The Maine

Hailing from Tempe, Arizona, The Maine got their start in early 2007 when bass player Garrett Nickelsen and drummer Pat Kirch teamed up on a new project. Knowing they needed to find a great vocalist, they asked their friend John O’Callaghan to audition during a local party and decided he was a perfect fit. The stage was set for an exciting tour and The Maine made their way across the nation, burning up every night as they attempted to sleep in their hot Suburban. Joined by guitarist and vocalist Kennedy Brock not long into the tour, The Maine rounded out the lineup when they asked guitarist Jared Monaco to become a part of the band.

The Maine’s abilities and efforts hadn’t gone unnoticed on the road. Fearless Records president Bob Becker had taken note of the memorable group after seeing them play their first show in Southern California. As soon as the tour ended, The Maine decided to sign with the label. With Fearless behind them, Pat and Garrett worked to finish high school while the band set its sights on an EP. Playing as many shows as they could, The Maine tackled their first EP while maintaining a strong presence online, building a solid relationship with fans as they spent hours on MySpace every night. Released in December 2007, The Maine’s debut EP The Way We Talk debuted at #6 on the iTunes Top 100 Alternative Chart and shot to #10 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. It sold more than 50,000 copies, prompting Alternative Press Magazine to laud them as one of the “Bands You Need to Know in 2008.” The Maine has also seen great success on television and on the big screen. The video for “Everything I Ask For” from album Can’t Stop Won’t Stop was featured on MTV’s Discover and Download, and their songs have been featured in MTV shows such as The Hills, Real World, Parental Control, and Bromance. The band’s latest album Pioneer is out now.