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SALT LAKE CITY -- They're being called "Pink Floyd without the drugs." A Utah indie rock band is trying to win over fans -- one venue at a time -- as it tries to become the first unsigned band ever to grace the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
Fictionist's killer guitar solos and riffs, strong vocals, and standout stage presence has the band in a field of 16, vying for the magazine cover and a deal with Atlantic Records. It's the prize that comes with a win in Rolling Stone's online competition, "Do You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star?"
"It's a lot of work and it's going to try us a lot, but I think we're excited for it," band member Brandon Kitterman told KSL. "We've been waiting for an opportunity to really shine like this."
Fictionist formed in Provo 3 1/2 years ago. Stuart Maxfield knew Jacob Jones through the jazz program at Brigham Young University. One thing led to another, and soon was formed a band of five: Jones, Maxfield, Kitterman, Robbie Connolly and Aaron Anderson.
Their influences span several decades, and they have an appreciation for various genres of music. The first Stone Temple Pilots LP "Core" was vocalist Maxfield's first CD. The band takes after the likes of Pink Floyd and Arcade Fire.
Touring regionally, they've made a name in unlikely places such as Wichita, Kan. Fictionist has developed a following that will travel at least across counties to see the group.
"Kind of a weird feel, kinda Pink Floydy, just super fun to listen to," remarked fan Taylor Olsen, who traveled from Provo to see the band at a concert at Kilby Court in downtown Salt Lake City Thursday night.
Olsen first met Maxfield through his ward in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While all five members are Mormon, they say their religion does not come to bear on their music.
The group takes pride in their guitar solos, which sound on par with some of the better bands that have established a national name.
"We rock the electric guitar solo," Maxfield said. "We're trying to revive that. Something happened somewhere along the way, and somebody needs to do it the right way again, so we're trying to do that."
It's Rolling Stone senior editor Christian Hoard that uses the phrase "Pink Floyd without the drugs."
"They don't sound like any other band here," Hoard said of the competition. "They're kind of representing for Pink Floyd-style ‘70s rock."
The field in the contest is diverse, including rappers and punk rockers.
"To have this group of guys that sort of came out of a jazz program and are Mormon kids from Utah, it's kind of a way of keeping the contest interesting," Hoard said.
The 16 bands appear in the Mar. 3 edition of Rolling Stone. There are several rounds in the competition, mostly decided by online votes at RollingStone.com. Editors do have a say in four of the eight bands that advance from the first round.
The final two bands standing will square off head-to-head at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee in June. The winning band will make it on the cover of the Aug. 19 issue of Rolling Stone, on newsstands Aug. 5.
"I think it's wide open at this point and we really have no idea of who is going to win, which is part of why it's interesting," Hoard said.
E-mail: aadams@ksl.com
