IndieRec Interview with The Velvet Crush July, 2003
By Dave DiSanzo
http://www.indierec.com

For over ten years now Velvet Crush have been creating sincere pop music by injecting rock tunes with varying degrees of sunshine harmonies, thrashy guitar chords, heart felt lyrics, emotion-laden guitar solos, country vibes, and 100% melody. In the studio they could lay down the prettiest sounds just as competently as they could create balls-out rock on stage for their many adoring die-hard followers. With five full length albums and an array of singles and EPs behind them, the band, now with their own record label called Action Musik distributed by the fine folks at Parasol, have been taking it upon themselves to revisit and reissue their back catalog bit by bit. The latest release is an expanded and remastered version of their 1999 "Free Expression" release, which was co-produced by the band and Matthew Sweet (a long time VC collaborator). The new disc boasts improved sound, track by track liner notes by the band, the Japanese-only bonus track, track count off's (!), and an entire extra disc containing the original demos for the album, including one that didn't originally appear on the record (but was re-worked up later). You can get all this for only 14 bucks through Parasol mail order by clicking here. I recommend that you do!

Velvet Crush primarily consists of two great friends, Paul Chastain and Ric Menck. They are pretty much in charge, writing the songs and performing nearly all of the instruments on this release. Additional musicianship comes courtesy of friends Matthew Sweet, David Gibbs (of the excellent Gigolo Aunts), Greg Leisz (studio musician and pedal steelist extraordinaire), and Peter Phillips on additional guitar. As Ric states in the album's new and improved liner notes, the recording of this album saw the band, for the first time in a long while, free from having to please a major label representative. The only ones they had to please were themselves, which is how all the best art gets created. This is the reason that they chose to name the record Free Expression.

All of the albums that Velvet Crush release tend to have a certain vibe that permeates through the entire release. Their debut long player was a rough grunge flavored paean to power pop; an indie rock masterpiece. The follow up was their mature major label effort that demonstrated their musical growth and foray into different musical styles, particularly country. The third album, Heavy Changes concentrated on melodic, balls-out rock, and their most recent record, 2002's Soft Sounds was a collection of intricately delivered ballads.

Free Expression, their fourth album, kind of cohesively summarizes the various stops that the Velvet Crush train has made over the years. There's hints of sweet harmony soaked jangle pop in the single "Goin' To My Head", tender acoustic balladry in "Things Get Better", dynamic horn-driven power pop in "All Together", Beach Boys meets baroque-pop in "On My Side", and even Cosmic American Music (country dream-pop?) in The Gentle Breeze. Somehow even a little late 70's synthy new wave seems to co-mingle with all of this peacefully in the track "Shine on Me". The album also contains some of the best lyrics that they have written.

As a long time VC fan, I was very pleased when Paul Chastain agreed to be interviewed for IndieRec. Read on to learn more about the magic that is the Velvet Crush!

IR: First off, let me ask you about the remastering process on the new disc. For an album that came out only four years ago it does sound a lot brighter! What can you tell me about how the sound was revamped?

PC: We had the disc remastered by our friend, Adam Schmitt in Urbana, Illinois. We were just looking to improve upon the overall sound in any way. Different people will just hear things differently and we liked what Adam had done with a couple of other records we had heard. By the way, we are currently making a new VC record with Mr. Schmitt which will be finished real soon.

IR: That's great news. I'd like to ask some 'record label' questions as you have been affiliated with quite a few over the years. Free Expression was initially released on Bobsled Records. How was your relationship with the folks at Bobsled and did you feel any kinship with other acts on that label such as the Chamber Strings or Waxwings?

PC: Our relationship with Bobsled was fine at the onset of the project but deteriorated into a non-relationship. Things didn't end well. It was basically a licensing deal, as we had made the record on our own. I never felt any kinship with the actual label acts partially because we weren't one.

IR: In addition to Sony and the infamous Creation, Summershine was one label that released some VC singles and the "Ballad of Ric Menck" album a few years ago. Are you still in touch with Jason Reynolds at the label and how was your experience with that label overall?

PC: I, personally, am not in touch with Jason. I never have been, really. Ric may still correspond with him, but I'm not sure.

IR: Action Musik is the label that you operate with Ric I believe (distributed through parasol.com). With the flurry of VC releases, compilations, and reissues, I assume it is a business that you and Ric enjoy and one that will hopefully continue??

PC: We do like it and plan to keep it going. We enjoy a good relationship with Geoff Merritt and Parasol which makes it pretty easy for us to do. It's just easier for us to put our records out this way.

IR: I believe the next Action release is an expanded edition of "The Ballad of Ric Menck". Any chance of a "Ballad of Paulie Chastain" happening? I would love to get your early "Halo" release on CD!

PC: Well, we have discussed doing something like that. We don't really own those recordings but I'm sure if/when we decide to try a re-release we could make it happen. I'm not sure how many people would really be interested in such a thing, though.

IR: If I could pre-order one now, I would! Reaction was your imprint that was used to release the Rolled Gold title by amazing British 60's rockers The Action. It was a terrific reissue. Any plans for other lost gems that may be favorites of yours to be released on that imprint?

PC: I'm not really involved with Reaction but I know that they are planning to release a cd by legendary Champaign, IL garage band, The Vertebrats very soon.

IR: That should be cool. The first time I saw VC live was in July of 1992 at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ. During the course of in between song banter, Ric announced that the innocence of rock and roll is long gone. Then, referring to the early 60's beat groups, he poignantly stated that if "for a split second in one of our songs we can recapture that [feeling of innocence and genuine excitement] we succeed, if we don't we fail." I always found it hard to explain exactly what it is that I like so much about Velvet Crush because that feeling is exactly the feeling that I get from listening to your records. It's the same feeling I got when I first discovered rock and roll and when I first started to dig girls back in the 4th grade or whenever. It is sort of a zest for life. I don't ever want to lose or outgrow those feelings. Jonathan Richman sings about it on his "That Summer Feeling" and you also have a song on Free Expression that encapsulates it for me very nicely, Gentle Breeze. Originally an old demo found on a b-side, the song was beautifully reworked for the album. I get the same chills up my spine when I listen to it as the chills I get when I hear the Byrds' version of Goin' Back on the Notorious album (an influence according to Ric in the liners). In reminiscing on days gone by, the songs sparks that melancholy yet blissful feeling that seems to fade with age. I've heard the term "breezy" used to describe pop songs before, especially West Coast pop tunes by the likes of America or Poco, and I think that the term applies to this song perfectly. Care to offer any insight into this track?

PC: That one of Ric's songs and one of his best, at that, probably. I think the adjectives you mentioned were pretty much what we were going for. Though the song was written quite a while ago, I think it fit perfectly into the sort of west coastified framework and breezy concept which we had for Free Ex. Aided further to that end by the new arrangement and by awesome-as-usual playing by Greg (Leisz) on twelve string and steel.

IR: How is Ric enjoying his ride with LA's The Tyde? Their new album is great!

PC: He's on the road right now. Hopefully, having fun. Look for them in a honky tonk near you.

IR: As well as the Tyde, Ric has been helping out with a lot of LA musicians and even played drums on every track on Matthew Sweet's new Japanese-Only release Kimi Ya Suki x Raifu. Have you been involved with any outside musicians lately? Also, I believe you are living in Rhode Island still, is there a music scene there worth discussing?

PC: Actually, I've recently moved back to Illinois and have been starting to get together with a couple of musical cohorts from my sordid past. I haven't really done much outside stuff, though. Since landing back in the Midwest I've been writing and recording stuff for our new record pretty much full time.

IR: Excellent news for VC fans. Thanks so much for your time.