Evolution is a naturally occurring force in life, however there's nothing predictable about Fake Problems sonic journey from underground heroes to indie rock trailblazers. Since forming in Naples, Florida in 2005 the group--which includes vocalist/guitarist Chris Farren, bassist Derek Perry, drummer Sean Stevenson, guitarist Brian Blount, and former guitarist Casey Lee--have released two critically acclaimed full-lengths, won over countless fans all over the world and toured and played shows with everyone from The Hold Steady to Frank Turner. However with their sophomore release on Side One Dummy Records, Real Ghosts Caught on Tape, Fake Problems have exceeded even their own lofty expectations by creating a cerebral masterpiece that sees the band fully reconciling all of their seemingly disparate influences and proving it's finally their time to step into the spotlight. In 2012 Casey Lee left the band. ...show more

Evolution is a naturally occurring force in life, however there's nothing predictable about Fake Problems sonic journey from underground heroes to indie rock trailblazers. Since forming in Naples, Florida in 2005 the group--which includes vocalist/guitarist Chris Farren, bassist Derek Perry, drummer Sean Stevenson, guitarist Brian Blount, and former guitarist Casey Lee--have released two critically acclaimed full-lengths, won over countless fans all over the world and toured and played shows with everyone from The Hold Steady to Frank Turner. However with their sophomore release on Side One Dummy Records, Real Ghosts Caught on Tape, Fake Problems have exceeded even their own lofty expectations by creating a cerebral masterpiece that sees the band fully reconciling all of their seemingly disparate influences and proving it's finally their time to step into the spotlight. In 2012 Casey Lee left the band.

He was replaced by Brian Blount of Vega Under Fire. Recorded with Ted Hutt (The Gaslight Anthem, Lucero) in California, the album sees the band stripping down the expansive orchestration of 2009's It's Great To Be Alive and discovering what magic lurks at the core of Fake Problems' collective psyche. "We wanted the album to be a little more subtle and let it speak for itself," Farren explains when asked how found the act found the inspiration to craft a unique brand of music that manages to incorporate elements of infectious indie rock & roll and '60s girl groups--the latter of which is aided by crooning vocals courtesy of Fake Problems' longtime friends/fans Arrested Development's Mae Whiteman and Alia Shawkat. Farren also acknowledges that Hutt helped the band realize their Phil Spector-esque wall of sound production style they had in their heads, which allowed them to transcend the DIY punk scene they grew up in without abandoning their roots.

"In the past we would jam so many ideas into one song and it would just be too much," Farren admits. "Ted helped us realize that while that approach is very creative, it's wasn't the best way to go about writing this record" he continues. "This album was a good exercise in restraint and filtering the ideas so we could make every good idea really count. " From soul-inspired indie-rock experiments like "5678" and chilling compositions like "Ghost To Coast" to sparkling beach punk-inspired gems like "Complaint Dept," Real Ghosts Caught On Tape effectively shows how Fake Problems have organically developed into one of rock's most exciting acts and will undeniably see them attracting a whole new base of music fans who are looking for something in what they listen to that can't be easily described or marketed. ...show less