outside of film, I drum for the Oakland-based band foxtails brigade.

Foxtails brigade

The Hollywood Hills-born daughter of a horror filmmaker and sister of a cult comedian, Foxtails front-girl Laura Weinbach grew up in a household that embraced eccentricity. Her next-door neighbors were circus contortionists with emus and fang-toothed monkeys as pets and her childhood activities included snail hunting and spying on celebrity neighbors like Slash, Ice-T, and Larry from Perfect Strangers. Laura’s upbringing is present everywhere in Foxtails Brigade, from the lyrical imagery to the hand-drawn artwork and sophomoric Instagram cartoons.

The band’s live show is a clockwork of junkyard beats, warped orchestral sonics, and Laura’s trademark voice and classical guitar intricacies with an A-List ensemble featuring performing members of Bright Eyes, Van Dyke Parks, and John Kale.  The songs tackle subjects of substitute teaching in the Oakland and LA public school scenes, steak appreciation, and general unfairness awareness with a warped pop sensibility akin to influences like St. Vincent, Joanna Newsom, The Smiths, and Pink Floyd.

Following their 2011 debut album The Bread and the Bait (Antenna Farm Records), the band released their second LP. Time Is Passed (DIY) during Christmas of 2012.  The band put out their self-titled LP in April 2016 on OIM Records produced by Jeff Saltzman (Blondie, The Killers).   Foxtails Brigade is also out now in Japan on Rallye Records.

In the wake of their 2016 STLP release, the band completed a PCNW, So-Cal and South/Mid-West U.S. run as well as a spring tour in France opening for Emily Jane White. Following that they embarked on a 3-month East Coast and Europe tour opening for and playing in Emily Jane White's band again.

In 2020-21 after a one-off release at the end of 2019 for their single “On The Other Side” and a well-received music video for their dark fairy-tale version of “My Favorite Things”cover , the band put out a series of monthly single releases including “Gimme A Sign”, “Slave” and more.

Like the rest of the world, the band’s live show lay dormant throughout the pandemic until their first in-person SF performance in March 2023. The band is currently working on a new record, and more touring to come.