Graduating from high school early is nothing for a band when you have already graduated from the school of rock with honors. The Maine have taken no classes, were given no grades, and had no teachers. Hailing from Tempe, AZ, all they had was a gut feeling that the music they were playing rocked and inspired kids nationwide. The Maine released their first label EP, The Way We Talk on December 11, 2007.

The Maine formed in January of 2007. After junior year, when most students look forward to slacking off as seniors, The Maine asked two members to graduate early so that they could share their music with the rest of the world. You see, seven periods a day is just seven periods too long for The Maine, who can’t wait to get home and write more tunes. Bassist Garrett Nickelsen stated honestly, “School has never really been number one for me, I have always tried to focus on the band so I’m ready to really get this band going.” Now, already juggling music video shoots, recording sessions, and concerts, The Maine actually had the ink dry on their record contract before it dries on their diploma.

The Maine started when Pat and Garrett were sick of jumping from garage band to garage band and wanted to take their unique vision of what music should be to the big time.