Nick Andros(lead vocals and rhythm guitars) and Dean Vanston(guitars) began writing songs together in the summer of 1999. After a few months, and an albums' worth of material written they decided to search for other members. Two drummers and three bass players later the band finally found the formula they were looking for and went into the studio to record their songs with their newly assembled rhythm section consisting of Mark Miller(bass) and Bill Silverthorn(drums). 8 months later on April. 20th, Poke released their first CD entitled "Absent".