This Wild Life are an acoustic pop-punk duo from Long Beach, California. After working together at a local music store, members Kevin Jordan and Anthony Del Grosso bonded over the hardcore, punk, and screamo bands they loved as teenagers. They assembled the first version of their band in 2010 as an electric guitar-led quartet playing in an upbeat, familiar pop-punk style. They continued to write in the melodic pop-punk milieu, but sharpened their focus on tight, succinct songwriting that spent less time hiding behind a heavy Wall of Sound. Their second release, 2012's Heart Flip, partially reflected this sea change. They eventually shifted completely into an acoustic act, building a hearty grassroots following and inking a deal with legendary punk label Epitaph, which issued 2014's Clouded. ~ Timothy Monger