History: Cobalt and the Hired Guns formed in 2003 at Oberlin College, but officially settled in Chicago in June of 2007 when Alie (drums/vocals) and Mike (bass/guitar) packed up all their shit and headed west to join Tom and Matt (vocals/guitar) and play in a rock band. Jump The Fence follows up the January 2007 release of their debut LP This Way Out, produced in charming DIY fashion. The first twelve CDs sold splendidly. Unfortunately, the rest were trampled and eaten by a flock of rabid alpacas in Breezewood, PA. The band was unfazed, however, and continued their tour of 22 shows in 15 states booked and promoted entirely by themselves. This serpentine path of destruction featured stops in Nashville, Pittsburgh, DC, New York City, Boston, and was capped off by five fire trucks and two police squadrons invading a wild show in Providence, RI. Since moving to Chicago in June 2007, Cobalt & the Hired Guns have already made a big impression with big shows at The Double Door, Martyrs', Elbo Room, The Abbey Pub, Subterranean, Navy Pier, and the Taste of Chicago festival.