Velvet Crush
Encyclopedia
Velvet Crush is a power pop
band from Rhode Island
that achieved prominence in indie-rock circles in the early- and mid-1990s. The band broke up in 1996 but re-formed in 1998 and have continued to record, releasing their most recent album in 2004. Vocalist/bassist Paul Chastain and drummer Ric Menck are the band's core members, having previously worked together as Choo Choo Train, Bag-O-Shells, and The Springfields, and they share singing and songwriting duties. Guitarist Jeffrey Borchardt (of Honeybunch
) played on the band's first three albums, In the Presence of Greatness, Teenage Symphonies to God, and Heavy Changes, which were produced by Matthew Sweet
and Mitch Easter
, respectively.
band Choo Choo Train, who released two singles and an EP and were signed to the British indie label The Subway Organization. The duo also recorded for Sarah Records
as The Springfields, and for Bus Stop as Bag-O-Shells. Both had been based in Chicago, but they relocated to Rhode Island around this time. Opting for a more rock-oriented
power pop
sound, the duo formed Velvet Crush in 1989, with Jeffery Borchardt of Honeybunch
. After three singles on Bus Stop Records, the band released a cover version
of Teenage Fanclub
's "Everything Flows", leading them to be signed by Creation Records
in the UK, who issued the band's debut album, In the Presence of Greatness, in 1991. The band stayed with Creation for a second album, Teenage Symphonies to God, released in 1994 (on Sony Records in the US). The group members spent the next few years acting as Stephen Duffy
's backing band, recording two albums with the singer. Velvet Crush returned in 1998 with the Heavy Changes album, now on the Action Musik label. Another album, Free Expression, followed in 1999, by which time the band was reduced to a duo of Chastain and Menck. Soft Sounds followed in 2002, and Stereo Blues in 2004.
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
band from Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
that achieved prominence in indie-rock circles in the early- and mid-1990s. The band broke up in 1996 but re-formed in 1998 and have continued to record, releasing their most recent album in 2004. Vocalist/bassist Paul Chastain and drummer Ric Menck are the band's core members, having previously worked together as Choo Choo Train, Bag-O-Shells, and The Springfields, and they share singing and songwriting duties. Guitarist Jeffrey Borchardt (of Honeybunch
Honeybunch
Honeybunch is an indie pop band from Providence, Rhode island formed in 1987 by future Velvet Crush member Jeffrey Borchardt, releasing a string of records before splitting up in 1995...
) played on the band's first three albums, In the Presence of Greatness, Teenage Symphonies to God, and Heavy Changes, which were produced by Matthew Sweet
Matthew Sweet
Sidney Matthew Sweet is an American alternative rock/power pop musician. He was part of the burgeoning Athens, Georgia music scene in the early and mid-1980s before gaining commercial success during the early 1990s...
and Mitch Easter
Mitch Easter
Mitch Easter is a songwriter, musician, and producer. As a producer, he is probably best known for his work with R.E.M. from 1981 through 1984, though he has also worked with many other acts including The Hang Ups, Pavement, Suzanne Vega, Game Theory, Marshall Crenshaw, Velvet Crush, and...
, respectively.
History
Chastain had recorded in the mid-1980s as a solo artist and as a member of The Stupid Cupids, while Menck had been a member of The Reverbs and The Paint Set. The long association between Chastain and Menck began in 1987 with the indie popIndie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band Choo Choo Train, who released two singles and an EP and were signed to the British indie label The Subway Organization. The duo also recorded for Sarah Records
Sarah Records
Sarah Records was a UK independent record label active between 1987 and 1995, best known for its recordings of indie pop.The label was formed in Bristol in 1987 by Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes, and grew out of the fanzine scene at the time, Haynes having previously edited Are You Scared To Get...
as The Springfields, and for Bus Stop as Bag-O-Shells. Both had been based in Chicago, but they relocated to Rhode Island around this time. Opting for a more rock-oriented
power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
sound, the duo formed Velvet Crush in 1989, with Jeffery Borchardt of Honeybunch
Honeybunch
Honeybunch is an indie pop band from Providence, Rhode island formed in 1987 by future Velvet Crush member Jeffrey Borchardt, releasing a string of records before splitting up in 1995...
. After three singles on Bus Stop Records, the band released a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub are an alternative rock band from Bellshill, Scotland. The band is composed of Norman Blake , Raymond McGinley , Gerard Love and Francis MacDonald , with songwriting duties shared equally among Blake, McGinley and Love...
's "Everything Flows", leading them to be signed by Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
in the UK, who issued the band's debut album, In the Presence of Greatness, in 1991. The band stayed with Creation for a second album, Teenage Symphonies to God, released in 1994 (on Sony Records in the US). The group members spent the next few years acting as Stephen Duffy
Stephen Duffy
Stephen Anthony James Duffy is an English singer/songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He was a founding member and vocalist/bassist of Duran Duran. He went on to record as a solo performer under several different names, and is the singer and songwriter for The Lilac Time with his older brother...
's backing band, recording two albums with the singer. Velvet Crush returned in 1998 with the Heavy Changes album, now on the Action Musik label. Another album, Free Expression, followed in 1999, by which time the band was reduced to a duo of Chastain and Menck. Soft Sounds followed in 2002, and Stereo Blues in 2004.
Singles
- "This Perfect Day" (1987) Picture Book
- The Briar Rose EP (1988) The Subway Organization
- "High" (1988) The Subway Organization
The Springfields
- "Sunflower" (1988) SarahSarah RecordsSarah Records was a UK independent record label active between 1987 and 1995, best known for its recordings of indie pop.The label was formed in Bristol in 1987 by Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes, and grew out of the fanzine scene at the time, Haynes having previously edited Are You Scared To Get...
(UK indieUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
#8) - "Tomorrow Ends Today" (1991) Picture Book
- "Wonder" (1991) Sarah
- "Tranquil" (1991) Seminal Twang/Summershine
Paul Chastain & Ric Menck
- Hey Wimpus: The Early Recordings of Paul Chastain & Ric Menck (1998) Action Musik
Albums
- In the Presence of Greatness (1991) Creation/Ringers Lactate
- Teenage Symphonies to God (1994) Creation/Sony
- Heavy Changes (1998) Action Musik
- Free Expression (1999) Bobsled
- Soft Sounds (2002) Action Musik
- Stereo Blues (2004)
Compilations, live albums
- Rock Concert (2000) Action Musik
- A Single Odessey (2001) Action Musik
- Timeless Melodies (2001) EpicEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
- Melody Freaks (demos & outtakes 1990-1996) (2002) Action Musik
Singles
- "If Not True" (1990) Bus Stop
- "Walking Out on Love" (1990) Raving Pop Blast (split flexi disc with The Golden Dawn)
- "Ash & Earth" (1991) Bus Stop
- "Everything Flows" (1991) Seminal Twang
- "Window to the World" (1992) Creation
- The Post Greatness EP (1992) Creation
- "Drive Me Down" (1992) Creation
- "Hold Me Up" (1994) Parasol
- "Hold Me Up" (1994) Creation
- "Why Not Your Baby" (1995) Creation
- "Gentle Breeze" (2000) Bobsled
External links
- Official website
- 1994 interview with Ric Menck on Ready Steady Go
- Velvet Crush at Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...