Fake Problems

Fake Problems
Origin	Naples, Florida, USA
Genres	Punk rock, Indie rock
Years active	2005 - Present
Labels	Sabot Productions, Good Friends Records, Side One Dummy Records
Website	Official Website
Members
Chris Farren Derek Perry Sean Stevenson Brian Blount
Past members
Casey Lee

Fake Problems is a four-piece American rock band from Naples, Florida. They released their first EP Spurs and Spokes before they released anything else. They released their first full length album, How Far Our Bodies Go, on Sabot Productions on April 27, 2007. Their second record, It's Great to Be Alive, was released through Side One Dummy Records on February 17, 2009. Their third record "Real Ghosts Caught On Tape" was released September 21, 2010, also on Sideonedummy.

On February 19, 2012, singer Chris Farren requested via Twitter that someone "delete everything about the Fake Problems [W]ikipedia." He subsequently reasoned this request by stating that everything in the article was "inaccurate."

Biography

History/Background

Fake Problems was created by Chris Farren, Derek Perry, Casey Lee, and Sean Stevenson in 2005. Farren was in another band at the time, but he wanted to expand his creativity and write different music. All of the band members grew up in Naples and have known each other since they were about 14 years old.

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."

In 2012, Fake Problems announced that Casey Lee was leaving the band. Lee was replaced by Brian Blount of Vega Under Fire.

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, Yanni, Jethro Tull, John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band, 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. 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. 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, Laura Stevenson and the Cans, The Builders and the Butchers, Nevershoutnever, and A Rocket to the Moon. They played one show on the 2009 Warped Tour in Cleveland, Ohio. A tour with Thursday (band) and The 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.

Real Problems

In April, 2006 the band's equipment was stolen during a tour with O Pioneers!!!. 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 18, 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.

While in Canada on October 19, 2008 the band stopped at a hotel before border crossing to discover their trailer on fire. Faulty wiring caused some protective foam to catch fire, resulting in some damage to Stevenson's kit.

On February 29, 2012, the band released a post on their website, stating the Casey Lee had formally left the band. It was on good terms, and the band's friend Brian will be filling in on touring duties. Recording and the rest of the guitar duties have not been commented upon as of yet. The post below was posted on their website/Tumblr with the headline, "OK - don’t freak out, but Casey left the band.":

"Hi guys.

In November Casey told us he didn’t want to be in a band anymore. He’s basically just not into traveling so much anymore. We understand and we love him very much, and we’re all still good friends. We wish him all of the luck in the world in his future endeavors.

We’ll be performing all of our upcoming shows (Naples show, Orange You Glad Fest, SXSW, Say Anything tour) with our friend Brian on guitar duties.

Other than that, we’ve been working hard the past few months writing a new record, which I will tell you more about soon.

OK! Sorry for the bum out but it’s all gonna be OKAY.

<3"

Members

• Chris Farren - Vocals and Guitar
• Derek Perry - Bass
• Sean Stevenson - Drums
• Brian Blount - Guitar
• The Ghost of Walter Matthau - Harpsichord

Past Members

• Casey Lee - Guitar

Discography

Studio Albums

• How Far Our Bodies Go (2007, Sabot Productions)
• It's Great to Be Alive (2009, SideOneDummy)
• Real Ghosts Caught On Tape (2010, 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)

7" Singles

• Dream Team (2009, SideOneDummy)
• Soulless (2010, SideOneDummy)
• Songs For Teenagers (2011, 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 (2005, Self Released)

References

Year	Organization	Nomination	Result
2012	MTV Push: Artist of the Week	Artist of the week	Won
	mtvU Woodie Awards	Breakthrough woodie	Pending