Washington Squares
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Defunct | 1991 (initial breakup) |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Music albums |
The Washington Squares represented a revivalist folk ensemble inspired by early 1960s groups such as The Kingston Trio and Peter, Paul and Mary. Drawing their name from New York City's Washington Square Park, they captured the essence of the Greenwich Village folk movement. The band included members Bruce Jay Paskow, Tom Goodkind, and Lauren Agnelli.
Their musical approach merged the progressive, leftist folk revival spirit of the Kennedy administration with a layer of post-punk irony characteristic of the Reagan years. Paskow had roots in the punk outfit The Invaders; Agnelli was previously involved with Nervus Rex and contributed to the Village Voice; Goodkind gained recognition for founding and managing prominent Manhattan alternative venues like Irving Plaza, the Peppermint Lounge, and Roseland Ballroom.
Extensive research into traditional folk tunes shaped their song selection, including dispatching Goodkind to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., for archival exploration. Their performances included renditions of well-known folk standards such as "Greenback Dollar" and "Samson and Delilah," alongside politically infused original compositions like "You Can't Kill Me," which addressed the assassination of San Francisco's openly gay politician Harvey Milk.
The band produced two studio albums: The Washington Squares, recorded at Electric Lady Studios under producer Mitch Easter—renowned for his work with R.E.M.—and Fair and Square, which was overseen by Steve Soles, associated with Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue. Additionally, there are plans to release three further albums featuring previously unreleased tracks.
After Paskow passed away in 1994, the group dissolved but later regrouped for a tribute performance at New York City's The Bottom Line, which showcased performances by notable artists including David Johansen and Lenny Kaye.
Following the band's breakup, Agnelli continued to perform intermittently and lent her vocals to Brave Combo. Meanwhile, Goodkind shifted from music management to leading the volunteer orchestra TriBattery Pops near the World Trade Center site and participated actively in a Manhattan community board. The band reunited once more in 2018 for a sold-out concert at City Winery alongside Peter Yarrow; Goodkind died in 2019 from cancer linked to 9/11 exposure, aged 65.
Recordings
- The Washington Squares (1987)
- Fair and Square (1989)
- From Greenwich Village, the Complete Washington Squares (1997)
- Monsters of Folk Vol. 1 Sessions 1983 - 1985 (2016)
- Folk Riot Vol. 2 Sessions 1985 - 1987 (2018)
- Folk Riot Vol. 3 Sessions 1987 - 1990 (2020)
- Folk Riot Vol. 4 Sessions 2018 - Live at the City Winery - Video (2018)