A Rocket to the Moon was formed in 2006 in Braintree, Massachusetts by Nick Santino, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, who had previously fronted local bands The Bad Year and The Midway Class. Santino released the debut studio album Your Best Idea on 26 December 2006, handling all instruments himself before assembling a full band in early 2008. The group signed to Fueled by Ramen in August 2008, releasing the EP Greetings from… on 13 October 2008, which reached number 21 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and produced the singles "Dakota" and "If Only They Knew". In 2009 the band released On Your Side on 13 October 2009; the lead single "Mr. Right" and the follow‑up "Like We Used To" achieved a peak of number 82 on the Billboard 200 and number 91 on the Hot 100, the latter certified gold. Subsequent releases included the EP The Rainy Day Sessions (5 October 2010) and That Old Feeling (2 October 2012). The third studio album Wild & Free dropped on 26 March 2013, peaking at number 136 on the Billboard 200. After touring with The Maine, the band announced its breakup on 9 May 2013 and performed a final show on 25 August 2013 before disbanding.
