Square (band)

Square (the band) is a rock-pop trio from Lincoln, Nebraska who moved out to Southern California in early 2000. It is comprised of Sean Beste on vocals and keyboards, James Valentine on guitar, and Ryland Steen on drums.

The OC Weekly remarked, "The buzz on Square is huge: various next big thing plaudits have been tossed around, and when the hype gets this intense, we pay attention." Did this band called "square" come out of nowhere? Well, almost. . . they actually came from Nebraska. At the center of this buzz is a sound that is truly unique. Driven by the keyboards, breezy vocals and catchy songs of Sean Beste, Square is an amalgamation of many influences, but all of them so faint that their sound can only be called original. Beste, greatly influenced by singer-songwriters such as Elvis Costello, writes nearly a song every day. Because of the piano's large role in the sound of the band, the comparison is often made to the piano-driven rock of Elton John, and more recently Ben Folds Five. The jazz influence and flawless musicianship often leads to comparisons to Steely Dan and more recently, Jamiroquai. However, the frenzied live show led one onlooker to note, "It's like Steely Dan on speed." The unique stylings of guitarist James Valentine (Maroon 5) and driving beat of drummer Ryland Steen (Audiovent, Reel Big Fish) round out this adventurous power-trio. At the root of what Square is though is the songs. Beste's pop sensibility shines through as the band frames his hooks with musicianship that has been absent from pop music for awhile. Indeed, this ambitious young trio's mission is to restore art and musicality to pop music. Perhaps Square's unique sound can be attributed to the bleak musical scene in which square developed. It has often been suggested that the isolation of the midwest from the more developed coast music scenes can be fertile breeding ground for fresh, new ideas and sounds. Formed by three high school friends in late 1999, the trio wasted no time in making a name for itself in the midwest, playing to packed clubs before leaving the harsh Nebraska winter for sunny California. Following the lead of other successful Nebraska transplants such as 311 and Matthew Sweet, Square headed west in search of more playing opportunities. In Feburary of 2000, Square won the 2000 National Ernie Ball battle of the Bands out of an initial pool of 5,500 bands. The band won $25,000 and an introduction to their new scene. Since then, Square has shared the stage with such bands as Reel Big Fish, and Save Ferris and began to build their new West Coast following through numerous club dates, as well as Radio and Television appearances. The band has also taped performances for the music website LAUNCH.com. Besides all of this activity, the boys from Square are adjusting to their new west coast lives. As Valentine noted, "We love California. We always imagined months or years of struggle out here for any recognition in the sea of bands that flood the scene, but we've been real lucky in the short amount of time we've been here."