The band was formed in 1994 by Vince Fontaine and Troy Westwood.[3] Their debut album The Dream was released in 1997. However, Westwood left the band that year as he was unable to balance the band's touring commitments against his work as a football player for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.[4] He was replaced by Jay Bodner,[4] who remained the band's lead singer for the rest of its career,[5] although Westwood remained an occasional guest collaborator.
Other musicians associated with the band have included keyboardists Gerry Atwell, Jaylene Johnson, Will Bonness, and Rena Semenko; bassists Randy Booth, Jeff Monkman, Clint Adams, Lawrence "Spatch" Mulhall, D.J. St. Germain, and Tik Mason; and drummers Mike Bruyere, Brent Fitz, Steve Broadhurst, Kevin Radomsky, Marty Chapman, and Rich Reid.
The band released 10 albums throughout its career.[1]
In 2011, Fontaine collaborated with Don Amero, William Prince, Pamela Davis, and Neewa Mason in Indian City, a project whose 2012 album Supernation fused traditional aboriginal music with experimentally tinged folk rock.[10] Amero won Male Entertainer of the Year, and Supernation won Best Pop Album, at that year's Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards.[11]
Although the band have not recorded a new album since 2010's The Great Unknown, they continued to perform occasional live dates, including a 2012 benefit concert for musician Shingoose following his stroke.[12]
Fontaine died of a heart attack on January 11, 2022, at the age of 60.[13] The death was announced by his niece, provincial MLA Nahanni Fontaine.[13]