In simplest terms, Fian is a rock n’ roll band from Seattle, Washington. The band was started in its nascent form in 2010 by mild-mannered vocalist Jonathan Wilson and former pianist (current Lord of all Music) Hudson Reed. Long time badass and friend, Joshua Nelson, was soon added to the lineup with Swiss Engineered timepiece Jacob Kaufman coming onto the scene in 2011 with a flurry of furious paradiddles. Lacking the bedrock on which to build their tower to heaven, Fian searched long and lazily for the missing link and were blessed with the bass brutality of Walter-White-uncanny-look-a-like wunderkind, Harrison Scannell in 2014. The indomitable Robert Keene was soon added to their number when he accidentally tunnelled into their practice room during a prison break. We gave him a keyboard with which to unlock his chains. Gotham called so Kaufman had to leave. In his place currently, is the prince of percussion, Christian Rider.

Fian’s music generally meanders along loose structures with liberal exploration of wide dynamic ranges and lyrical subject matter. Frankly, attempting to describe their sound to the uninitiated has become a bit of a running gag. Operatic in ambition, Fian defies all attempts to be crammed into any existing genre categories and they’re not shy about wanting to keep it that way.

The list of bands used as analogs to Fian’s sound is diverse to the point of absurdity and uselessness. King Crimson, Dire Straits, At the Drive-in, Muse, and Pink Floyd are among the more common, with some people saying they are reminiscent of Dio, Pearl Jam, Joni Mitchell, Panic at the Disco (wtf?), or the music of Les Miserables. Pop-psych-hair-blues-theater-jazzy-grunge-prog doesn’t really roll off the tongue very well but the most effective descriptor has been “Cemetery Rock.” Sounds about right.