The Maine have built a career from the ground up on the foundation of anthemic alt-rock songwriting, seemingly neverending touring, and the all important fan connection – the latter of which they do better than almost any other band out there. Seriously, what band puts on free tours just so all of their fans can make it out to see them live, and meets all of their fans after every show? That’s dedication, and an admirable quality in a world where childish antics and bad behavior (hah!) are often rewarded.
Every band has to start somewhere, though – and 12 years ago today marks the release of The Maine’s debut record, Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop. While quite a bit different from their newer material, it still contains impressively catchy songs like “Girls Do What They Want”, a fan favorite, and the pop hooks of “I Must Be Dreaming”, which showcased John O’Callaghan’s distinct voice early on.
Managing to sell 12,000+ copies in its first week in 2008, it set up the band for a promising career, eventually going from major label act to an independent entity with future records. None of that success would have been possible without their debut record today, though. Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop is over a decade old now. Let that sink in for a moment.
