Members:
Matt Focht - vocals, guitar
Mike Elsener - guitar, vocals
Ben Armstrong - keyboards, drums, vocals

Head of Femur is a Chicago octet formed in November of 2001 by Nebraska natives Mike Elsener, Ben Armstrong, and Bright Eyes drummer Matt Focht. The band was initially conceived as a forum for the three to compose more straightforward pop songs while awaiting the reformation of their previous band, the beautifully frenzied Pablo's Triangle. However, that reformation looked increasingly less likely as the weeks went on, and the quality of the music being created by Head of Femur was surprisingly high. 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. Head of Femur played their first show at a small club in Chicago in March of 2002. The positive response was so strong that plans to record a demo with local producer Jim Bentley and perform at Chicago's famed Empty Bottle were finalized by the end of the evening.

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 Ringodom's 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, NE's Presto! Recording Studios with AJ Mogis, who along with brother and business partner Mike Mogis has helmed numerous projects including Bright Eyes, The Faint, Azure Ray, Rilo Kiley, Cursive, Mos Eisley and SONGS:OHIA. Ringodom or Proctor showcases a multitude of influences including The Left Banke, Sparks, Brian Eno, Roxy Music, The Beach Boys, The Zombies, Talking Heads, Dexy's Midnight Runners, The Flaming Lips, The Beatles, The Kinks, Elton John, Elvis Costello, The Band, Love, Pere Ubu, Roy Orbison, and The Cars. Greyday Productions released Ringodom or Proctor on August 12th, 2003.

Matt Focht - vocals, guitar
Currently with Bright Eyes, formerly of Opium Taylor, The Holy Ghost, and Pablo's Triangle.

Mike Elsener - guitar, vocals
Currently with Solar Wind, formerly of The Recordists, Superglue, Plastik Trumpet, and Pablo's Triangle.

Ben Armstrong - keyboards, drums, vocals
Currently composing music for children's movies, formerly of Commander Venus, The Black Dahlias, Superglue, Plastik Trumpet, and Pablo's Triangle.

Johnathan Crawford - drums, keyboards, stunt vocal
Currently with Grey Ghost, Ed Gray, and Kaspar Hauser, formerly of Making Hey!

Jonathan Hischke - bass, sounds
Currently with My Name Is Rar Rar, formerly of The Flying Luttenbachers, Plastik Trumpet, and Pablo's Triangle.

Tiffany Kowalski - violin, vocals, tambourine, gong
Currently with Bright Eyes and Mayday, formerly of Lullaby For The Working Class.

Charlie Vinz! - violin, glockenspiel, gong, weird guitar, vocals
Currently with S.T. Monroe and Solar Wind, formerly of Charlemagne.

Nate Walcott - trumpet, attitude
Currently with Pinetop Seven, Bright Eyes, and The Nate Walcott Octet, has played with everyone including Will Oldham, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Plastik Trumpet, and Sinister Luck Ensemble.

Matt Silcock - spiritual guidance, bass
Currently with The Silcock Family and MCMS, formerly of Bright Eyes, Opium Taylor, TV City, The Black Dahlias, and Perfect Teeth.

Rob Walters - videography, tomfoolery, bass
Currently as Robert Allan King, formerly with Rough Idea of South, Slob Star and Blandine Cosima.