chorus.fm.
  20. http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/n/newamsterdams-never.shtml
  21. "The New Amsterdams: Para Toda Vida: Pitchfork Record Review". web.archive.org. January 17, 2008.
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