Fictionist

Finding their own two legs to stand on, Utah’s Fictionist harnesses what the layman might call “indie pop rock”, expanding upon the art of musicians like The Beatles, Elliott Smith, Wilco and Pink Floyd. The six-piece began as the brainchild of Stuart Maxfield and Jacob Jones – singer and guitarist and keyboardist, respectively – and went through a number of lineup and name changes before finally finding the Fictionist flag. After a battle of the bands, some party gigs, the release of an EP ...

Finding their own two legs to stand on, Utah’s Fictionist harnesses what the layman might call “indie pop rock”, expanding upon the art of musicians like The Beatles, Elliott Smith, Wilco and Pink Floyd. The six-piece began as the brainchild of Stuart Maxfield and Jacob Jones – singer and guitarist and keyboardist, respectively – and went through a number of lineup and name changes before finally finding the Fictionist flag. After a battle of the bands, some party gigs, the release of an EP and a national tour, Maxfield and Jones finally found rest in the current lineup of Spencer Harrison on bass, Aaron Anderson on drums, Robbie Connolly on the guitar and Brandon Kitterman on rhythm guitar. Despite Fictionist’s variety of past members, Maxfield and Jones do not downplay the importance of these musicians. “Every member that’s passed through the group has uniquely contributed to the creative direction of the band,” Maxfield says. “Jacob and I saw this group from the beginning and we’re continually amazed with the progress we’ve made over the years.” And as the group grows and continues to foster its regional fan base, Fictionist remains clear in its objective to create songs full of integrity and originality and a live performance filled with energy and humanity. Known for their powerful live performances, the band recreates their album but often with new life breathed into them filled with introspective instrumentals and clear cut melodies. In the same vein, the sextet has carried over their live aesthetic into an established reputation for self-engineering in organic, DIY locations – from vintage warehouses to classic theaters in order to capture the energy from the live performance. “We’ve always been fascinated with the different sounds and quirks of oddly shaped and history-filled rooms,” Maxfield says. “There’s an eccentric vibe that comes from recording in these locations.” These “quirks” led to Invisible Hand (2008), Fictionist’s debut full-length, boasting 11 brand new tracks and a flood of positive reviews. The album was recorded live in a relative’s bicycle warehouse and the release marked the official beginning of Fictionist in its current form. With these new recordings in hand and a solidified lineup of stellar musicians, Fictionist is prepared to take an unprecedented approach to a timeless sound and compelling live show.