The Trey Anastasio Band went on tour in January 2020 intending it to be a warm-up for studio dates. The band was firing on all cylinders, reflected by the fiery sets and intense crowds. The pandemic cancelled the studio plans but producer Vance Powell told Trey "there was already enough great material on tape from the tour to make the best TAB album ever." It was named Burn It Down, a line from 'Set Your Soul Free,' because it encapsulated exactly what had been happening onstage every night.