Onstage company
Documented collaborators
Square - Band emerged from Lincoln, Nebraska in 1999 as a trio driven by Sean Beste (vocals/keys), James Valentine (guitar), and Ryland Steen (drums). A breakthrough win in an Ernie Ball–sponsored band competition, defeating about 600 entrants, put them on the radar of rock and pop audiences. Their debut album, This Magnificent Nonsense (also released as This Magnificent), arrived around the turn of the millennium on Lucy Smith Music, blending rock and pop with jazz-fusion influences. Over the years, Square built a reputation for a keyboard-driven indie/pop sound with broad appeal, and guitarist James Valentine would later join Kara’s Flowers—an early chapter of what became Maroon 5. In 2025, Square reissued This Magnificent Nonsense on Bandcamp as a self-released record featuring the original core lineup. Today, we’ve got you covered with possible show opportunities, deep-dive history, and useful links for fans and new listeners alike.