Set against the urban jungle of 1963 New York's gangland subculture, with a classic 1950's rock 'n' roll soundtrack, including such hits as 'Walk Like a Man', 'Big Girls Don't Cry' by The Four Seasons and 'My Boyfriend's Back' by The Angels, the drama focuses around teenage gang, The Wanderers, a gang whose members are growing up and coming to terms with life in the city and their rivals.