SouthFM's first album Drama Kids was originally released by Dallas-based indie label Brando Records, and later re-released nationally by MCA.
[1][2][3] The lead single, "Dear Claudia", received good airplay in the U.S. and was included in an episode of Law & Order SVU.
Ken Shimamoto of the Fort Worth Weekly said Paco Estrada's "pipes are strong and expressive enough to set him apart from the other 10,000 faceless, droning alt-rock angst-boys.
MCA closed its doors while SouthFM was touring in support of Drama Kids, leaving the band and album behind.
After nearly two years of writing since parting ways with MCA/Geffen the band released their follow up album, Swallowing The Pill, yet again on Brando Records.
The band toured regionally throughout 2005 and 2006, until their final show on October 28, 2006, at the Curtain Club in Dallas, Texas.
They were scheduled to play in three Texas cities, Dallas, Tyler, and San Antonio, which was cancelled due to an illness.
The musicians enjoyed the show so much that they decided to form a new band together, along with drummer Alphonso Lovelace and keys player Deuce Wanier (although he would not go on to join the reincarnation of SouthFM).
Sanders was not able to participate, and the lead guitar post was taken by Ryan Holley, who had been a frequent collaborator and tourmate of SouthFM.