A Rocket to the Moon (commonly abbreviated as ARTTM) was an American rock band formed during 2006 in Braintree, Massachusetts, United States, by Nick Santino, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist. Guitarist and backup vocalist Justin Richards (also of Brighten), bassist and backup vocalist Eric Halvorsen, and drummer Andrew Cook eventually joined the band, forming the final member lineup. The band has released three albums overall, two through Fueled by Ramen. Their debut studio album, Your Best Idea, was released on December 26, 2006. Their second studio album, On Your Side, was released on October 13, 2009. Wild & Free was released as their third studio album on March 26, 2013. In 2013, the group split up, but returned for a one-off performance in 2017.
A Rocket to the Moon | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Braintree, Massachusetts, United States |
Genres |
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Years active |
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Labels | Fueled by Ramen (2008–2013) Decaydance (2008) |
Past members |
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Website | www |
History
editEarly years, Your Best Idea and Greetings From... (2006–2008)
editNick Santino started A Rocket to the Moon in the summer of 2006 as a solo project.[1] He formerly fronted the local bands The Bad Year and The Midway Class.[2] These bands weren't doing anything serious at the time and he decided to do his own thing instead. He created a MySpace page and the name A Rocket to the Moon came from when Santino was thinking of the display name for his page.[3] Santino spent two years working as a one-man band, handling all the instruments himself.[1] Your Best Idea was released as the debut studio album on December 26, 2006.[4]
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.[5] They then appeared on the July 10, 2008 episode of Total Request Live, performing the song "Dakota".[6] Their performance brought them attention from Pete Wentz, the bassist of Fall Out Boy.[7] Contrary to popular belief, A Rocket to the Moon were never signed to Decaydance Records (Wentz's record label and then an imprint of Fueled by Ramen, now DCD2 Records). He had shown interest in signing the band and originally wanted to do a Fueled by Ramen/Decaydance co-deal. The Decaydance side of the deal did not pan out for unknown reasons.[8] Santino later revealed that it was a business decision that failed and "it got in the wrong hands."[9] An official announcement of the signing to Fueled by Ramen was made in August 2008.[10] Separate tours supporting both The Cab[11] and A Cursive Memory[12] followed in the fall of 2008. They also toured with Cute Is What We Aim For, Secondhand Serenade, and Automatic Loveletter.[3] On October 13, 2008, the band released their EP Greetings From..., produced by Matt Grabe.[13] The record reached No. 21 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.[14] The EP features the promotional singles, "Dakota" and "If Only They Knew".[15] A music video for "If Only They Knew" was released on May 13, 2009.[16] The song "Just Another One" features guest vocals from John O'Callaghan from The Maine and Justin Richards from Brighten.[17]
On Your Side (2009–2011)
editThe band spent the first part of February and March 2009 in the studio with Matt Squire recording their second full-length album.[18] Sponsored by Rockstar, 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.[19] The group were also named as one of the "100 Bands You Need To Know" by Alternative Press in 2009.[20] They played the May 3rd lineup of the 2009 Bamboozle festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey[21] and played select dates on the 2009 Vans Warped Tour[22] before touring with The Cab, Eye Alaska, The Summer Set, and My Favorite Highway on the What Happens in Vegas... Tour.[23] 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 the release of the band's second full-length studio album, On Your Side.[24] The album was officially released on October 13, 2009.[25] The album peaked at number 82 on the Billboard 200.[26] The group released a music video for the album's lead single, "Mr. Right" on November 10.[27] In the fall of 2009, they supported Boys Like Girls along with VersaEmerge, The Maine, and Cobra Starship on their Love Drunk Tour.[28]
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.[29] In spring 2010, A Rocket to the Moon toured with Motion City Soundtrack, Sing It Loud, and Fun.[30] On June 15, 2010, the group released the album's second single, "Like We Used To".[31] The song debuted at number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100,[32] selling 22,000 copies in October 2010.[33] The single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.[34] They opened for Hanson on select dates on their Shout It Out! Tour.[35] They also joined All Time Low, Before You Exit, and City (Comma) State on the My Small Package Tour in October 2010.[36] On October 5, the group released an EP, The Rainy Day Sessions, re-recording four tracks from On Your Side: "Mr. Right", "Like We Used To", "Baby Blue Eyes" and "On a Lonely Night", with Larkin Poe.[37]
In March 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.[38] In May 2011, the band toured the UK with Mayday Parade.[39] They also toured Australia and Indonesia with Hey Monday. In fall, A Rocket to the Moon supported Never Shout Never on the Time Travel Tour along with Carter Hulsey and Fake Problems.[40]
Wild & Free (2012–2013)
editThe group began recording their third studio album in January 2012, at Starstruck Studios in Nashville, Tennessee and they worked with producer Mark Bright.[41] The band also released an album documentary, showcasing the group recording and talking about the album.[42] In February 2012, A Rocket to the Moon had performed in the Philippines along with The Summer Set, Forever the Sickest Kids, The Ready Set, and A+ Dropouts called the LIV5,[43] before going to Australia for the music festival, Soundwave.[44] In June 2012, the group revealed the title of the album, Wild & Free.[45]
On July 3, 2012, "Going Out" was made available for streaming and was released as the album's first promotional single.[46] On August 13, "Whole Lotta You" was released for streaming, before it was officially released as the album's lead single on August 21.[47] "You're My Song" was streamed via Alternative Press on September 28.[48] The group released an EP titled, That Old Feeling on October 2, and embarked on the That Old Feeling tour.[49] On November 27, "Ever Enough" was released as the second single from the album.[50] A Rocket to the Moon released their third studio album, Wild & Free, on March 26, 2013.[51] The album peaked at number 136 on Billboard 200.[26]
On May 9, 2013, A Rocket to the Moon announced that the band would be breaking up following their tour with the Maine. Despite the difficult decision, the group "felt like it was the right one and the right time."[52] Santino further explained the breakup in an interview with Alternative Press. He stated how the group had problems with the management and label, and how they struggled to get a release date for the album.[53] They embarked on their last tour, the One Last Night Tour.[54] They also performed one last show at the Bazooka Rocks II Music Festival in the Philippines on August 25, 2013, before breaking up.[55]
Breakup and reunion (2013–2019)
editAfter the band broke up, Nick Santino pursued an alternative rock/country solo career first under the name "Nick Santino and The Northern Wind" and later under his own name,[56][57] and formed a pop rock band Beach Weather in 2015.[58] Andrew Cook and Justin Richards have gone on to play drums and guitar (respectively) for country group Dan + Shay.[59] In 2014, Eric Halvorsen joined dance-pop band, Cobra Starship.[60]
On January 21, 2017, the band played a one-off reunion show at 8123 Fest.[61] In November 2019, Santino and Richards reunited performing the song "Dakota".[62]
Musical styles and influences
editA Rocket to the Moon is described as pop rock,[63] alternative rock[1] and emo pop.[64] The band has cited influences from Contemporary Christian music, Rage Against the Machine, Boyz II Men and Tom Petty,[65] while their sound is rooted in late-'90s alternative rock and pop-influenced sounds of emocore.[1] During the group's earlier years, their sound featured more synthesizers and was described as electronic. According to Santino, he decided to stray away from the electronic sound on their EP, Greetings From..., because he felt that "so many people were trying to attempt it."[9] On their second studio album, On Your Side, the sound is described as emo pop,[66] pop rock,[67] power pop and pop punk, drawing comparison to the likes of The Cab and The All-American Rejects.[68] The group changed up their sound on their third studio album, Wild & Free. The album is described as country and pop rock.[63] According to drummer Andrew Cook, the album's sound was influenced by country music, pop, classic rock and punk rock.[69]
Band members
edit
Final lineup
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Former members
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Discography
editStudio albums
editTitle | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||||
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US [26] |
US Alt. [70] |
US Rock [71] | |||||
Your Best Idea |
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— | — | — | |||
On Your Side |
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82 | 23 | 35 |
| ||
Wild & Free |
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136 | 24 | 38 | |||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Compilation albums
editTitle | Details |
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Like We Used To - Best Of |
Extended plays
editTitle | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Heat [14] | |||||
Summer 07 |
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— | |||
Greetings From... |
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21 | |||
The Rainy Day Sessions |
|
— | |||
That Old Feeling |
|
— | |||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Singles
editTitle | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [32] |
US Heat [77] |
US Rock Dig. [78] | |||||
"Fear of Flying"[79] | 2007 | — | — | — | Summer 07 | ||
"Not a Second to Waste"[80] | 2009 | — | — | — | |||
"Mr. Right"[81] | — | — | — | On Your Side | |||
"Like We Used To"[82] | 2010 | 91 | 6 | 6 |
|
||
"Whole Lotta You"[84] | 2012 | — | — | — | Wild & Free | ||
"Ever Enough"[85] | — | — | — | ||||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Promotional singles
editTitle | Year | Album |
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"Dakota" | 2008 | Greetings From... |
"If Only They Knew" | 2009 | |
"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"[86] | Non-album single | |
"Going Out" | 2012 | Wild & Free |
"You're My Song" | ||
"First Kiss"[87] |
References
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- ^ "Nick Santino Talks Latest Album "Big Skies" and His Plans for Future". Tap Songz. February 4, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ a b Lauren Darmody (December 1, 2008). "A Rocket to the Moon Takes Off". Dig. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009.
- ^ "A Rocket to the Moon - Your Best Idea". Melodic. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Rachel Lux, "A Rocket to the Moon". Alternative Press, April 2009, p. 87.
- ^ Rohan Kohli (July 5, 2008). "A Rocket To TRL". Absolutepunk.net. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2009.
- ^ "A Rocket To The Moon Join Fueled By Ramen & Decaydance Records". Buzznet. August 12, 2008. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2009.
- ^ Eric Halvorsen (February 23, 2010). "A Rocket to the Moon Interview" (Interview). Jason Schleweis of Crush Music Mag. Archived from the original on March 30, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
- ^ a b Cecilia Martinez (November 11, 2009). "Interview With Nick Santino of A Rocket to the Moon: TIme to Blast Off". The Aquarian Weekly. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ Steve Henderson (August 9, 2008). "Fueled By Ramen Signs Two New Bands". Absolutepunk.net. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2009.
- ^ Rohan Kohli (August 23, 2008). "The Cab / TP / Hey Monday / ARTTM Tickets On Sale". Absolutepunk.net. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2009.
- ^ Brad Streeter (September 5, 2008). "A Cursive Memory Plans For Full US Tour". Absolutepunk.net. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2009.
- ^ "Greetings From... A Rocket to the Moon (Digital Download - ATL / Atlantic / Decaydance / Fueled by Ramen Records #)". AllMusic. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ a b "A Rocket to the Moon Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "A Rocket to the Moon to release 'On Your Side' and announce tour". Hip Online. May 20, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
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- ^ Greetings From... (booklet). A Rocket to the Moon. Fueled by Ramen. 2008.
{{cite AV media notes}}
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- ^ Tim Karan (January 5, 2009). "AP Tour 2009 Dates and Venues Announced". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on April 26, 2009.
- ^ Emily Jang (November 3, 2009). "Take off with A Rocket To The Moon". Girls' Life. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "Bamboozle announcing lineup today". Alternative Press. November 26, 2008. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ Daniel Kreps (March 25, 2009). "NOFX, Black Tide, Gallows, Bad Religion Lead 2009 Vans Warped Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ Brian Baker (July 20, 2009). "The Cab with Rocket To The Moon". Cincinnati CityBeat. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ Stardust-Ent.com (August 2, 2009). "A Rocket To The Moon Interview with Stardust". YouTube. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
- ^ "Stream the new A Rocket To The Moon album". Alternative Press. October 8, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c "A Rocket to the Moon Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "Behind-The-Scenes of the video for A Rocket To The Moon's 'Mr. Right'". Alternative Press. November 6, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "Boys Like Girls/Cobra Starship/The Maine tour dates revealed". Alternative Press. August 17, 2009. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ Adam White (December 16, 2009). "2010 Take Action Tour". PunkNews.org. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ Leslie Simon (April 5, 2010). "Sing It Loud Hits The Road This Spring With Mayday Parade, Motion City Soundtrack". MTV. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ "Available For Airplay: CHR". FMQB. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "A Rocket to the Moon Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 4, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "BB-2010-11-13.pdf" (PDF). Billboard. November 13, 2010. p. 11. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "Gold & Platinum - RIAA: A Rocket to the Moon". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ Chris Ryan (October 4, 2010). "A Rocket To The Moon Tour Diary: On The Road With Hanson". MTV. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ Aaron Fowler (December 8, 2010). "A Rocket To The Moon post My Small Package Tour video". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ "A Rocket To The Moon – The Rainy Day Sessions EP". Alternative Press. October 18, 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ "A Rocket To The Moon announce tour with Anarbor, Valencia, and more". Alternative Press. January 4, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ Amber Wade (May 23, 2011). "A Rocket To The Moon posts tour video". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ Jessica Norton (November 10, 2011). "Never Shout Never Show Review". Seventeen. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "A Rocket To The Moon enter studio to record sophomore full-length". Alternative Press. January 10, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "A Rocket To The Moon to release album documentary". Alternative Press. January 26, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "A Rocket To The Moon to tour Philippines with Forever The Sickest Kids, Ready Set, the Summer Set". Alternative Press. January 9, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ Aubin Paul (October 19, 2011). "Soundwave Festival adds Bad Religion, Strung Out; subtracts Hole". PunkNews.org. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "Exclusive: A Rocket To The Moon announce new album, 'Wild & Free'". Alternative Press. June 15, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "A Rocket To The Moon stream new song 'Going Out'". Alternative Press. July 3, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "Song Premiere: A Rocket To The Moon, 'Whole Lotta You'". Alternative Press. August 13, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "A Rocket To The Moon release new track, "You're My Song"". Alternative Press. September 28, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "A Rocket To The Moon announce new EP, tour dates". Alternative Press. September 13, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
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- ^ "A Rocket To The Moon to release 'Wild & Free' in March". Alternative Press. January 30, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "'This wasn't the easiest decision for us, but we all felt like it' A Rocket To The Moon breaking up". Alternative Press. May 9, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "Like They Used To: Behind the breakup of A Rocket To The Moon". Alternative Press. May 27, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ Ho, Rachel (June 12, 2013). "A Rocket To The Moon 'LIVE' in Singapore". Musichel. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
- ^ "All Time Low, Tonight Alive, A Rocket To The Moon To Play Philippines Festival, 'Bazooka Rocks II'". Alter The Press!. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Nick Santino Announces New EP". Stitched Sound. June 29, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
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- ^ Matt Collar. "Beach Weather Biography by Matt Collar". AllMusic. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ Rachael Dowd (January 21, 2021). "Dan Smyers' emo band before Dan + Shay once opened for All Time Low". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "Cobra Starship tap former A Rocket To The Moon bassist to join band". Alternative Press. October 29, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
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emo pop quartet A Rocket to the Moon.
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