Holiday Friends

Scott Fagerland's parents grew up in the prime of classic rock and have brought the music they sang along to with them in their formative years to their children. While his mother holds the musical talent in his parent's relationship, his father enthusiastically shared what he could, which happened to be an excellent taste in music. Fagerland's father gifted him The Beatles' 'Rubber Soul' as a Christmas gift when he was 10 years old; since playing the record he has been hooked on music. His mother sings and plays guitar and was able to move her son's musical interests along in a bit more practical form when she got her kids piano lessons. Later on, Fagerland's mother bought him an alto saxophone and lessons to go along with it. He has put good use to his parent's money spent on music lessons throughout his childhood as he brings his talent to Holiday Friends via lead vocals and guitar. 

Jon Fagerland benefited from having the same music loving parents as his bandmate and brother. His memories of music as a child are strongly attached to a family friend named Chris Jacobsen who played guitar and gave Jon and Scott tapes he had recorded. Jacobsen soon became Fagerland's first guitar teacher. He took lessons for a while then spent his teenage years in and out of various bands until being in a band became a part of his identity. Fagerland now brings his talents to Holiday Friends by way of vocals, synth, electric piano, and guitar. 

Joey Ficken's mother has a story that is frequently told; when he was a toddler he got up on a picnic table and shouted, "I'm a rock n roll star!". A surprising phrase considering his parents were not rock n roll fans so he had not been exposed to the genre yet. Later on Ficken would become exposed to rock n roll and with the help of his older brother he started his own collection of albums that were gifted to him by his brother. When he had his own money he let his brother's taste influence what album he chose. His brother is also to thank for talking their parents into buying him a drum set. He was banging on everything anyways so why not take lessons and at least have that banging sound good. Ficken is still banging away on the drums, but probably annoying his parents a little less. 

Zack O'connor grew up in a house that was constantly filled with music. As he was mastering piano in a classical style his friend, Trevor,  got a guitar and encouraged O'connor to get a bass so they could form a band, but he just nodded and did not think about it again until Christmas when his parents got him a bass. He instantly quit piano for the new and therefore more exciting bass. He took lessons, but surpassed what the guy at a local music store could teach him. He then began playing in a college jazz combo while still in high school. This jazz combo was access to other musicians and sneaking underage sips of beer. After high school O'connor was playing less music until he began playing with Holiday Friends; when he began playing with the band rock became all he wanted to play. 

Holiday Friends began as a college band that played surf punk under the name "Shitty Pete and the Fux"; exactly the type of name you would expect a college punk band to brandish... as it would make most mothers shake their heads in disapproval, the exact goal of punk rocking college kids. They then became a sort of Killers wanna be synth driven indie band. As they found their own sound they changed their name to Holiday Friends and their mothers let out a sign of relief. 

Holiday Friends have been working towards reaching a wider audience. Reaching a wider audience would mean getting to pay the bills with their music... a goal almost every musician works towards. The band is slowly getting back into the swing of working together and practicing as a band after the pandemic rendered them unable to be together. Their last record, 'Still Wonder', was worked on right up until the pandemic. They waited to release it, wanting to be able to tour the record, until June of 2020 when it became apparent it would be a long time until touring was allowed again. For now Holiday Friends are continuing to treat 'Still Wonder' as a new record until they get to play all the songs for an audience.