The band was described as "walking the fine line between rootsy country and cutting-edge alternative rock".

The band was formed in Knoxville in 1994, with guitarist/vocalist Scott Miller, lead guitarist John Paul Keith, bassist Paxton Sellers, and drummer Jeff Bills.

[2] The title is a playful reference to their decision to remove the letters "ice" from "The Viceroys" as a result of the threatened lawsuit.

[3] 1998's All About Town is a "more subtle, but endlessly melodic" album that saw the band "stretch out and add elements of bluegrass and broader production values".

[3][4] Miller commented that Earle "pushed us a lot harder and put his foot way up our asses this time", and "handed songs back to us if they weren't good enough".

[2] The band was particularly popular locally; shows were described as "genuine events, with advance tickets, sold-out clubs".