Though Pittsburgh hardly registers as a hotbed for country sounds, the Povertyneck Hillbillies forged their gritty fusion of country and rock energy right in Dawson, a spot less than 40 miles from the Steel City, where local fans fueled their rapid climb among emerging country acts. The group took shape in 2000 after fiddle player Chris Higbee connected with Chris "Abby" Abbondanza, a music enthusiast who already had some vocal experience. Their conversations about performing soon drew in mutual contacts, assembling the lineup that added David Guthrie on guitar, Dave Cramer on keyboards, Jeff Volek on bass and accordion, Bob "Crafty" Crafton on pedal steel, and Ryan Lucotch on drums. Early shows stayed close to home in Dawson bars, yet real momentum built once the band reached Pittsburgh venues and clicked with audiences there. Among those supporters stood members of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, who invited the group to perform before several games and later named them the team's official band, often featuring them on the national anthem or at halftime; quarterback Ben Roethlisberger even joined the video for the song "Mr. Right Now." In 2005 their self-released debut, which included the track "The Hillbilly Way," moved 2,100 copies in Pittsburgh during its opening week and reached 30,000 units by year's end. That strong regional base and expanding national profile caught the eye of independent Nashville label Rust Records, which signed the Povertyneck Hillbillies and issued their self-titled debut album in summer 2006. The band then began touring beyond Pennsylvania, though by the close of 2006 Crafton had departed while the remaining members mapped out their follow-up record.
