New Jersey-based emo band Van Atta High was founded in 2006 by Steve Kellner (vocals), Socrates Moutsakis (guitar), and Santino LoConte (drums). This trio recorded the band's debut EP, We Are the Captivated (2006), and was joined shortly thereafter by additional bandmembers Steve Jasko (guitar) and Clark Starace (bass). After making a name for themselves on the local New Jersey band circuit, Van Atta High was invited to join the Vans Warped and Taste of Chaos tours in 2007. Later in the year they released their second EP, Run Like Hell, and saw a spike in traffic on their MySpace page.