When I first launched this site, the purpose was to create a stable, lasting archive of rare and bootleg material by The Get Up Kids; A way of helping other people avoid the long hours I and those like me spent scouring the dark corners of the internet tracking down live bootlegs of a band that doesn't get the same fanatical taping crowd as some of the larger, more ubiquitous acts.
And in a large part, it succeeded. Right now if you do a google search for "The Get Up Kids bootleg," this site is the first result. It also provides, to my knowledge, the most comprehensive archive of the band's bootleg and rare material to date.
However, in my previous post a few years ago, I gave the impression that this blog would come to take on a more editorial focus or be updated on a regular basis. Simply put, that was never the intent of the site. However, the lack of subsequent updates after that post gave people the impression that the site had been abandoned, and was no longer the "definitive source" for Get Up Kids bootlegs. The truth is, the site has never been dead, I just ran out of material. (And time, but college tends to do that to someone.) While I know there is more material in existence, it just became a matter of running out of ways to get it. Some of it is on VHS tapes in basements in Shanghai, some of it can only be found in passing references on old Geocities sites, and some rests with friends of the band who probably don't have the time or resources to make it available.
But this is important to say:
THIS SITE WILL NEVER BE DEAD SO LONG AS THERE IS MATERIAL.
I make a point to include my proxy email address in every post, so if there is someone out there who has means of getting ahold of something I don't have, I can help them make it available to the world. Many of the people reading this may likely have a show or rare recording that few others do, but will assume that it's widely available. But I implore you, even if you're sure you've seen mention of that Mesa, AZ recording somewhere, or you know someone must have shared that Reggie bootleg on another site; If you don't see it here, let me know. (Also, if you have photos from one of the shows listed here, those are also welcome.)
I and several others have spent countless hours researching, tagging and cataloguing every bit of audio we could get our hands on, and we intend to continue doing that so long as these recordings are made available. But I don't have the time to do it alone anymore, so I need your help. With your assistance, this site will continue to be the living, breathing resource it was always meant to be.
Thanks, and as always: If you have, or know of someone who has something that isn't listed on this site, please contact thegetupkidsarchive@gmail.com.
