 Lewis and Bentley's new band, Burden Brothers, soon began enjoying local success, with the band's song "Beautiful Night" seeing significant radio airplay in Austin, Texas.Having felt "the itch" to "dive back in", Lewis and Bentley decided to pursue a record deal, and Burden Brothers signed with Kirtland Records, a Dallas, Texas-based label founded by John Kirtland of Deep Blue Something and Jenny Kirtland of The Polyphonic Spree.With Kirtland Records' support, Burden Brothers released "Buried in Your Black Heart" in 2003, followed by "Mercy" in 2006.