The small square- a light history
Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist Paul Chastain co-founded Velvet Crush rock group. Signed by Alan McGee to his mythic British indie label Creation Records who gave the band’s first and second albums, the latter, the seminal “Teenage Symphonies To God”, worldwide release. Paul’s musical arc also includes path crossings with a handful of top-notch talent. He has been playing and singing alongside pal Matthew Sweet from the pre-”Girlfriend” days onward. Run-ins along the way with such pop music icons and ne’er-do-wells as Roger McGuinn, Mitch Easter, Susanna Hoffs, Stephen Duffy, Tommy Keene, Ami Onuki (Puffy Ami/Yumi).
Drummer/producer John Louis Richardson has similar roots, brushes with greatness and dubious associations. Among them, Joey Molland’s Badfinger, Tommy Keene, Gin Blossoms, Keene Brothers, Jay Bennett, Will Hoge. He still plays live and records with DIY power pop pioneers and long time friends, Shoes. John runs his Drum Farm Studio in Menomonie, Wisconsin.
FRIENDS OF THE SQUARE
Matthew Sweet, Joey Molland, Jonathan Pines, R. Walt Vincent, Brad Rice, Adam Beard, Dennis Taylor, Adam Ollendorff, Tommy Keene, Cory Wong, Darren Cooper, Adam Schmitt, JC Twisted Photography, Charlie Quaker, The Mayflowers, Club Wonder,LOWLIFE Blog, Edobori Printing, Sweatshop Union, Startrip webzine