Velvet Crush is an American

power pop Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, an energetic performance, and ch ...

band from

Providence Providence often refers to: * Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion * Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in Christianity * Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...

Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the List of U.S. states by area, smallest U.S. state by area and the List of states and territories of the United States ...

, United States, 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 Underhill (of

Honeybunch Honeybunch is an indie pop band from Providence, Rhode island formed in 1987 by future Velvet Crush member Jeffrey Underhill, releasing a string of records before splitting up in 1995. The band reformed in 2003. History The band was formed in 19 ...

) played on the band's first three albums, ''In the Presence of Greatness'', '' Teenage Symphonies to God'', and ''Heavy Changes''. ''In the Presence of Greatness'' was produced by

Matthew Sweet Sidney Matthew Sweet (born October 6, 1964) is an American alternative rock/power pop singer-songwriter and musician who was part of the burgeoning music scene in Athens, Georgia, during the 1980s before gaining commercial success in the 1990 ...

, while the second and third albums were produced by

Mitch Easter Mitchell Blake Easter (born November 15, 1954) is a musician, songwriter, and record producer. Frequently associated with the jangle pop style of guitar music, he is known as producer of R.E.M.'s early albums from 1981 through 1984, and as frontm ...

History

Chastain had recorded in the mid-1980s as a solo artist and as a member of Nines and The Stupid Cupids, while Menck had been a member of The ReverbsRobbins, Ira
Velvet Crush
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Trouser Press ''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference to ...

'' and The Paint Set. The long association between Chastain and Menck began in 1987 with the

indie pop Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and sub ...

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 was a British independent record label active in Bristol between 1987 and 1995, best known for its recordings of indie pop, which it released mostly on 7" singles. On reaching the catalogue number SARAH 100, the label celebrated it ...

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

sound, the duo formed Velvet Crush in 1989, with Jeffery Borchardt of

.Strong, Martin C. (2003) "Velvet Crush", in ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, After three singles on

Bus Stop Records A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a road vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van. It is most commonly used in public transport, but is also in use for ...

, the band released a

cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...

Teenage Fanclub Teenage Fanclub are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in Bellshill near Glasgow in 1989. The group were founded by Norman Blake (vocals, guitar), Raymond McGinley (vocals, lead guitar) and Gerard Love (vocals, bass), all of whom shared ...

's "Everything Flows", as an extra track on the CD Single of 'Ash & Earth, on Seminal Twang, run by David Barker of

Glass Records Glass Records was a British independent record label which operated from 1981 to 1990, and was resurrected in 2015. Glass Vintage 1981–1990 Glass was one of the key London-based indie labels of the 1980s. Early releases focused on artists f ...

, who was in charge of the Paperhouse label for Fire Records at this time. Paperhouse were keen to release the first Velvet Crush LP, but they chose to sign to

Creation Records Creation Records Ltd. was a British independent record label founded in 1983 by Alan McGee, Dick Green, and Joe Foster. Its name came from the 1960s band The Creation, whom McGee greatly admired. The label ceased operations in 1999, although ...

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 Anthony James Duffy (born 30 May 1960 in Alum Rock, Birmingham, England) is an English musician, singer and songwriter. He was a founding member, vocalist, bassist and then drummer of Duran Duran. He went on to record as a solo perform ...

'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. In 2015 David Barker revived his

label, and reissued ''In the Presence of Greatness'' on vinyl in October 2018 on the Glass Modern imprint. In July 2019 Menck and Chastain reunited with Underhill and added Jason-Victor on lead guitar for a mini-reunion tour of New England.

Discography

Choo Choo Train

Singles

*"This Perfect Day" (1987) Picture Book *''The Briar Rose'' EP (1988) The Subway Organization *"High" single 7" (1989) The Subway Organization *"High" EP 12" (1989) The Subway Organization

Compilation Album

*''Briar High (The 1988 Singles)'' (1992) The Subway Organization

The Springfields

*"Sunflower" (1988)

Sarah Sarah (born Sarai) is a biblical matriarch and prophetess, a major figure in Abrahamic religions. While different Abrahamic faiths portray her differently, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all depict her character similarly, as that of a piou ...

( UK indie No. 8)Lazell, Barry (1997) ''Indie hits 1980-1989'', Cherry Red Books, *"Tomorrow Ends Today" (1991) Picture Book *"Wonder" (1991) Sarah *"Tranquil" (1991) Seminal Twang/Summershine

Bag-O-Shells

*"Markers" (1988 - 7" - Bus Stop) *"Pocket Book" (1990 - 7" - Bus Stop)

Paul Chastain & Ric Menck

*''Hey Wimpus: The Early Recordings of Paul Chastain & Ric Menck'' (1998) Action Musik

Velvet Crush

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) Epic *''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) Seminal Twang (UK) (includes Everything Flows on the CD version) *"Ash & Earth" (1991) Bus Stop (US) *"Window to the World" (1992) Creation *''The Post Greatness EP'' (1992) Creation *"Drive Me Down" (1992) Creation *"Remember the Lightning" (1994) The Bob magazine (split flexi disc with Guided by Voices) *"Hold Me Up" (1994) Parasol *"Hold Me Up" (1994) Creation *"Why Not Your Baby" (1995) Creation *"Gentle Breeze" (2000) Bobsled

References

External links

1994 interview with Ric Menck on Ready Steady Go

Velvet Crush
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Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'' {{Authority control American power pop groups American alternative country groups American folk rock groups Creation Records artists Musical groups from Providence, Rhode Island 550 Music artists