The preliminary stage of Chaperone was merely a solo side project by Shaun Paul, a Chicago-based musician that plays mandolin, guitar, and sings. He then corralled some of his friends to help assist him in the recording booth, which is really an apartment, as it always is for the undiscovered. When things went awry with his previous band, Paul put more time into the development of Chaperone and now a year later since the band’s existence, things are picking up and people are noticing — like us here at CoS.

Chaperone was treading some rough waters back in ‘09. While Paul tried to be the backbone of the band by organizing rehearsals, writing lyrics, and music, some members of the band quit, new ones joined, and peculiar instruments were being thrown into the mix. “First we weren’t a band, then we were, then we really were, then we were a little band, now we’re a really big band,” says the band’s percussionist, Thom Des Enfants. Now that the seven members of Chaperone have found some stability, they can consider themselves a genuine act.

It’s strange to think that Chaperone started as a solo project because it’s incredibly collaborative. Des Enfants describes the band’s style of production as a “free-for-all.” The more joint participation, the easier and more fluid the process. The few songs that Chaperone has recorded reflect the band’s former landscape of uncertainty and precariousness. At times, the band is exuberantly upbeat and harmonious, almost shout-y sing-a-long jangle pop.

The song “Waltzing Topside” suggests something different. While the arrangements rely on the riffs of the guitar, rattle snake shakers, whistles, tambourines, and horns make the lonesome, simple twang of the two female vocalists sound so good for a newbie band. Though their repertoire is small, Chaperone’s songs fail to bore. With inspirations that come from Fleetwood Mac to Broken Social Scene, how can you not be intrigued? They may not be polished enough for radio play, but there is something to admire here.

The one self-released EP that Chaperone has recorded and released was done when it was just Paul’s project. The band is now working on mastering a new EP and its expected release date is late spring. Des Enfants describes the new material as “messy, heartfelt, and fun.

In the meantime, the band has been busy touring around the Midwest with no plans to stop any time soon. In fact, Chaperone will also be heading down to Austin, TX for this year’s SXSW Festival, where they will be hitting up parties (including one very snazzy Friday bill). As they continue to play together, this band can’t go anywhere else but up.

Check Out:
“Witches & Sailors”