The Corb Lund Band has been treated more as a side project since their start in 1995. Consisting of
Smalls bassist Corb Lund (vocals/guitar), former Blue Locutus member Kurt Ciesla (bass), and Nickelback drummer Ryan Vikedal (drums), the Corb Lund Band have been offering their influences of blues-based country to their native of Edmonton, Alberta. With the 1995 release of their debut cassette Modern Pain, Green Pepper Records followed up with the trio's first official full-length in 1998, entitled Unforgiving Mistress. Lund dedicated the next few years to the
Smalls, but when the band broke up in the fall of 2001, he returned to his self-named band. The group recorded Five Dollar Bill for Stony Plain Records the following spring, releasing it that fall with a guest appearance from renowned steel guitarist Dan Dugmore. ~ Mike DaRonco, All Music Guide