Originally founded during 1999 amid the suburbs surrounding Ottawa, the Canadian rock outfit the Fully Down devoted their initial period to refining instrumental abilities through repeated rehearsals rather than frequent local performances. Following personnel shifts that concluded in 2003, the remaining musicians discovered three guitarists among their ranks and opted to retain every player, thereby layering additional six-string textures onto their punk-derived style. Drawing from sources as varied as Iron Maiden, Strung Out, and the Police, the six-piece lineup consisted of vocalist Gab Bouchard, drummer Dicky Latour, bassist Alex Newman, and guitarists George Hadji, Kris Parks, and Dan Hay. After completing a modest number of concerts, the group issued its first recording, No Fate...But What We Make for Ourselves, through the regional independent label Pop Culture in June 2004. Positive critical notices followed, prompting an intensive touring schedule that encompassed a three-week stretch on the 2004 Warped Tour. In August 2005 the Fully Down joined the roster of Fearless Records, where the album Don't Get Lost in a Movement emerged that November. Road work persisted, leading to a spring outing alongside Boy Sets Fire and Versus the Mirror, before the ensemble rejoined the annual Warped Tour for summer 2006. Bouchard subsequently departed, leaving the Fully Down to seek a new singer throughout early 2007.
