A Rocket to the Moon
Encyclopedia
A Rocket to the Moon is an American
rock band
. The band was founded during 2006 in Braintree
, Massachusetts
by Nick Santino, lead vocalist
and rhythm guitar
ist. Guitarist
and backup vocalist
Justin Richards (also of Brighten
), bassist
and backup vocalist
Eric Halvorsen, and drummer
Andrew Cook eventually joined Santino.
Santino assembled a band of musicians in early 2008 with the help of The Maine
prior to A Rocket to the Moon's first major festival appearance, at The Bamboozle
. They then appeared on the July 10, 2008 episode of Total Request Live
, performing the song "Dakota". Contrary to popular belief, A Rocket to the Moon was never signed to Decaydance Records
by Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy
. Wentz had shown interest in the band and wanted to do a Fueled By Ramen
/Decaydence split but the Decaydence side of the deal never worked out. An official announcement of the signing to Fueled by Ramen was made in August 2008. Separate tours supporting both The Cab
and A Cursive Memory
followed in the fall of 2008. They also toured with Cute Is What We Aim For, Secondhand Serenade
and Automatic Loveletter
. On October 14, 2008 the band released their EP
Greetings From... (produced by Matt Grabe
), featuring the singles "Dakota" and "If Only They Knew". The record reached #21 on the Billboard
Top Heatseekers chart.
The band spent the first part of February and March 2009 in the studio with Matt Squire
recording their debut full-length album. They were the opening band on Alternative Press magazine's AP Tour 2009, with The Maine, Hit The Lights, Family Force 5
and 3OH!3
sponsored by Rockstar
. They played the May 3rd lineup of the 2009 Bamboozle
festival in East Rutherford
, New Jersey
and played select dates on the 2009 Vans Warped Tour
before touring with The Cab
, Eye Alaska
, The Summer Set
and My Favorite Highway on the "What Happens in Vegas... Tour". While on Warped Tour, the band did many signings with the non-profit organization Music Saves Lives
, where they met with fans who gained special access to the band by donating blood. Andrew Cook, formerly of prog-rock band The Receiving End of Sirens
, was made a full-time member upon release of the band's full-length album, On Your Side' (released on October 12, 2009) . In the fall of 2009, they supported Boys Like Girls
along with VersaEmerge
, The Maine, and Cobra Starship
on BLGs' Love Drunk Tour presented by Op.
They played on the Take Action Tour
presented by Hot Topic
with Mayday Parade
, There for Tomorrow
, Stereo Skyline
, and We the Kings
in early 2010. In spring 2010, A Rocket to the Moon toured with Motion City Soundtrack
, Sing it Loud
, and Fun
. They also opened for Hanson
on select dates on Hanson's Shout It Out! tour. They were second on the bill next to All Time Low
, Before You Exit and City (Comma) State on All Time Low's My Small Package Tour in October 2010.
In spring 2011 A Rocket to the Moon went on their first headlining tour, the On Your Side Tour, with Anarbor
, Valencia
, Runner Runner
, and Go Radio
. In May 2011, the band toured the UK
with Mayday Parade. They also toured Australia
and Indonesia
with Hey Monday
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
. The band was founded during 2006 in Braintree
Braintree, Massachusetts
The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
by Nick Santino, lead vocalist
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
and rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
ist. Guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and backup vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
Justin Richards (also of Brighten
Brighten
Brighten is a pop rock band from Chico, California, consisting of brothers Justin and Jimmy Richards, and Alex Draper . The band has recently been on tour with This Providence, Cute Is What We Aim For, Eisley, and All Time Low. In 2007, their debut album, King vs...
), bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
and backup vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
Eric Halvorsen, and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Andrew Cook eventually joined Santino.
History
Nick Santino started A Rocket to the Moon in the summer of 2006 as a musical experiment. He formerly fronted the local bands The Bad Year and The Midway Class.Santino assembled a band of musicians in early 2008 with the help of The Maine
The Maine (band)
The Maine is an American rock band from Tempe, Arizona. They were formed in January 21st, 2007, they released EP Stay Up, Get Down in the same year. On December 11 2007, The Maine made their debut with a five song EP called The Way We Talk produced by Matt Grabe...
prior to A Rocket to the Moon's first major festival appearance, at The Bamboozle
The Bamboozle
The Bamboozle is an annual rain-or-shine, three-day music festival held in New Jersey. Every year, new bands compete for spots during the two days. The event evolved out of the Skate and Surf Festival.- The Characters:...
. They then appeared on the July 10, 2008 episode of Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
, performing the song "Dakota". Contrary to popular belief, A Rocket to the Moon was never signed to Decaydance Records
Decaydance Records
Decaydance Records is a record label based in New York City. Originally founded as an imprint of Fueled by Ramen, it is now an independent record label owned by Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy and partners. The first band Wentz signed to the label was Panic! at the Disco...
by Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
. Wentz had shown interest in the band and wanted to do a Fueled By Ramen
Fueled by Ramen
Fueled by Ramen is an American record label which operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records. The label, founded in Gainesville, Florida, is based in New York City...
/Decaydence split but the Decaydence side of the deal never worked out. An official announcement of the signing to Fueled by Ramen was made in August 2008. Separate tours supporting both The Cab
The Cab
The Cab is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada. Their debut album, Whisper War, was released on April 29, 2008. They have been called "The Band You Need to Know 2008" by Alternative Press magazine...
and A Cursive Memory
A Cursive Memory
A Cursive Memory is an American rock band, from Rancho Palos Verdes, California.- Sincerely Me :A Cursive Memory is a Pop Rock band from Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The band originally formed as Sincerely Me in 2003 after members Colin Baylen and Shaun Profeta had met at a birthday party....
followed in the fall of 2008. They also toured with Cute Is What We Aim For, Secondhand Serenade
Secondhand Serenade
Secondhand Serenade is an American acoustic rock band, led by vocalist and guitarist John Vesely. Vesely has released three studio albums to date under the name Secondhand Serenade: Awake in 2007, A Twist in My Story in 2008 and Hear Me Now in 2010...
and Automatic Loveletter
Automatic Loveletter
Automatic Loveletter is a rock band, with acoustic and emo influences, based in the United States of America. The band formed in Tampa, Florida, in 2007, led by vocalist and guitarist Juliet Simms, her older brother and lead guitarist Tommy Simms, drummer Ryan Metcalf, and bassist Clint Fowler.-...
. On October 14, 2008 the band released their EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Greetings From... (produced by Matt Grabe
Matt Grabe
Matt Grabe is a record producer and song-writer based out of Phoenix, AZ. After graduating high school, Matt studied audio engineering at The Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences. Upon finishing his studies, he became a member of Equal Vision Records artist Alive In Wild Paint...
), featuring the singles "Dakota" and "If Only They Knew". The record reached #21 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Top Heatseekers chart.
The band spent the first part of February and March 2009 in the studio with Matt Squire
Matt Squire
Matt Squire is an American multi-platinum music producer and writer. He has produced, engineered, or written tracks for One Direction, 3OH!3, Good Charlotte, New Boyz, Selena Gomez, David Archuleta, Taking Back Sunday, HIM, The Used, All Time Low, Panic! at the Disco, Boys Like Girls, The Cab,...
recording their debut full-length album. They were the opening band on Alternative Press magazine's AP Tour 2009, with The Maine, Hit The Lights, Family Force 5
Family Force 5
Family Force 5 is a Christian crunk rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. They consist of Solomon "Soul Glow Activatur" Olds, Jacob "Crouton" Olds, Joshua "Fatty" Olds, Nathan "Nadaddy" Currin, and Derek "Chap Stique" Mount...
and 3OH!3
3OH!3
3OH!3 is an American electro hop duo from Boulder, Colorado, made up of Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte. They are best known for their single "Don't Trust Me" from their album Want, which reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100...
sponsored by Rockstar
Rockstar (drink)
Rockstar is an energy drink created in 2001. With 14% of the US market in 2008, Rockstar is a leading energy drink brand. Rockstar is based in Las Vegas...
. They played the May 3rd lineup of the 2009 Bamboozle
The Bamboozle
The Bamboozle is an annual rain-or-shine, three-day music festival held in New Jersey. Every year, new bands compete for spots during the two days. The event evolved out of the Skate and Surf Festival.- The Characters:...
festival in East Rutherford
East Rutherford, New Jersey
East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,913. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and played select dates on the 2009 Vans Warped Tour
Warped Tour 2009
Warped Tour 2009 was the 15th installment of the annual Summer Warped Tour festival. Vans Shoes was again the tour's primary sponsor. Tour founder/organizer Kevin Lyman announced that this year's tour would feature only one main stage with bands playing 40 minutes each instead of two main stages...
before touring with The Cab
The Cab
The Cab is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada. Their debut album, Whisper War, was released on April 29, 2008. They have been called "The Band You Need to Know 2008" by Alternative Press magazine...
, Eye Alaska
Eye Alaska
Eye Alaska was an American alternative rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 2006. Two members, Brandon Wronski and Cameron Trowbridge, were former members of "Dead Letter Diaries"....
, The Summer Set
The Summer Set
The Summer Set are a pop-punk band from Scottsdale, Arizona.-History:After a few years of playing music together, Jess Bowen and brothers John and Stephen Gomez, set out in the fall of 2007 to form The Summer Set with newfound vocalist Brian Dales. Jess, John, and Stephen played in a previous band...
and My Favorite Highway on the "What Happens in Vegas... Tour". While on Warped Tour, the band did many signings with the non-profit organization Music Saves Lives
Music Saves Lives
Music Saves Lives is a not for profit 5013 organization and is listed in the IRS publication 78. Established in January 2006 by founder Russel Hornbeek in Seal Beach, California. Music Saves Lives has educated students and encouraged over 120,000 summer blood donations from youth under the age of 25...
, where they met with fans who gained special access to the band by donating blood. Andrew Cook, formerly of prog-rock band The Receiving End of Sirens
The Receiving End of Sirens
The Receiving End of Sirens is a rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 2003.-Overview:The band played on the 2005 Warped Tour and has toured with such acts as Gatsbys American Dream, A Wilhelm Scream, 30 Seconds to Mars, Funeral for a Friend, Saves the Day, Senses Fail, Thrice, and New...
, was made a full-time member upon release of the band's full-length album, On Your Side' (released on October 12, 2009) . In the fall of 2009, they supported Boys Like Girls
Boys Like Girls
Boys Like Girls is an American rock band from Massachusetts. Formed in 2005, the group gained mainstream recognition when it released its self-titled debut album. Boys Like Girls was the co-headliner with Good Charlotte for the Soundtrack of Your Summer Tour 2008 that toured across the United...
along with VersaEmerge
VersaEmerge
VersaEmerge is an American rock band consisting of Sierra Kusterbeck and Blake Harnage, originating from Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA, currently signed to the label Fueled by Ramen. They have three EPs - Cities Built on Sand, Perceptions, and the self-titled release. Their debut album, Fixed at...
, The Maine, and Cobra Starship
Cobra Starship
Cobra Starship is an American synthpop band created by former Midtown bassist and lead vocalist Gabe Saporta in 2003 in New York City, New York...
on BLGs' Love Drunk Tour presented by Op.
They played on the Take Action Tour
Take Action Tour
The Take Action Tour is an annual spring tour that not only hosts several bands, but also tries to get people alerted about the issues with teen suicide, and ultimately tries to prevent it. The tour was created by both Sub City and Hopeless Records...
presented by Hot Topic
Hot Topic
Hot Topic is an American retail chain specializing in music and pop culture-related clothing and accessories, as well as licensed music on CD. The majority of the stores are located in regional shopping malls. The first Hot Topic store was opened in 1988 by Orv Madden, who retired as CEO in 2000...
with Mayday Parade
Mayday Parade
Mayday Parade is an American rock band from Tallahassee, Florida. The band formed in 2005 when members of popular local Tallahassee bands Kid Named Chicago and Defining Moment converged in 2006. Their debut EP Tales Told by Dead Friends was released in 2006, and sold over 20,000 copies without any...
, There for Tomorrow
There For Tomorrow
There for Tomorrow is a band formed in Orlando, Florida in 2003. The group is influenced by bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Blink-182, Third Eye Blind, and The Hives.-Early years :...
, Stereo Skyline
Stereo Skyline
Stereo Skyline is an American pop punk band from East Meadow, New York, which formed in 2006.The group has played at The Bamboozle 2007, The Bamboozle Left 2009, The Bamboozle 2009, The 2010 Take Action Tour, The Bamboozle Roadshow 2010, released two EPs, and released their debut album Stuck On...
, and We the Kings
We the Kings
We the Kings is an American powerpop band formed in 2005 from Bradenton, Florida, currently signed to record label S-Curve Records. The group released their self-titled full-length debut album in 2007, which peaked at No. 151 on the Billboard 200. Their second full-length album, Smile Kid, was...
in early 2010. In spring 2010, A Rocket to the Moon toured with Motion City Soundtrack
Motion City Soundtrack
Motion City Soundtrack is an American rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, formed in 1997. The band consists of founding members Justin Pierre and Joshua Cain , along with keyboardist and moog synthesist Jesse Johnson, bassist and backing vocalist Matthew Taylor, and drummer, percussionist and...
, Sing it Loud
Sing it Loud
-History:Sing it Loud grew out of a friendship between cousins vocalist Pat Brown and guitarist Kieren Smith, who founded the group together and added members whom they met locally in the Minneapolis music scene. Brown officially brought the group together after his previous band called it quits....
, and Fun
Fun (band)
Fun is an American indie pop band based in New York, New York that was formed by Nate Ruess, formerly of The Format. After the 2008 breakup of The Format, Ruess left Arizona to develop his career in New York City. Ruess then formed Fun with Andrew Dost of Anathallo and Jack Antonoff of Steel Train...
. They also opened for Hanson
Hanson
- Musical groups :* Hanson , an American pop rock band* Hanson , an English rock band* The Hanson Brothers, a Canadian punk band and side project of the band Nomeansno- Companies :* Hanson plc, a British building materials company...
on select dates on Hanson's Shout It Out! tour. They were second on the bill next to All Time Low
All Time Low
All Time Low is an American pop punk band from Baltimore, Maryland, formed in 2003.The band consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Alexander Gaskarth, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Jack Barakat, bassist and backing vocalist Zachary Merrick, and drummer Rian Dawson...
, Before You Exit and City (Comma) State on All Time Low's My Small Package Tour in October 2010.
In spring 2011 A Rocket to the Moon went on their first headlining tour, the On Your Side Tour, with Anarbor
Anarbor
Anarbor is an American alternative rock band from Phoenix, Arizona that was formed in 2003. The band is composed of lead vocalist and bassist Slade Echeverria, guitarists Adam Juwig and Mike Kitlas, and drummer Greg Garrity. Initially known as "Troop 101", the band later changed their name to...
, Valencia
Valencia (band)
Valencia is an alternative rock/punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are currently on hiatus.-History:Valencia met by playing local shows together around the tri-state area in separate bands. George Ciukurescu and JD Perry grew up together; attending elementary school, high school, and...
, Runner Runner
Runner Runner
Runner Runner is an American pop rock band founded in Huntington Beach, California in 2008. They were the first band signed to a joint venture between Capitol Records, Merovingian Music and C.E. Music, a subsidiary of David Letterman's Worldwide Pants, Inc...
, and Go Radio
Go Radio
Go Radio is a rock band from Tallahassee, Florida, formed by former Mayday Parade vocalist, guitarist and lyricist Jason Lancaster in April 2007.The band has toured with The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, A Day to Remember, as well as Mayday Parade...
. In May 2011, the band toured the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
with Mayday Parade. They also toured Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
with Hey Monday
Hey Monday
Hey Monday is an American rock band from West Palm Beach, Florida, formed in 2008. They released their debut album Hold on Tight in 2008 which produced notable singles "Homecoming" and "How You Love Me Now". The album was followed up with their 2010 EP Beneath It All, which achieved moderate...
.
Band members
Current members- Nick Santino - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Justin Richards - lead guitar, backing vocals, bongos
- Eric Halvorsen - bass guitar, backing vocals
- Andrew Cook - drums
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales threshold) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Rock |
|||
| 2009 | On Your Side On Your Side (A Rocket to the Moon album) On Your Side is the full-length debut by American rock band A Rocket to the Moon, released in October 2009.-Track listing:# "Annabelle" – 3:15# "Mr...
|
82 | 35 | |
Extended plays
| Year | Album title |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Your Best Idea |
| 2007 | Summer 07 EP |
| 2008 | Greetings From... EP Greetings From... EP Greetings From... is the debut label EP from American rock band A Rocket to the Moon, released through Fueled by Ramen. The album was released on October 14, 2008... |
| 2010 | The Rainy Day Sessions EP |