The Wonder Years is an American pop-punk band from Lansdale, Pennsylvania that formed in July 2005. Originally starting off as joke band with songs about cowboy-killing robots and ninja-master girlfriends, the group quickly gained a large following. Starting with their second full-length album, The Upsides, vocalist Dan "Soupy" Campbell began writing lyrics that tackled larger issues such as anxiety, depression, and death, while the rest of the band began expanding their sonic soundscape incorporating more post-rock and early-emo influences.
Their name originates from a paper that Campbell read that was written by his after-school education teacher titled "The Wonder Years." Although many fans also acknowledge that the name is likely inspired by the television show of the same name.