Modern Rifles was formed by Dan Deaton, Jon Fong, Daryl Thompson, and Brian Garbark in San Diego, CA in late 2005. Jon and Dan met while attending San Diego State University. The name was derived from a miss interpreted 31 Knots lyric. The band takes from many sources: Drive Like Jehu, Unwound, Don Caballero, Blonde Redhead, Rocket From the Crypt, Engine Down, Archers of Loaf, No Knife, Sunny Day Real Estate, Faraquet, Cursive, Polvo, Creta Bourzia, Teddy Duchamp’s Army, Against Me!, Black Sabbath.