The All-American Rejects

Formed in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in the late 1990s, The All-American Rejects came together around Tyson Ritter (vocals, bass) and Nick Wheeler (guitars), later solidifying with Mike Kennerty and Chris Gaylor. Part of the American alternative and pop-punk scene, the band developed a melodic sound combining electric guitars, catchy bass lines and sing-along choruses, with lyrics focused on relationships, adolescence and coming of age, often associated with emo pop and power pop. After their self-titled debut album released in 2002 — initially on Doghouse Records and later picked up by DreamWorks — The All-American Rejects followed with Move Along in 2005, which established them on rock stages and on U.S. and European tours, then When the World Comes Down in 2008 and Kids in the Street in 2012, marked by broader production and more varied arrangements. Appearing at numerous festivals and package tours, especially within the 2000s pop-punk scene, the band were quieter in the studio in the mid-2010s before returning with the EP Send Her to Heaven in 2019, continuing a trajectory between mainstream alternative rock and an emo legacy.