Matt Pryor in Tampa

Kansas City-born Matt Pryor has long been a defining figure in early emo music through his influential band The Get UpKids, which helped shape an entire generation of alternative sound. After moving beyond genre constraints on later albums, he now explores a more indie direction while staying true to the musical DNA that inspired him from artists like Elvis Costello and The Afghan Whigs. His latest solo album, The Salton Sea, reflects his deep commitment to songwriting after surviving a six-month period of heavy drinking in 20222023. Drawing on personal darkness, the title references a terminal lake that once hosted celebrities but is now a polluted wastelanda metaphor for Pryors own near-catastrophic fall from sobriety. The album features narrative-driven songs with a nostalgic quality that invites listeners into imagined memories, crafted through daily writing sessions often completed before dawn. This creative discipline has proven to be a vital outlet, allowing him to channel his struggles and continue shaping the musical lives of fans for over three decades.