Head of Femur (band)
Encyclopedia
Head of Femur is a Chicago
band formed in November 2001 by Nebraska
natives Mike Elsener, Ben Armstrong and Matt Focht. The band was initially conceived as a forum for the three to compose pop song
s while awaiting the reformation of their previous band, Pablo's Triangle
. As the weeks passed the reformation looked unlikely.
With a large catalog of songs already taking shape by early 2002, Head of Femur began to recruit musicians to flesh out the lineup for live performance. The nature of the music demanded more than the traditional rock band instrumentation, so strings
, trumpet
, and orchestral percussion
were added along with drums
and bass guitar
. Head of Femur played their first show at a small club in Chicago in March 2002. They made plans to record a demo with local producer Jim Bentley and perform at Chicago's Empty Bottle.
On the strength of that demo, Portland's Greyday Productions
signed Head of Femur in November, 2002. Recording sessions for the band's debut album, Ringodom or Proctor
, took place in March 2003. Ten of Ringodoms eleven songs were among the first of the dozens composed by Elsener, Armstrong and Focht, and had been intended to comprise the first record since their inception. The album was recorded at Lincoln, Nebraska
's Presto! Recording Studios
with A.J. Mogis.
Following more than a year of touring as an 8-piece (2 guitars, trumpet, trombone, violin, drums, keys, 4 vocals & percussion) with such acts as Bright Eyes and Rilo Kiley
, as well as outings on their own, Head of Femur signed with Brooklyn's spinART Records
in the summer of 2004.
In August, 2004, Head of Femur set about recording their next full-length record. Hysterical Stars was recorded at Wall To Wall in Chicago with engineers Chris Brickley and Dan Dietrich and released in late May, 2005.
Head Of Femur spent 2005 touring with Architecture in Helsinki
, Wilco
, Dr. Dog
, The Spinto Band
, The Bruces, Andrew Bird
, Matt Pond PA
& headlining tours themselves. They were the first ever band on the first ever Intonation
Festival and performed at the Wicker Park Festival, CMJ & SXSW.
During a short break from touring in the Fall of 2005, the group laid down four tracks mostly live at Truckstop Studios in Chicago. The recordings showcased a more band-oriented sound as opposed to the multi-tracked orchestra captured on their first two albums. The songs, including covers from The Band
& Neil Young And Crazy Horse were released in late 2005 as an iTunes
exclusive EP. Head Of Femur finished up the year by stripping the lineup down to a more traditional five-piece lineup of the core trio plus Nick "The Chancellor" Westra on bass/vocals and Tyson Thurston on keys. This lineup played two shows on New Year's Eve in Chicago.
As of May 2007, Head of Femur had completed work on their third full-length, "Great Plains", due to be released March 25, 2008.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
band formed in November 2001 by Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
natives Mike Elsener, Ben Armstrong and Matt Focht. The band was initially conceived as a forum for the three to compose pop song
Pop Song
Pop Song is the first single by the Drugs. It was released in 2000 and earned the Drugs some positive press. It has been described as "addictive". A live version was released on The Only Way Is Up...
s while awaiting the reformation of their previous band, Pablo's Triangle
Pablo's Triangle
Pablo's Triangle was a Lincoln, Nebraska-based band whose members went on to form Head of Femur, Tangelo and The Amalgamators, among other musical pursuits...
. As the weeks passed the reformation looked unlikely.
With a large catalog of songs already taking shape by early 2002, Head of Femur began to recruit musicians to flesh out the lineup for live performance. The nature of the music demanded more than the traditional rock band instrumentation, so strings
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
, trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, and orchestral percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
were added along with drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. Head of Femur played their first show at a small club in Chicago in March 2002. They made plans to record a demo with local producer Jim Bentley and perform at Chicago's Empty Bottle.
On the strength of that demo, Portland's Greyday Productions
Greyday Productions
Greyday Productions, sometimes called simply Greyday Records, is an independent record label based in Portland, Oregon, USA. Formed to release a new record from long-time friends Still Life, Greyday has grown from a musician run DIY collective to a full independent label...
signed Head of Femur in November, 2002. Recording sessions for the band's debut album, Ringodom or Proctor
Ringodom or Proctor
Ringodom or Proctor is the first release by Chicago's Head of Femur. It was released on August 19, 2003 on Greyday Productions.-Track listing:# "January on Strike" – 4:30# "Curve that Byrd" – 3:21# "Yeoman or Tinker" – 6:02# "80 Steps to Jonah" – 3:10...
, took place in March 2003. Ten of Ringodoms eleven songs were among the first of the dozens composed by Elsener, Armstrong and Focht, and had been intended to comprise the first record since their inception. The album was recorded at Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
's Presto! Recording Studios
Presto! Recording Studios
Presto! Recording Studios is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and run by brothers Mike Mogis and A.J. Mogis. The studio began in the brothers' North Platte, Nebraska basement and around 1995 moved to the basement of a Lincoln home. First known as Whoopass Recording Studio, the name was later changed...
with A.J. Mogis.
Following more than a year of touring as an 8-piece (2 guitars, trumpet, trombone, violin, drums, keys, 4 vocals & percussion) with such acts as Bright Eyes and Rilo Kiley
Rilo Kiley
Rilo Kiley was an American indie rock band based in Los Angeles. Formed in 1998, the band consisted of Jenny Lewis, Blake Sennett, Pierre de Reeder, and Jason Boesel....
, as well as outings on their own, Head of Femur signed with Brooklyn's spinART Records
SpinART Records
spinART Records is a now-defunct New York City-based independent record label that released recordings by artists such as The Apples in Stereo, Clem Snide, Frank Black and Michael Penn....
in the summer of 2004.
In August, 2004, Head of Femur set about recording their next full-length record. Hysterical Stars was recorded at Wall To Wall in Chicago with engineers Chris Brickley and Dan Dietrich and released in late May, 2005.
Head Of Femur spent 2005 touring with Architecture in Helsinki
Architecture in Helsinki
Architecture in Helsinki is an Australian indie pop band which consists of Cameron Bird, Gus Franklin, Jamie Mildren, Sam Perry, and Kellie Sutherland...
, Wilco
Wilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John...
, Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog is a psychedelic rock band from West Grove, Pennsylvania. Its lineup currently consists of Toby Leaman , Scott McMicken , Frank McElroy , Zach Miller , and Eric Slick . Lead vocal duties are shared between Leaman and McMicken, with all members contributing harmonies...
, The Spinto Band
The Spinto Band
The Spinto Band is an indie rock band from Wilmington, Delaware. They are currently signed to Park the Van Records.-Biography:The Spinto Band was originally formed as recording project by high school students in Wilmington, Delaware in the late 1990s...
, The Bruces, Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird is an American musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.- Early life and the Bowl of Fire :...
, Matt Pond PA
Matt Pond PA
Matt Pond PA is a New York based band formed in Philadelphia by singer-songwriter Matt Pond. They have released eight LPs and eight EPs since 1998....
& headlining tours themselves. They were the first ever band on the first ever Intonation
Intonation Music Festival
The Intonation Music Festival was a yearly summer music festival held at in Chicago, Illinois.-2005:The festival was held on July 16 - July 17, 2005...
Festival and performed at the Wicker Park Festival, CMJ & SXSW.
During a short break from touring in the Fall of 2005, the group laid down four tracks mostly live at Truckstop Studios in Chicago. The recordings showcased a more band-oriented sound as opposed to the multi-tracked orchestra captured on their first two albums. The songs, including covers from The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
& Neil Young And Crazy Horse were released in late 2005 as an iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
exclusive EP. Head Of Femur finished up the year by stripping the lineup down to a more traditional five-piece lineup of the core trio plus Nick "The Chancellor" Westra on bass/vocals and Tyson Thurston on keys. This lineup played two shows on New Year's Eve in Chicago.
As of May 2007, Head of Femur had completed work on their third full-length, "Great Plains", due to be released March 25, 2008.
Band members
- Matt FochtMatt FochtMatt Focht is an American musician originally from Omaha, Nebraska. He is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist in the Chicago-based band Head of Femur...
- vocals, guitar, drums - Mike Elsener - guitar, vocals
- Nick "The Chancellor" Westra - bass, vocals
- Colby StarckColby StarckColby Starck is a Chicago-based drummer who plays with Bobby Conn and Head of Femur . He began playing with Lincoln, Nebraska bands Roosevelt Franklin and Pablo's Triangle in the '90s....
- drums, vocals - Eathan Janney - Keyboards
Discography
- Great Plains (2008 · Greyday Records)
- Leader and the Falcon EP (2007)
- Hysterical StarsHysterical StarsHysterical Stars is the second release by Chicago-based band Head of Femur. It was released May 25, 2005 on Spin Art Records.-Track listing:# "Elliott Gould Is in California Split"# "Ringodom or Proctor"# "Manhattan"# "Percy"# "Skirts are Takin' Over"...
(2005 · Spin Art Records) - Do The Tavern And Other Tall Tales iTunes EP (2005)
- Ringodom or ProctorRingodom or ProctorRingodom or Proctor is the first release by Chicago's Head of Femur. It was released on August 19, 2003 on Greyday Productions.-Track listing:# "January on Strike" – 4:30# "Curve that Byrd" – 3:21# "Yeoman or Tinker" – 6:02# "80 Steps to Jonah" – 3:10...
(2003 · Greyday Records)