Originally slated for release on the local label Upstart Records, Peter Searcy sang, David Grubbs played guitar, Clark Johnson was on bass guitar, and Britt Walford on drums.

Over the next several months, Upstart Records folded, Ben Daughtry replaced Walford on drums, Brian McMahan joined on second guitar, and the band began touring to other Midwestern cities opening for prominent regional indie bands like Hüsker Dü, Big Black and Naked Raygun.

[2] The group returned to the studio in April 1985 with engineer Howie Gano and recorded six songs.

Two songs from the previous year's demo sessions were added to comprise Squirrel Bait's eponymous 8-song EP, originally released on Homestead with cover design by Steve Albini.

[3] The cover of Squirrel Bait was recreated by The Shins in the music video of their song "New Slang".