Man Overboard

Man Overboard is a US pop punk band from Mount Laurel, New Jersey, active since 2008. The group begins as an emo-influenced pop punk act and later moves towards alternative rock and indie rock, while remaining rooted in pop punk and punk rock. Its sound draws on bands such as Blink-182, Saves the Day, Taking Back Sunday and The Promise Ring, and the band is known for the slogan “Defend Pop Punk”.

Formation and line-up

The band forms in 2008 around childhood friends Nik Bruzzese and Wayne Wildrick, who start writing songs together at Small Hill Studio. Wildrick brings in Zac Eisenstein, then the vocalist and guitarist of The Front Page, and Justin Mondschein of Bangarang! is first asked to play drums. After a rotating cast of drummers, Justin Collier, also from The Front Page, becomes the full-time drummer and completes the core line-up.

The members listed for the group are Zac Eisenstein, Nik Bruzzese, Justin Collier, Raitis Freimanis, Joe Talarico and Wayne Wildrick.

Recordings and releases

Man Overboard records its debut EP, Hung Up on Nothing, in 2008 and tours nationally in support of it. In November 2009 the band signs to Run for Cover Records and releases the three-song digital EP Dahlia, produced by Jesse Cannon. A split with Transit follows in December 2009.

In 2010 the band releases the compilation Before We Met: A Collection of Old Songs on Panic Records, along with the acoustic EP Noise from Upstairs on Run for Cover. Its debut album, Real Talk, arrives on Run for Cover and gains strong reviews. The band later releases the compilation The Human Highlight Reel, which includes material from Dahlia, Noise from Upstairs, Real Talk B-sides, a cover of “Promise Ring” and two new songs. It also issues the 7-inch The Absolute Worst on Rise.

The band then signs to Rise Records, and its self-titled second album is released on the label. Lost Tape Collective is also listed among its labels.

Touring and activity

Man Overboard tours widely in the United States and Europe with acts including The Wonder Years, The Swellers, Fireworks, Transit, Senses Fail, The Ghost Inside, All or Nothing, Trapped Under Ice, The Story So Far, Save Your Breath, Handguns and The Early November. It also appears on the 2012 Vans Warped Tour and joins the Pop Punks Not Dead Tour with New Found Glory.

Wayne Wildrick leaves the band in 2010 for personal reasons and later returns in 2011. Mike Hrycenko joins on drums after Collier switches to guitar, then leaves during the Pop Punk The Vote Tour.