The Kinison got its start in Oblong, IL sometime in 1999 when long time friends Aaron, Chris, and Bub who, disgusted with the local music scene, decided to do something about it and formed The Kinison. In late January 2002 still unhappy they headed out to California in search of a new bass player and drummer. The trio soon recruited Mike V and Mikey to complete the band. After 9 months of playing tiny shows in the Inland Empire and Los Angeles area they landed a spot on the indie rock festival This Ain't No Picnic. The band recorded an E.P. 'Mortgage is Bank' in September 2002 for Fearless Records. In the spring of 2003 The Kinison found their way onto Coachella, a 2 day music festival in Indio, California.

After months of touring they finally landed a record deal with LaSalle Records, thanks to Casey Chaos of Amen. The full length, 'What Are You Listening To?' was recorded in just 15 days. Produced by Pelle Hendricsson and Eskil Lovestrom (Refused, Poison The Well, Hell is for Heroes), it combines the raw live intensity that most young bands lack on record.

They broke up in November 2005, which caused Chris, the frontman of the band to post the following statement:

I wasn't happy any longer and hadn't been in a long time. I love music and this wasn't music to me. It wasn't the Kinison anymore, it got lost somewhere. I no longer was a part of the writing (which was my fault) and I felt like I had lost everything I had set out to do when I was a kid.

I used to be so excited about practice and writing even talking about the band. Now it made me sick to my stomach to even think about the band. Once inspiration leaves, it leaves with a vengeance.