▁the ▁band ▁members ▁were ▁students ▁at ▁Western ▁Canada ▁High ▁School . ▁Stand ell - Pr eston ▁rec ount ed ▁that ▁it ▁was ▁a ▁conversation ▁over ▁a ▁blue berry ▁m uff in ▁in ▁the ▁school ' s ▁c af eter ia ▁that ▁prompt ed ▁the ▁group ' s ▁formation , ▁under ▁the ▁name ▁The ▁Ne igh bour hood ▁Council . ▁Re he ars ing ▁in ▁Smith ' s ▁parents ' ▁gar age , ▁the ▁band ▁had ▁early ▁success ▁backing ▁lead ▁vocal ist ▁Stand ell - Pr eston ▁in ▁a ▁song writing ▁contest ▁hosted ▁by ▁the ▁Cal g ary ▁Fol k ▁Music ▁Festival . ▁This ▁led ▁to ▁an ▁inv itation ▁to ▁play ▁at ▁the ▁inaug ural ▁S led ▁Island ▁Music ▁Festival ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 7 . ▁Following ▁their ▁performance ▁at ▁S led ▁Island , ▁the ▁band ▁continued ▁to ▁collabor ate ▁and ▁opt ed ▁to ▁post p one ▁att ending ▁university ▁to ▁play ▁music . ▁ ▁After ▁a ▁year ▁of ▁int ensive ▁re he ars al ▁and ▁the ▁departure ▁of ▁Man , ▁the ▁band ▁recorded ▁their ▁first ▁EP , ▁Set ▁Pie ces , ▁at ▁C JS W ▁in ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 8 . ▁Following ▁the ▁EP ' s ▁release ▁in ▁July ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁the ▁band ▁returned ▁to ▁S led ▁Island ▁to ▁play ▁an ▁opening ▁set ▁for ▁De er h unter . ▁Their ▁performance ▁was ▁highly ▁regarded ▁by ▁the ▁audience , ▁who ▁gave ▁the ▁group ▁a ▁standing ▁ov ation ▁after ▁De er h unter ' s ▁Brad ford ▁C