Shortly after forming in their hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, the band signed to Doghouse Records and released their first EP, Woodson, along with their debut full-length studio album Four Minute Mile (1997).

In order to capitalize on the success of the album, Vagrant released Eudora, a compilation of b-sides, covers and rarities in 2001.

The album was a large departure from their previous sound, and was considered a commercial failure.

However, in 2008 the band reunited, and announced a reunion tour for 2009 to coincide with a tenth-anniversary re-release of Something to Write Home About.

The Get Up Kids are widely considered to be one of the more prominent groups to take part in the second-wave emo movement that took place in the mid-1990s.