Toy Soldiers formed in 2007 as a two-piece with Ron Gallo as the primary songwriter, alongside former drummer Mike Baurer.

[3] Though the band's sound was initially lo-fi and sparse, they eventually expanded to as large as ten members, including keyboards, horns, and backing vocalists.

[7] Critic Richie Unterberger noted the album's gospel and old-time music influences and likened Gallo's singing to that of Lou Reed and Marc Bolan.

[12] By October 2010, there was an entirely new and solidified lineup consisting of Gallo, Dominic Billett, Matt Kelly, Bill McCloskey and Luke Leidy.

[14] They have made appearances at 2012–13 SXSW, 2008–2012 CMJ, XPoNential Music Festival 2010, Philadelphia Folk Fest 2013 and have shared the stage with Dr. Dog, Fitz and the Tantrums, The Felice Brothers, Justin Townes Earle, Jonny Fritz, The Walkmen, J. Roddy Walston and The Business and more.

[17] In June 2013, the group was selected to record a live video session for Paste Magazine at the Aloft Washington Harbor Hotel.