Local Band Alert: ThisisReno takes a closer look at local bands in this series of 5-minute interviews. This week we chat with Frankly Fictitious.
Frankly Fictitious formed in Reno on New Years Day 2013 as a four-piece with a desire to rock ‘n’ roll and melt faces. The band included Jonathan “Danger” Louis (drums), Jason “Garlic Fingers” VanHavel (keyboard), Kaden “USDA Approved” Barmore (guitar, vocals), and Trevor Eck (bass).
The band is heavily influenced by bands such as The Who, Led Zeppelin, CCR, Vanilla Fudge, numerous 80s hair metal groups, and a healthy dose of punk attitude. They began to establish themselves as a cover band in the surrounding cities of Sparks and Carson City, all the while making connections and gaining a small fan base.
Although they started with four members playing classic rock covers, by 2015 their final lineup was down to three and they now classify themselves in the sub-genre of “hyper-rock,” performing mostly originals.
Frankly Fictitious believes that music is the one thing that brings us together and that rock ‘n’ roll truly can save the world.
Recently I asked the drummer, Louis, some questions about the band and this is how it went:
ThisisReno: How did the band get started and who are your fans?
Louis: The band was started on New Year’s Day in 2013 because of our common love for the video game Rock Band. We had been playing Rock Band since its release in 2007 and decided to give the real rock band experience a go. Our fans mainly consist of bikers.
TIR: Who came up with the band name and what is its meaning?
Louis: Kaden Barmore came up with the name during a brainstorming session of finding a name at around 3 or 4 a.m. one chilly winter night. We were originally called “Spoonful of Somebody.” Frankly Fictitious does quite mean anything, but it stuck because it was one of the only band names we thought of that wasn’t already taken and the name tickled our fancy and provoked imagination.
TIR: How long have you guys known each other?
Louis: Jason, Kaden, and I have known of each other’s existence since elementary school, but we all started hanging out in middle school.
TIR: Where do you see the band in five years?
Louis: All of us want to ride the crazy train that comes and goes with being in a rock band for as long as we can. We want to take it to the top until we have more money and fame than God.
TIR: What do you think of the Reno music scene?
Louis: Reno’s music scene is an interesting beast. It consists of many musicians who know, support, and love each other. It’s very easy to make connections with many different people, including both musicians and everyone who makes shows possible. It’s a very great thing to be a part of.
Always remember to support your local bands and venues … Go to a Show!
