By photojournalist Ryan Marchese
Wednesday night Jannus Live was filled with black band tees, skinny jeans, and nostalgia courtesy of The Get Up Kids. The Kansas City band brought their signature blend of Midwestern emo, punk, and indie rock to downtown St. Pete to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Something to Write Home About. The band’s 2nd studio album is praised for its role in shaping the emo scene at the end of the ‘90s and early 2000s. It was an essential part of the second-wave movement of emo, which would lead to the genre exploding and ushering in a new generation of artists and sub-genres, ultimately forming the third wave.
Joining The Get Up Kids on the southeastern stretch of their tour was Hot Rod Circuit. Hailing from Auburn, Alabama, HRC also got their start in the late ‘90s/early 2000s, blending emo and indie rock. They received a warm welcome with chants of “Hot Rod Cir- cuit” as they took the stage. If they couldn’t feel just how welcome they were to St. Pete, the die-hard fans assured them between songs, screaming out “I love you Hot Rod Circuit!”
Their set was a good mix of favorites including “The Pharmacist,” “Radiation Suit,” and “Stateside.” The band’s genuine appreciation of the crowd and their tourmates was made evident by their heartfelt performance that left everything on the stage.
The crowd’s anticipation for The Get Up Kids grew as stagehands swapped out equipment and lowered the Something to Write Home About banner, sporting the album’s cover. Jannus Live was the perfect setting to create an intimate, but vibrant atmosphere. Opening with “Holiday,” the band immediately set the tone for the night. The passion they brought to the stage was reciprocated from the crowd, singing along word for word throughout the entirety of the performance.
The Get Up Kids proved that 25 years later Something to Write Home About remains as vital and heartfelt as ever to the genre and the fans. They followed up their anniversary set with a solid mix from their catalog. By the end of the night, it was clear that The Get Up Kids had delivered exactly what their fans had come for—a mix of raw emotion, high energy, and a trip down memory lane.
