Square (band)

Last updated
Square
Also known asHappy Dog
Origin Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
Genres Rock, pop, jazz fusion
Years active1999–2001
Past membersSean Beste
James Valentine
Ryland Steen
Website squaresounds.com

Square was a short-lived musical trio from Lincoln, Nebraska who moved to Southern California in early 2000. It was composed of Sean Beste (vocals and keyboards), James Valentine (guitars) and Ryland Steen (drums). Their sound has been described as including elements of rock, pop, and jazz fusion.

Contents

The band moved to Orange County after entering an Ernie Ball-sponsored band competition. They won the grand prize, beating 600 other entrants. [1] Shortly after winning the competition, they released their only full-length album, This Magnificent Nonsence, on an indie label called Lucy Smith Music. The band started playing many gigs in the area, including some with local band Kara's Flowers.

In 2001, the members of Kara's Flowers asked Valentine to join their group, an invitation that he accepted, effectively dissolving Square. Kara's Flowers changed its name to Maroon 5 and became one of the most commercially successful acts of the mid-2000s. Steen later joined the established ska band Reel Big Fish. Beste (who was initially upset and unhappy by Valentine's decision to leave Square but says he no longer harbors any ill will) started a band called The Excuse and moved to Portland, Oregon for several years. [2] [3] He has since returned to the Los Angeles area and has done some work with the band Maxeen.

Band members

1999 – 2001

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Sturr</span> American musician

James W. Sturr Jr. is an American polka musician, trumpeter, clarinetist, saxophonist and leader of Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra. Media outlets have often dubbed him the "King of Polka," with his recordings having won 18 out of the 24 Grammy Awards given for Best Polka Album. Sturr's orchestra is on the Top Ten List of the All-Time Grammy Awards, and has acquired more Grammy nominations than anyone in the history of musical polka awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Primal Scream</span> Scottish rock band

Primal Scream are a Scottish rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie (vocals) and Jim Beattie. The band's current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes (guitar), Simone Butler (bass), and Darrin Mooney (drums). Barrie Cadogan has toured and recorded with the band since 2006 as a replacement after the departure of guitarist Robert "Throb" Young.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maroon 5</span> American pop rock band

Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. It consists of lead vocalist Adam Levine, rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, lead guitarist James Valentine, drummer Matt Flynn, keyboardist PJ Morton and multi-instrumentalist and bassist Sam Farrar. Original members Levine, Carmichael, bassist Mickey Madden, and drummer Ryan Dusick first came together as Kara's Flowers in 1994, while they were in high school.

<i>The Fourth World</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Karas Flowers

The Fourth World is the second studio album and major label debut by the band Kara's Flowers, who later achieved greater success under the name Maroon 5. The album contains 11 tracks, plus one bonus track on the Japanese edition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Save Ferris</span> American ska punk band

Save Ferris is an American ska punk band formed circa 1995 in Orange County, California, United States. Their name is a reference to the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. In 1995, the band began to perform underground venues in Southern California. In 1996, the band won a Grammy showcase award for best unsigned band and a contract with Epic Records. Their album It Means Everything from 1997 was their first full-length album. By 1999, the band moved from ska-pop into pop-punk. After a hiatus, in 2017, Save Ferris released the Checkered Past EP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Carmichael</span> American musician (born 1979)

Jesse Royal Carmichael is an American musician, best known as the keyboardist and rhythm guitarist for the pop rock band, Maroon 5. He is one of only two remaining original members of the group, along with frontman Adam Levine. He also has a solo project called 1863 and a side project titled Circuit Jerks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Valentine (musician)</span> American guitarist (born 1978)

James Burgon Valentine is an American musician who is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the pop band Maroon 5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMX Bandits (band)</span> Scottish pop rock band

BMX Bandits are a Scottish guitar pop band formed in Bellshill in 1986. Led by songwriter and lead vocalist Duglas T. Stewart, their music is heavily influenced by 1960s pop. They have shared members with numerous other local bands, including Teenage Fanclub and the Soup Dragons. BMX Bandits were a favourite band of Kurt Cobain, who said "If I could be in any other band, it would be BMX Bandits". In 2011, they were the subject of the documentary Serious Drugs: A Film About BMX Bandits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Elected</span> American indie rock group

The Elected are a Los Angeles–based indie rock band. The Elected have released two albums with Sub Pop: Me First in 2004, and Sun, Sun, Sun in 2006. A third album, Bury Me In My Rings, was released on 17 May 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suburban Legends</span> American ska punk band

Suburban Legends are an American ska punk band that formed in Huntington Beach, California, in 1998 and later based themselves in nearby Santa Ana. After building a fanbase in the Orange County ska scene through their numerous regular performances at the Disneyland Resort, a series of lineup changes in 2005 introduced elements of funk and disco into the group's style.

<i>It Wont Be Soon Before Long</i> 2007 studio album by Maroon 5

It Won't Be Soon Before Long is the second studio album by American pop rock band Maroon 5. It was released on May 16, 2007, by A&M Octone Records, as the follow-up to their debut album, Songs About Jane (2002). The name was inspired by a phrase the band adopted to keep themselves motivated while on their tour.

"Not Falling Apart" is a song by American pop rock band Maroon 5 from the group's second studio album, It Won't Be Soon Before Long (2007). Although the original version wasn't released as a single, a remix of the song was released as a single and charted at number 3 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. It was written by band frontman Adam Levine, with production of the song helmed by Mike Elizondo, Mark "Spike" Stent and Maroon 5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mickey Madden</span> American bassist (born 1979)

Michael Allen Madden is an American musician and a former bassist for the pop band Maroon 5.

Stiff Valentine is a Canadian heavy metal band from Vancouver, British Columbia. Their synthesis of genre has been called "Industrial-EBM-Hard-Rock-Synth-Pop-Punk".

<i>Aftershock 2005</i> 1996 studio album by Mutiny

Aftershock 2005 is the fourth album by Jerome Brailey's funk band Mutiny. The album was initially released in 1996 by the Polystar label in Japan, and then by Rykodisc Records in the U.S. and UK. The album possesses a more rock-oriented feel than previous Mutiny albums. The album features guest appearances from former P-Funk bandmates Bernie Worrell and Michael Hampton. "Aftershock 2005" was one of the last albums released through producer Bill Laswell's Black Arc series.

<i>Overexposed</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Maroon 5

Overexposed is the fourth studio album by American pop band Maroon 5. It was released on June 20, 2012, by A&M Octone Records. The album was recorded between 2011 and 2012 and was driven after the moderate success of their third album, Hands All Over (2010), and later by the enormous success of the re-released edition, which was promoted by the single "Moves Like Jagger", recorded as a collaboration with Christina Aguilera. It is the band's only album not to feature keyboardist, rhythm guitarist and background vocalist Jesse Carmichael, who took a temporary break from performing with the group to focus on his studies and was replaced by musician PJ Morton. The band worked with different producers, such as Max Martin, who serves as the album's executive producer, Ryan Tedder, Shellback and Benny Blanco. Guitarist James Valentine only has four writing credits on the album.

"Unkiss Me" is a song by American pop rock band Maroon 5. It is featured as the fourth track on band's fifth studio album, V (2014). Despite the song's popularity, it has never been performed live by the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kero Kero Bonito</span> British indie pop band

Kero Kero Bonito (KKB) are a British indie pop band formed in South London in 2011. The band consists of vocalist Sarah Midori Perry and producers and multi-instrumentalists Gus Lobban and Jamie Bulled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whiskey (Maroon 5 song)</span> 2017 promotional single by Maroon 5 featuring ASAP Rocky

"Whiskey" is a song recorded by American band Maroon 5 featuring American rapper ASAP Rocky. It was released on October 20, 2017, as the second promotional single from the band's sixth studio album Red Pill Blues (2017). The song was written by Adam Levine, Rakim Mayers, John Ryan, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, and Tinashe Sibanda and was produced by John Ryan, Maxime Devaux and JKash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryland Steen</span> American drummer (born 1980)

Ryland Steen is an American drummer who was drummer for ska punk band Reel Big Fish from 2005 to 2014 and is the current drummer for soft rock band America since 2014. He has also performed with Maroon 5, Kris Allen, and Phantom Planet.

References

  1. Kane, Rich (August 17, 2000). "What's that Sound? The buzz about Square". Orange County Weekly. Archived from the original on February 27, 2008.
  2. Kane, Rich (May 5, 2005). "Starstruck: Square should've had what Maroon 5 got". Orange County Weekly. Archived from the original on February 27, 2008.
  3. "Official website of The Excuse". Archived from the original on March 12, 2007.