The Dear Hunter started as a solo side project by singer and keyboardist Casey Crescenzo, formerly a key member of Boston emo act the Receiving End of Sirens. An outlet for Crescenzo's songs that didn't fit the Receiving End of Sirens' heavy post-hardcore vibe, the Dear Hunter was initially envisioned as a concurrent project. Indeed, Crescenzo's first gig as the Dear Hunter was an opening slot for the Receiving End of Sirens, at which he was backed by the other members of the band. Shortly afterward, however, Crescenzo decided to leave the Receiving End of Sirens and focus full-time on the Dear Hunter. Following a self-released EP taster called Dear Ms. Leading, Crescenzo wrote and recorded the full-length concept album Act I: The Lake South, the River North. The story of a young boy's birth, adolescence, and death, the album matches the exceedingly sensitive lyrics with prog-influenced chamber pop arrangements played almost entirely by Crescenzo, with a few family members and friends helping out on drums, keyboards, trumpet, and harmony vocals. For touring purposes, Crescenzo -- now calling himself Casey Blue in the band's official bio -- put together a full-band version of the Dear Hunter with guitarist Erick Serna, additional keyboardist Luke Dent, and drummer Sam Dent. The lineup was used to record an even more dynamic and symphonic second album in 2007, titled Act II: The Meaning of, and All Things Regarding Ms. Leading.