Formed in Austin, Texas in 2004, the band is best known for their melodic and ambient rock sound, which features the addition of classical strings.

[1][2][3] Pompeii have received international attention and critical acclaim from outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, The Chicago Tribune, American Songwriter, Stereogum, NPR, Apple, Under the Radar, and MTV, as well as their song "Where We're Going, We Don't Need Roads" being played during the ending scene of The Giant Mechanical Man.

In 2002, they moved to Austin, Texas to attend St. Edward's University where they formed Pompeii with bassist Shane Stevens, before adding cellist Caitlin Bailey.

Pompeii has toured extensively, alongside groups such as The Appleseed Cast, The Velvet Teen, Headlights, Caspian, Mates of State, This Will Destroy You, and Simian Ghost.

The band has been compared to Death Cab For Cutie and Sigur Rós, more specifically the similarities between singer Dean Stafford’s vocals and Ben Gibbard’s.

Dean Stafford is now a Seattle based indie dream pop artist with a solo project by the name of Early Internet.