Amanda and Joe Ziemba supply drums and vocals alongside guitar and vocals, respectively, to drive the punky indie rock of the Like Young. Chicago natives, the pair had performed in various groups since 1997 before marrying in 2002, the same year they issued the mini-album Looked Up Plus Four and prepared their ambitious punk-inspired sound for wider audiences. Barry Phipps, engineer and member of the Coctails, participated in the sessions for their first full-length studio album, Art Contest, which appeared in 2003 and earned praise from Chicago outlets including Venus Zine and New City Chicago. West Coast performances ensued, prompting the Ziembas to abandon their day jobs and devote themselves entirely to the band. Around the time of the 2004 album So Serious, they shared stages with Mates of State and Viva Voce while also appearing alongside the Arcade Fire, Of Montreal, and the Thermals. Mounting financial pressures and personal difficulties soon weighed heavily on the Like Young. Early in 2005 the duo resumed work on a third release without fanfare. By summer a Polyvinyl agreement had materialized, accompanied by the limited-edition EP The Timid. Last Secrets reached stores in May 2006.
