Enter The Playing Favorites, a band born out of an idea conceived on a drunken night in Japan when old pals Joey Cape and Luke Tierney were on tour together in their respective bands (Me First & the Gimme Gimmes and The Penfifteen Club). Caffeine and/or alcohol–assisted brainstorms ensued with more good friends; Tim Cullen (a solo artist and former singer/guitarist of Summercamp); Marko DeSantis (guitarist of Sugarcult and bassist of another Cape band, Bad Astronaut); and Mick Flowers (who had played in Tim and Marko's early 90's band Popsicko, and bands such as The Rentals, and The Lapdancers).

The five of them originate from Santa Barbara, CA but have all carved out new lives in different cities. They have such an intertwining history of musical relationships that a family tree would look more like a family forest. Soon after, the concept of making a record together grew into a plan.