The Runarounds are an indie rock band formed in 2020 for a feature in “Outer Banks,” later starring in the new Wilmington-shot Prime Video series under the same name.
“The Runarounds” series follow five high school graduates from Wilmington, NC, with a passion for music in their rise to fame. The band’s commitment and eagerness to share their love of music with the world is what sets the show apart from others. With the band being so young and not really having a stable way to go in life, their experience is relatable for kids in the same position. The show is inspiring for students who have no idea what they want to do with their lives because the band chose to pursue something that makes them happy.
The show, which premiered Sept. 1, was created by “Outer Banks” co-creator Jonas Pate. While it is fictitious, the band are real musicians who were brought together by the creation of the show. The Runarounds perform their own songs live in the show and began “The Minivan Tour” Sept. 13 in Charleston, SC, where “Outer Banks” was shot and the band auditioned for Pate, and next in Wilmington, where the show was filmed. They continued to travel America in 19 locations until their last tour date Oct. 26, but, due to popularity, announced they will be continuing their tour into 2026, starting Jan. 15.
The band consists of real life singer/guitarists Axel Ellis (Neil Crosby), William Lipton (Charlie Cooper) and Jeremy Yun (Topher Park), drummer Zendé Murdock (Bez Willis) and bassist Jesse Golliher (Wyatt Wysong) as the main cast in the show. As well as being in The Runarounds, some members have been in the limelight for a while. Ellis is lead vocalist and singer of Ax and the Hatchetmen. Murdock has been in multiple bands but is currently with The Runarounds. Golliher has released a couple EPs, and Lipton played Cameron Webber in “General Hospital.” While this is Yun’s first time acting, he has been singing and performing with his childhood friend Lipton since they were six.
Other main cast members include Pate’s daughter Lilah Pate (Sophia Kinney), Marley Aliah (Ruthie Bender), Kelley Pereira (Amanda) and “The Summer I Turned Pretty”’s Shea Pritchard (George Benson). “The Runarounds” also feature “Outer Banks” stars like J. Anthony Crane (Sandford) and Cullen Moss (Tony).
The Runarounds’ first performance together as a band was in “Outer Banks” Season 3, Episode 7. Pate was allegedly so amazed by their performance that he decided to center a new show around them. Much of the plot in “The Runarounds” is inspired by the musicians’ own lives and musical journeys. Along with that inspiration, The Runarounds also wrote and produced all their own songs in the show. While there has been speculation of a second season, nothing has been confirmed, though the series did end on a good note. Their tour audience can agree that the band hopes for a Season 2 after leading a chant to “send to corporate” as a proof of approval to continue the show. With luck, the show will continue to be relatable to a teenage or college-level audience and The Runarounds will continue their musical journey, ups and downs included.
“The Runarounds” captures the fun and confusing aspects of our teenage years beautifully. They grapple with the stress of senior year and the weight of the summer after graduation as the last summer to have fun before the rest of their lives, and they capture the confusion of wanting to make their parents proud but also doing something they love. The band only has one summer to show their family that they can handle the world on their own, and while there are ups and downs, like with every teen, they prevail to follow their dreams and “write love songs that change the world.”
