Finding Fiction is a New York based band in their infancy whose members’ posses a musicianship and dedication that is defining today’s DIY indie-bands. They are the quintessential web 2.0 band that understands a great live sound is as important as great web presence and marketability. They just released their first LP, “Idaho by the Sea” and are leaving to embark on their fourth tour (third national). Finding Fiction will be playing the Elbo Room on the 17th.  

I have been following this band since their second show in the lower-east side of NYC and have watched them mature and develop a live show that is unparalleled by most veteran bands. They rock hard and play harder with the grime, guttural rawness expected from NYC indie-bands. This stands in stark contrast to their studio recordings, signaling that the band is still working out their recorded sound. To which they will concur. A lot bands record solid studio albums but fail to translate their sound during live shows. Finding Fiction doesn’t fall victim to being lost in motionlessness and mediocrity when playing live. They perform. They sweet and work their instruments in a frenzy, all the while containing and projecting a focused sound. 

They also have one of the best drummers I have seen in my almost ten years of writing about indie bands. The beats hammered out by Scott Eisenberg are richly layered. His intelligence as a drummer can be seen through his rapid time changes, and shifting intensity, never playing over the other members. He knows when to push the drums and when to hold back which lends itself to producing complex rhythmic drum tracks that feel good and translate well in a live show. He draws from post-post punk bands like Jaw Box and pop drummer’s like Matt Chamberlain. By leveraging his taste for feel good pop and post-Fugazi artistic integrity he gives Finding Fiction the structure necessary to be approachable, danceable and artistically innovative.

Finding Fiction recently added a new guitarist that can double up on keys and provide supporting vocals. The line-up change will fatten up their sound adding a pop element not present in earlier songs. Adrian joins the band bringing what guitarist Mario defines as, “…a new dimension.” 

So, in honor of an age of meta-data, bite size information and tweeter mania, I interviewed the band via the digital void and asked guitarist and vocalist Mario and bassist Tim to respond with short concise answers about the bands current line-up, touring and the new record. Plus some additional “tantaria” about the life and times of a working band. 

1.)    You guys have been through a couple of line-up changes over the past year, can you talk a little about how your sound has developed in the wake of changing guitarists?

Tim - our guitarists keep getting mugged, but based on statistics, it's almost impossible that Adrian will be mugged..he's more likely to get struck by lightning or beat me in c lo or pusoy dos. Ithink the biggest change has come most recently, Adrian Granada joins us as a 4th member and our sound is changing every day we rehearse and incorporate his ideas on keys, guitar and vocals.  
Mario - I think keys definitely add a fresh dimension.  We had a few on Idaho, but it'll be interesting to really spent time writing material with keys.  Adrian also has a great voice so i think our sound will definitely begin to widening w/more harmonies and production.  He actually has a pretty sweet studio in his basement too, so I can see us experimenting with more studio sounds this time around.   
 
2.)    You guys recently released “Idaho by the Sea”, how are you feeling about the album and the response it’s garnering? I understand you guys are working on some new songs already, what sound can we expect on these new tracks?

Tim - Idaho by the sea was a blast to record with Jeremy at Battletapes, the response has been all positive and people are really digging the sounds live and on the record. We've only had 1 bad album review and truthfully it was refreshing to hear some constructive criticism.  
Mario - i feel proud of what we accomplished with Idaho.  it was a great first record and i feel it really captured the "snap-shot" of where were as a band. Which, to me, is what a record is supposed to do.  Looking back, there were moments I wish we could have spent more time on, but we really did the best with what we had and even with it's limitations, it never lost intent.  I think you can hear it, that's what counts for me. I mean, there were some real magical moments on that record...the kinds of things you can't plan out, and I love that. The response has been very encouraging and even the criticism has been positive, to me.   If anything, interest seems to be perked, and curiosity as to how & what direction we'll grow.  I'm as interested as anyone as to where the sound is headed, so I really could answer the 2nd question haha. 
 
3.)    Do you guys feel like you’re still in the process of discovering your sound?

Tim - I think we have only just begun to make music together and it just keeps evolving and we are really excited. Everyday we rehearse it just keeps evolving and I'm just really excited to have keys in the mix and to be writing new songs as a full band, the 4 of us. Rehearsal is amazing, we walk out and it just blows my mind what we come up with together, I've recently been wanting to tour less and spend more time in NYC really working on sounds and getting ready to record this new material. It will definitely be noisier and have more keyboards for sure.  
Mario - ditto with Tim.  It's really all we can do to stay as open as possible to one another and and open to what happens next.  It's a constant work-in-progress and we're still learning more and more everyday. 
 
4.)    What do feel has defined the life of Finding Fiction thus far? If the band were to disband tomorrow what would you characterize as the most important or dynamic aspect of the band and its sound?

Tim - I think what has defined us so far is the work. We have just been busting our asses and touring literally from day 1. Come to think of it, our first show wasn't even in NYC haha it was in Philly on a short regional tour that we did before playin les in NYC.  
Mario - I'd definitely agree it's been our work.  We basically all came together with the determination that this is what we wanted to do for a living.  Luckily, we picked a line of work where we can actually document every step along the way ha.  This year so far's been such blur for for me, I'm slowly realizing our album, tour pics and YouTube videos are all I really have these days to remind me, "oh yeah, I actually had a blast this year!" 
 
5.)    You guys are embarking on your fourth tour and third national tour, right? OK, now here are some fun questions about life on the road? 
a.       Who smells the worst after shows?

Tim - when it comes to smells, Josh our last guitarist trumps everyone. his feet where so rank that I snapped in Indiana last tour and thru his rancid sneakers out the window while we were going 70 on the hwy because I just couldnt take it haha.  
Mario - Josh definitely held the medal in that category.  Who's next is anyone's guess.  I may just stop showering on this run and see how 'jim morrison' I can get.  

b.      Who gets hit on the most before and after shows?

Tim -  we are not motley crue unfortunately and there is no line of sex charged ladiesss waiting backstage...actually rarely do we even have a backstage or green room.  
Mario - yeah,  most after shows are still spent trying to figure out if we made enough gas/food money or a place to sleep.    

c.       Who eats the most food?

Tim - that is tough, I don't know.   
Mario - Tim.  I still have youtube footage to edit of his entire face covered in peanut butter.  

d.      Who eats the weirdest food?  

Tim - Mario definitely eats the worst food, he will literally grab a can of clam chowder off the van floor in the summer and eat it straight from the can...it's disgusting and the whole van wreaks. I think though we all eat weird food concoctions, involving combinations of canned soup, ramen, canned vegetables, mac an cheese, pbj or expired deli meat that was on sale  
Mario -  if eating cold clam chowder is wrong I don't wanna be right.  

e.      Who’s the worst driver?

Tim - Mario so far has crashed/dented the van at least 3 times that i've seen, but he is an awesome parallel parker. While Scott is very cautious and although he does most of the driving and I feel very safe...his parking skills are just plain embarassing ahaha so we make fun of him till no end it's hilarious watching him try and figure it out, maybe after another 30k miles on the road he'll get it ;)  
Mario -  me. 

FIVE BANDS THE GUYS ARE LISTEING TO ON THE ROAD:

Scott (drums): Van Halen

Mario (guitar and vocals): LCD Sound System

Tim (bass): Cursive

Adrian (guitars, vocals, keys): Finding Fiction “…cause he’s learning the songs.” And apparently C&C Music Factory as well. Hell yea, things that make you go, “…hmm.”.

Kevin Farr