Built to Spill was formed in 1992 by former Treepeople lead singer Doug Martsch. Originally, the plan was for the band lineup to change after every album, with Martsch being the only continous member. However, after the release of the 1997 album, Perfect From Now On, the band lineup started to solidify.
The group only toured sporadically due to other commitments by the members, until 2003, when Built to Spill began extensive touring in support of their albums. However, just before the tour for the bands latest album, You in Reverse, Martsch required surgery for a detached retina. The tour was postponed, and once Martsch returned the band kicked off their long awaited tour.