Shady Francos, originally fronted by Joshua Kmak (aka Joshua Scott and Josh Duhs), evolved from an earlier band called Nformals, which began as Kmak's solo project. "In 2011," says Kmak, "I heard this lo-fi garage rock and I was completely taken over by it. That’s when I became who I am." He began writing the songs that would eventually fuel Shady Francos.

With Jerrica Ojeda on bass and Cameron Sisti drumming, their self-titled Shady Francos EP was released in early 2015.

Sisti was replaced by Jenny Merullo (the Heavy Guilt) in summer 2015, after which the band released their That’s Gabe EP. Joshua Kmak, the nephew of drummer Joel Kmak (the Penetrators, Manual Scan, the Farmers) and bassist/vocalist Jeff Kmak (Powerthud, Joey Harris and the Mentals), left the band to launch a new musical project called Creepseed.