Aficionado

Aficionado formed in 2004 with the intent to take over the world.

Aficionado boasts a 10 member full-time lineup, including a flautist, two trumpets, and a visual director. Unconventional instrumentation and elaborate arrangements help define a band that is otherwise impossible to pin down. By incorporating progressive elements into pop-oriented songs, the music appeals to a broad audience. Musical intricacies, odd time signatures, and over-the-top vocal harmonies play to the tastes of some, while others are drawn in by catchy hooks and easy-to-follow pop-song structures. With influences ranging from classic groups such as The Beatles, Yes, Jethro Tull, and King Crimson to more modern bands such as The Flaming Lips, Muse, The Polyphonic Spree, and At the Drive-In, Aficionado has a timeless appeal all its own.

The band devotes an incredible amount of time to arranging the music, and feels the accompanying live show should have just as much effort put into it. That commitment becomes clear the moment Aficionado takes the stage. Often compared to a rock & roll circus, the stage-filling ten person lineup takes command of the audience and guides them through a genuinely unique experience. The pomp and bravado of vocalist Nick Warchol flows seamlessly into the infectious energy of the instruments and provides the circus with its tailor-made ringmaster. Guitarists who double as whirling dervishes anchor the whole affair in the world of rock, while less conventional instruments such as flute add an exotic flare that forces the audience to broaden their palettes. Visual director, Face, immerses the crowd deeper into the sensuous world of Aficionado through custom-made lighting rigs and arrangements.

The band's newest recording, a full length release entitled Circus Music, was self-recorded, self-produced, and mixed by members of the band. Nearly all members have a general knowledge of recording and are multi-instrumentalists. This was crucial when creating a record that truly represented the band as a whole. Every nuance is present, while still accounting for the vibrancy of the live experience. Aficionado spared no expense when capturing their creation. A studio was essentially built from the ground up and tirelessly filled with high quality recording gear. The result is an album which showcases Aficionado as a monster of a rock outfit. If Led Zeppelin were members of the happiest cult on Earth, In Through the Out Door would have sounded like Circus Music.