Scary Mansion is Leah Hayes with Ben Shapiro on drums and Bradley Banks on bass. In addition to playing in the bands La Laque and Satan's Fingers (with David Ivar of Herman Dune), Hayes has a vocal guest spot on TV On the Radio's album Return to Cookie Mountain. Hayes' illustration work (with McSweeney's, Punk Planet, two books on Fantagraphics) and curatorial interests (hosting shows in her Williamsburg apartment) make her a modern day Renaissance woman and songwriter extraordinaire. Every Joke Is Half the Truth is Scary Mansion's debut album, recorded with Kyle Fischer (Rainer Maria).