Slade and King reconnect and begin writing songs

The band members’ musical lives were largely formed in Denver area churches where they helped lead worship, and in the Christian school three of them attended. Isaac Slade and guitarist Joe King were several years ahead of drummer Ben Wysocki at Faith Christian Academy. Wysocki and guitarist David Welsh played in the same worship band. In the spring of 2002, former schoolmates Slade and King reconnected and began regular two-man jam sessions that led to writing songs. Slade and King later added Mike Ayars on guitar, Zach Johnson on drums, and Slade’s younger brother Caleb on bass, though Caleb was later asked to leave. Caleb’s departure from the band caused a rift in his relationship with Isaac, and this rift later became the inspiration for the song ” Over My Head (Cable Car) “, which is about the brothers’ waning relationship. Following this Johnson left the band to attend an art school in New York.