With the much spoken about acoustic Beans On Toast opening for Frank Turner (one in which was unfortunately missed by myself) and the Naples, Floridian quartet Fake Problems also opening for Frank Turner in Nottingham’s premier rock haven, tonight‘s proceedings were building up quite a high level of expectation amongst the rowdy partisans.

With Fake Problems garnering the support of the much travelled Frank Turner and asked to join him on his UK tour, the band arrived upon our shores on a sea of hype, and thankfully delivered by the bucket load. Versatility seems to come to Fake Problems easily in their raucous set.

And you would have been mistaken for thinking you may be presented by a mo-hawked rough-and-ready frontman tonight. But, quite the opposite- Chris Farron cuts an eruditely constructed young fellow tonight. Think more Vampire Weekend attire than Misfits. It follows suit in Fake Problems music too, with a multitude of influences engulfing their skittish punk jaunts.

The fantastic punk growl of Chris Farron in ‘Heartless’ amongst a glowing refulgent structure, ‘Heart BPM’s chiming guitar alongside the softer tones of Farron’s voice come to light, exhibiting their ability to do mainstream too.

The American punk streams out in ‘The Dream Team’ as Farron sings “I wanna be the American dream/ But I need you right next to me to fell free” amidst guitar solo‘s, hand claps that are relatively predictable yet catchy.

‘Born And Raised’ laments the college life as Farron sings “Do you ever think that you’ll go back to college?/I said yeah Sir eventually when the time is right and I find a University that I kinda like/I do agree the experience is quite inticing/If I don’t get distracted by all the drinking”…

But it’s the mid set inclusion of the rowdy ‘Diamond Rings’ starting with a chugging bassline, enter a catchy riff and the platform is ready for lead singer Chris Farron. He straddles the vocal assault of Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock and Gorgol Bordello’s gypsy purr, adding a hoarse growl to the bands spearing punk rock.

And when it’s time for maybe the heir to the throne of one of our generations new lyrical maestro’s Frank Turner, the crowd fervour was uncontrollable. With the political poise of Billy Bragg, Frank Turner not only turns a phrase diplomatically withstanding but in a storytelling that brings comfort and an earnest uplifting of a crowd in awe of the journeyman finally reaping the rewards of his hard endeavours.

He adorns us with ‘Photosynthesis’, ‘Long Live The Queen’ and ’The Road’ amongst many. Although I may have been there for different reasons, bringing the old and new together tonight in the form of Frank and FP, it was a splendid concoction of raw talents from artists with a heady arsenal in their locker. Fantastic night in the cavernous Rock City.

As Fake Problems join troubadour Frank Turner on his UK tour, Shout4Music managed to grab the boys for a quick chat about the last twelve months. If you haven’t already checked out the Florida quartet, recently reviewed single ‘Diamond Rings’ (former Video Of The Week) exhibits some catchy riffery, lead singer Chris Farren straddles the vocal onslaughts of Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock and the gypsy purr of Gogol Bordello. An intriguing propostion we sure you’ll agree. See for yourself people…

Hey guys, so you’re in the middle of a European tour right now, how’s it going?
It’s going well.  We’re having a good time with each other and with the people at the shows.  Touring in Europe is so much different than US, they give us so much food here!  I practically never have to spend my own money (Which is great, because I have none)

What country are you looking forward to playing most?
Austria.  Home to the most beautiful people in the world.

So, you have the honour of supporting Frank Turner on his UK tour. Excited?
So excited.  Frank is a great friend and an immense inspiration on my songwriting.

And you’ve played Reading & Leeds. How have you found the UK festivals this year?
This was the first time we had played!  It was so much fun – I got to see a lot of super-huge bands I would have never gotten to see otherwise.  Like Fall Out Boy?  er… Placebo? … ugh  ANYWAYS it was super cool and there was like a billion people watching us.  We’re probably going to be the most famous band ever just because of it.

How was SXSW this year, a lot of people said it wasn’t the same vibe this year concerning the unsigned bands?
SXSW was awesome.  I was so messed up the whole time and we had one thousand people buying us drinks.

How’s the new album coming together?
It’s coming.  We’ve just begun the songwriting process.  We’re trying to make a real summer fun time girl-group esque record.  At least that’s what I hear in my head.  We’ve got 8 songs so far.  Probably 3 will make the cut.

Who has been given the production duties for the album?
We’re probably going to go back to AJ Mogis in Omaha – unless anyone has Jack White’s phone number?

Your favourite venue in Florida?
TRANSITIONS ART GALLERY in Tampa!  Matt Welch, the promoter, is my bestie.

The best band you guys have supported?
The Hold Steady and Murder By Death.

How do you spend your times in between shows on tour?
Thinking “What the hell am I doing with my life”.

The drink you’ve discovered on this tour and have been drinking far too much of it?
Water.

If you weren’t bragging about how good Fake Problems are you’d be telling everyone about which band?
Look Mexico www.myspace.com/lookmexico <http://www.myspace.com/lookmexico>  www.lookmexico.com <http://www.lookmexico.com>   Seriously the most talented indie band in America.  They’re from Tallahassee and have been best friends of ours since before 9/11

The song you’ve written that you would like to be remembered by so far?
‘Lips Of An Angel’

Record Label: Side One Dummy

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Our Rating:

After garnering support from the wandering journeyman Frank Turner, Fake Problems have the enviable task of supporting the singer-songwriter on his UK tour. ‘Diamond Rings’ comes from their debut album ‘It’s Great To Be Alive’. It starts with a chugging bassline, enter a catchy riff and the platform is ready for lead singer Craig Farron. He straddles the vocal assault of Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock and Gorgol Bordello’s gypsy purr, adding a hoarse growl to the bands spearing indie-rock. Moulded from a Tom Waits-esque, more sombre country number, Fake Problems injected the desired zest and backbone that sat well with their boisterous live sets into this single. Recorded in the cornfields of Omaha, Nebraska by A.J. Mogis (Bright Eyes, Cursive) it bares no genre constraints. The harmonies are punky and stand well next to Farron’s pensive growl. Fake Problems are beginning to become somewhat of a Shout4Music favourite!

FAKE PROBLEMS are set to release their new single ‘Diamond Rings’ on September 28^th following UK dates including Reading and Leeds festivals and prior to their support slot with Frank Turner in October. Vocalist Chris Farren explains the track and its evolution as a part of current full length ‘It’s Great To Be Alive’ – “Diamond Rings really came out of nowhere for this record.  The original version of it is a dark, slow, Tom Waits-esque country song, but that vibe just didn’t fit with what we wanted to do for the record – so we decided to destroy it completely and rebuild it from the ground up.  The only original components the song remains with are the lyrics and chord progression.  I’ve had a few people come up to me and ask me specifically what this song is about, and I always turn it around on them to see what they think it’s about.  And it’s always far more interesting than what the song is actually about.”

FAKE PROBLEMS are set to release their new single ‘Diamond Rings’ on September 7^th following UK dates including Reading and Leeds festivals and prior to their support slot with Frank Turner in October. Vocalist Chris Farren explains the track and its evolution as a part of current full length ‘It’s Great To Be Alive’ – “Diamond Rings really came out of nowhere for this record.  The original version of it is a dark, slow, Tom Waits-esque country song, but that vibe just didn’t fit with what we wanted to do for the record – so we decided to destroy it completely and rebuild it from the ground up.  The only original components the song remains with are the lyrics and chord progression.  I’ve had a few people come up to me and ask me specifically what this song is about, and I always turn it around on them to see what they think it’s about.  And it’s always far more interesting than what the song is actually about.”

Fake Problems have organically reinvented their sound and successfully redefined who they are as musicians and human beings with each musical step they’ve made. The band’s SideOneDummy debut It’s Great To Be Alive shows Fake Problems’ unique brand of indie rock shaking off the insecurity and soul-searching of adolescence and sees the band embracing a sense of perspective that can only be gained by spending countless months on the road touring, laughing and writing music they believe in. The album was produced in the midst of the cornfields of Omaha, Nebraska in a mere two weeks by A.J. Mogis (Bright Eyes, Cursive). It’s Great To Be Alive is less of a traditional album and more of a sonic journey that refuses to be limited by genre constraints.