problem plays - electronic press kit

Bio

Problem Plays is a three-piece band from Sacramento, CA. Damian Ortellado (guitar/vox) and the dual-Sam rhythm section of Sam Benavidez (drums) and Sam Fields (bass/vox) have been playing loud music together since 2018.

The band has evolved from an in-your-face surfy punk rock sound to a more ~mature~ indie-emo one with prettier, "vintagey" guitar tones, but the melodic vocals, complex basslines and thunderous percussion thankfully remain.

Cafe Colonial, Old Ironsides, Golden Bear, and Sac's beloved house venues, Secret Compound and the Hearth, have all played host to the trio. On occassion they've expanded their reach to the Bay Area and beyond, dabbling into DIY spots like 924 Gilman, Oakland Secret, and even The Ritz in San Jose. Their festival appearances include Jest Fest 2024.

Shortly after forming, the band released a small collection of songs that captured them still figuring out their style with the "St Helena EP". During COVID, the band recorded their first full-length album "BEESWAX!" with the assistance of close friends in the scene, spending long nights huddled in little basements and garages wrestling with self-production.

New Release

Problem Plays is set to release their currently unannounced new album in early 2025, recorded at Rosa Mortem Studios in Sacramento. They've announced a new single, "Demon Future", coming out at the end of January, that should give listeners an idea of the direction the band has taken since regrouping post-pandemic.

These tracks are frankly more focused than anything they've put out in the past - written in cars, planes, and bathrooms, they serve as thought exercises about the persistence of cultural identity, the allure of starting fresh, the grip of parasocial relationships, the flaws that make us unique and small acts of kindness that give us hope.

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