Fake Problems

Fake Problems is an American rock band from Naples, Florida. They released their first album, How Far Our Bodies Go, on Sabot Productions on April 27th, 2007. Their second record, It's Great to Be Alive, was released through Side One Dummy Records on February 17th, 2009.

Biography

History/Background

Fake Problems was created by Chris Farren in 2001 and started as a solo project. Farren was in another band at the time, but he wanted to expand his creativity and write different music. When thinking of a solo project, most people visualize one person with just an acoustic guitar; however, Farren used multiple instruments and recorded all of them on his personal computer.^[1] The band is named Fake Problems because the music was created with a no problems or commitments attitude. Eventually Lee, Perry, and Donaldson joined Farren, to make a full, four piece band. All of the band members grew up in Naples and have known each other since they were about 14 years old.^[2] Chris Donaldson left Fake Problems to pursue other interests.

The members have been able to make the band a full time obligation by allowing for a relentless touring schedule. Stevenson gave up an opportunity to go to Berklee College of Music in Boston for film scoring. Members Lee and Perry also had a side project called Stay & Fight, although it is considered dead in water, since signing to SideOneDummy.

The band released music videos for two songs from It's Great to Be Alive: "The Dream Team" and "Diamond Rings." Diamond Rings was also featured on the third episode of Season 1 of NBC's "Trauma."

Music Style/Influences

Fake Problems is heavily influenced by several genres of music, including punk rock, folk music, pop punk, and country music. In various songs mandolin, violin, lap-steel/slide guitar, and brass horns can be heard along with the guitars and drums. The band claims that they have been influenced by Cursive, Bright Eyes, The Good Life, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, and Blink 182, having releases that referenced Blink's song titles and tentative titles for their earlier records; they also performed a Blink-182 cover set.

Tours

The band is much heralded for their vivid, theatrical stage show.^[3] They frequently, and randomly, perform with string players and a horn section. The band is known for a relentless touring schedule that keeps them away from home for more than half of the year. In 2006 they performed in 150 concerts in a tour of North America.^[4] They claim that the hardest part about being a full time band is touring because it keeps them away from friends and family and leaves them in a tight financial situation. To date, they have toured with Against Me!, The Gaslight Anthem, Riverboat Gamblers, Smoke or Fire, Look Mexico, Lemuria, Anti-Flag, O Pioneers!!!, Street Dogs, Frank Turner, The Briggs, Nothington, Baby Calendar, Murder By Death, and The Builders and the Butchers. They played one show on the 2009 Warped Tour in Cleveland, Ohio. A tour with Thursday andThe Dillinger Escape Plan is scheduled for December.

Their 2007 tour with Against Me! was a success due to the amount of new people who were introduced to their music. On this tour Fake Problems met Bruce Springsteen in Sayreville, New Jersey.^[5]

Disasters

On April, 2006 when the band's equipment was stolen during a tour with O Pioneers!!!.^[6] The band was robbed of two Fender Stratocasters, a flying “V” guitar, a Dan Electro Remake by Jay Johnson bass, a microKorg, and a lap-steel/slide guitar. They finished the tour, but had to borrow equipment from O Pioneers!!! and then buy new instruments.

The song Real Problems in SRQ is based on an incident in On October 18th, 2006 Farren, Lee, and Stevenson were arrested and charged with trespassing. They were scheduled to play a show in Sarasota, Florida and had arrived a few hours early. Before their set, they had climbed a strip mall roof. As they were climbing off the roof, police entered the parking lot. The band members were arrested and were held until they received bail at about 2:00 am the following morning. The court ordered them to take anger management classes.

On an early 2008 tour with Smoke or Fire, the band was driving through Tennessee to their next show, when a giant turkey flew through their window. Two shows were canceled and the band had to stay at a motel in Cleveland TN for the weekend while the windshield was repaired.

Members

• Chris Farren - Vocals and Guitar
• Derek Perry - Bass
• Sean Stevenson - Drums
• Casey Lee - Guitar

Former Members

• Chris Donaldson - Drums

Discography

Studio Albums

• How Far Our Bodies Go (2007, Sabot Productions)
• It's Great to Be Alive (2009, SideOneDummy)

EPs

• Too Much Like Home (2001, For Documentation Only Records)
• From a Fashion Standpoint (2004, For Documentation Only Records)
• Oh No! (2005, Self Released)
• Spurs & Spokes (2006, Sabot Productions)
• Spurs & Spokes/Bull Matador (2006, Sabot Productions)
• Viking Wizard Eyes Wizard Full Of Lies (2008, Good Friends Records)

Singles

• The Dream Team (2009, SideOneDummy)

Splits

• Fake Problems/Look Mexico - Under The Influence Vol. 1 (2008, Suburban Home Records)
• Fake Problems/Any Day Now (2005, Self Released)
• Fake Problems/Ninja Gun (2009, Sabot Productions}}

Demos

• "Watching The Bull Get The Matador" (Self Released)

References