The Maine started as a group of five friends in Phoenix, Arizona. The group consists of John O’Callaghan (vocals), Kennedy Brock (rhythm guitar), Jared Monaco (lead guitar) Garret Nickelsen (bass) and Pat Kirch (drums). They entered the pop punk scene by releasing their EP, The Way We Talk, and eventually broke out into the scene by touring with other bands. They released their debut album, Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, in 2007, with critical praise for their instrumentals and lyrics written by lead singer O’Callaghan. Their second album was released under a record label, however the band broke free of them due to lack of control. Ever since, The Maine has been releasing albums independently under their own record label, 8123 Records, with Pioneer, Forever Halloween, American Candy, Lovely Little Lonely, and You Are OK. They have most recently released their 8th studio album, XOXO: From Love and Anxiety in Real Time. The Maine prides themselves on their lively concerts and their tight-knit fanbase. The Maine are one of the ‘pioneers’ of modern pop punk and continue to transition into their own sound.
The Maine is my favorite band, having discovered them in 2017 with their album Lovely Little Lonely. I just saw them live in April and it was one of the best experiences of their life. I admire their passion for their music and fans and I like how they are a smaller band, so everything seems more intimate. Their album Pioneer is my favorite of all time, and can cheer me up whenever I need it. I highly recommend everyone to check out their music and get to know them not only as artists, but as people too.