Originating from Kansas City, Missouri, USA, Matthew Pryor is best known for the power chord charged emo rock of his full-time band, the Get Up Kids. However, he also finds time for an extra-curricular project, the mostly acoustic based, slacker alt-pop outfit New Amsterdams. The band specialize in a tranquil, laid back sound, in contrast to his other high volume outfits. Signing with the same indie label as the Get Up Kids (Vagrant Records), the New Amsterdams premiered in 2000, with the debut Never You Mind. Although it may have caught long-time fans a bit off guard, the album was received favourably by and large, as it earned comparisons to media darlings such as Elliott Smith and Sebadoh's Lou Barlow. With a variety of different musicians helping in the studio and on stage (Get Up Kids bass player Robbie Pope has been known to contribute, as well as fellow Vagrant recording artists Hot Rod Circuit), Pryor is the only constant in the band. In 2002, Para Toda Vida (performed almost entirely by Pryor) was released, while the more ensemble-orientated Worse For The Wear followed a year later.

Listen to The New Amsterdams at Finetune.

• (2006)  Story Like A Scar

• The Death Of Us
• Turn Out The Light
• Beautiful Mistake
• Bad Liar
• Calendar Days

• Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.
• Death Cab for Cutie
• The Get Up Kids
• Bright Eyes
• Coldplay
• Radiohead
• Jimmy Eat World
• Ryan Adams
• Dashboard Confessional
• Snow Patrol
• Wilco
• Elliott Smith
• Saves The Day
• The Shins
• Modest Mouse
• Rilo Kiley
• Damien Rice
• Regina Spektor
• Iron And Wine
• The Postal Service

• jaquinton
• xctf
• rustyshell
• opchiasm
• kohei
• ralphthewonderllama
• Toliveistodie
• 485554
• FrankHeysen
• LisaRico66