Adapted from their Topshelf Records page:

Five years ago, By Surprise were part-time coffee shop workers and college students in suburban New Jersey, self-releasing their debut EP, 478. Their raw sound captured the essence of those awkward romances, the late-night diner chats and the karaoke bar letdowns.

By the early 2010’s their sound had matured. The 2011 release of Mountain Smashers on Topshelf Records displays their talents while “managing to sound fresh and nostalgic, simultaneously”. (Quotation taken from AbsolutePunk)

This evolution led them to open for Archers of Loaf during their reunion tour. Now, with full-time jobs and settling into adulthood, By Surprise continue to show they’re still young thanks to their latest releases, Criteria and Cosmic Latte, the latter of which was released under Jetsam-Flotsam

Members include Devin Carr, Pat Gartland, Dan Saraceni and Rob Wilcox.