Indie rock outfit The Snake the Cross the Crown was formed in Huntsville, AL, by two brothers, Franklin Sammons (guitar) and William Sammons (keyboards, programming), and friends Kevin Jones (guitar, vocals) and Carl Marshall (bass, vocals). The group initially performed as Curbside Service, releasing 2002's I Packed My Bags a Year in Advance, before changing their name and adding drummer Mark Fate. Relocating west to Santa Barbara, CA, the group released an EP, Like a Moth Before a Flame, on Waste of Time Records in 2003. Taking influence from bands like the Beatles and Radiohead, they followed it up a year later with the full-length album, Mander Salis, on Equal Vision Records. Rounds of touring came next with bands like mewithoutYou, Hot Rod Circuit, Decibully and Armor For Sleep before the band grew dissatisfied with their music's direction, cancelled their remaining shows and headed back to California to begin writing new material. The Snake the Cross the Crown eventually entered the studio in April 2006 to record their next album, grabbing additional inspiration for their now folky, alt country leaning tunes from Bob Dylan and The Band. The ten-song Cotton Teeth surfaced in March 2007 with the group down to a quartet minus Marshall. ~ Steve Leggett