The group's core trio -- singer/guitarist Nick Diener, bassist Nate Lamberts, and drummer Jonathan Diener -- formed in the small town of Fenton, MI, in the summer of 2002. Following a pair of self-released albums, 2002's Long and Hard and 2003's End of Discussion, the trio recorded a full-length debut named Beginning of the End Again and signed to the Ann Arbor-based indie label Search and Rescue Records. Before the album's release, however, Lamberts bowed out of the band to attend college, making way for new bassist Lance Nelson and second guitarist Garrett Burgett to join in time for the band's debut cross-country trek on the 2005 edition of the Vans Warped Tour. While maintaining an active touring schedule, including a successful circuit around Japan in 2006, the Swellers wrote and recorded their second album, My Everest. Released in the summer of 2007, My Everest garnered the group even more buzz, eventually leading to a contract with Fueled by Ramen and a touring stint alongside Paramore. The Swellers' first release for Fueled by Ramen, Ups and Downsizing, was released on the same day the tour began. ~ Stewart Mason