After emerging on the Dallas scene in 2001, playing hundreds of shows throughout Texas and garnering a fan base as an indie band, Eisley was signed to Warner Bros. Records in 2003. The same year, the band won "Best New Artist" at the "Dallas Observer" Music Awards. The band had some early radio success with the song "Telescope Eyes" from the "Laughing City" EP. It was ranked the top 25th most played song on FM 102.1 ("The Edge") in Dallas in 2003.