Tim Resudek, Frank Staniszewski, Jeff Conrad and Nate Bott, who grew up together in Madison, Wisconsin started a ska-punk band in eighth grade named Stinkfish.
Big City Rock started when Resudek was asked to join Staniszewski, Conrad and Bott in Los Angeles, California.
Signed to Atlantic in late 2004 after having opened for Gratitude, Rooney, Phoenix, and Maroon 5, in 2005, the band relocated to New York City to record their debut album at Stratosphere Studios.
Big City Rock's debut album was released on Atlantic Records in March 2006 and generated critical acclaim.
Blender magazine gave the album 3.5 stars proclaiming it "... like the Killers without the self-consciousness, powered by exquisitely engineered hooks that are nearly impossible to forget."