Post-rock band Explosions In the Sky formed after guitarist Munaf Rayani responded to a flier posted by drummer Chris Hrasky: “Wanted: Sad, Triumphant Rock Band.”
∙ The American Analog Set’s Lee Gillespie liked the band’s music so much that he sent a bootleg of one of their early shows to a friend’s indie label, which quickly signed them.
∙ They were stunned when Take Care, Take Care, Take Care debuted in the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 chart, because some of the album’s songs stretch close to 10 minutes.
∙ Director Peter Berg has used, as he puts it, the band’s “emotional, tender quality” to balance the action and drama in his films Friday Night Lights and Lone Survivor.
∙ Their music has appeared in films and on TV more than 100 times, and their style of soaring, instrumental rock has directly influenced the soundtracks of shows like One Tree Hill.