Vans Warped Tour

What was originally a one-off song written by a group of bored suburban kids turned into a five-year plan none of them were expecting. Call it the ultimate after-school project. With only the intent and purpose of taking that one song and infecting it on everyone they knew, this ragtag group of "socially awkward" musicians called The Wonder Years found themselves in the middle of a burgeoning - wait for it - career. Now, as the band has joined the Hopeless Records family, it's obvious their easygoing short-term plans have changed dramatically. The Wonder Years have come a long way from piggybacking their friends' shows in Philly with that one initial song to sharing stages with the likes of New Found Glory, Set Your Goals and Comeback Kid. Oh, and Boyz II Men. Comprised of Dan "Soupy" Campbell (vocals), Casey Cavaliere and Matt Brasch (guitar), Nick Steinborn (keys/guitar), Josh Martin (bass) and Michael Kennedy (drums), they're a band that used to borrow gear from their friends, trying to make shows memorable and exciting without worrying whether it was a perfect set or if they were even on time. It shows what the relatable appeal of a band can do - even when, as in the early days, they're not even really trying.Their influences, ranging from tour mates NFG to Saves the Day and the Hold Steady, are apparent in the attitude of a band that just want to connect with their audience in the most authentic and unpretentious way possible. "We're just ourselves all the time, and we don't have any rad gimmicks," Campbell said. "We play loud and fast and recklessly. We front flip off speakers and sweat and spit and break just about everything. We've walked off stage needing stitches more than once."That carefree and DIY mindset is one of the attributes that attracted Hopeless, who signed the band last spring to join the ranks of pop-punk peers such as All Time Low and new recruit Yellowcard. The freedom to be their not-so-polished but completely real selves played a big part in their decision. "We're a band very much charge of ourselves. We always kind of know exactly what we want to do and exactly how we want to do it, and we like Hopeless because they let us do just that," Campbell said. Hopeless put out a special edition re-release of 2010's The Upsides, the band's restless diary of growing up, getting out and making the best of what you have, now with four additional new songs. The record, which debuted earlier this year, landed the band on several Billboard charts, including #5 on Alternative Artist and #9 on Top New Artist. Numerous U.S. tours with the likes of New Found Glory, Four Year Strong, Set Your Goals & Streetlight Manifesto along with a spot on the Kerrang! Uk Tour in the winter kept these soldiers of the road busy before they delve into the highly anticipated 3rd LP which is slated for an early summer release. "We don't plan to stop touring until we're making the new record, and the day that record is done, we plan on being back on the road," Campbell said. The Wonder Years continue to carry on the refreshing outlook that it's boring to be anything but yourself, and that sometimes making mistakes get you exactly where you need to be. So if you're ready to not take yourself so seriously, if you're ready to hear songs about the friends, mistakes and memories from your own life - The Wonder Years have you covered.