Red Red Meat emerged from Chicago in the 1990s as an experimental alternative rock outfit, blending blues influences with avant-garde instrumentation and unconventional song structures. The band's willingness to deconstruct traditional rock formats and explore textural soundscapes positioned them as innovators within the underground music scene of their era.
Following the band's dissolution, frontman Tim Rutili channeled the group's experimental ethos into Califone, a project that has become a landmark in post-rock and avant-garde production. Featuring contributions from Red Red Meat alumni including percussionist Ben Massarella, Califone expanded the sonic palette established during the original band's tenure, incorporating field recordings, orchestral arrangements, and electronic elements into their distinctive sound.