Twins Matt and Jason Doctor, and Brian Krumm and Brian Hunt of The Suede Chain have been playing together since sixth grade, and it shows.

“We are all very diverse, yet we share a common thread,” Hunt explained. “We’ve played together for well over 10 years and have developed a very close-knit, almost extended family. Just last week, two of us and our engineer spent Thanksgiving together in the studio.

“When we are playing, we always know what everyone else is going to do.”

Based out of Champaign, Ill., the quartet grew up in the nearby suburb of Collinsville. The Chain’s Mud Records (Hum, Hardvark) debut, Ripplemark, has been a St. Louis favorite since its arrival.

“We need a phrase to describe our style, but I would say that we weld a few together,” Hunt said. “We are mysteriously Midwestern, if I had to choose two words. Our last disc was recorded in a haunted theater so the feel is a bit mysterious.”

Mysterious is nothing new for The Suede Chain. The band’s success over the years often plagues the band with similar feelings.

“When we look at our junior high video tape from a cable access show we used to do and then look at how well ‘Daisy Dawn’ has done on commercial radio, it’s amazing. That song just really took off,” Hunt said. “We’ve come along way, and that’s special to everyone.”

The band’s success spawned off into rock opera. Rust, performed in late 1992, featured video, slide photography and dance. Their latest production, Dream Wheel Circus, featured local painters, artists, filmmakers and photographers. It was performed in front of silhouettes of the band, created from a hanging white sheet that separated the loft in which they performed.

“It’s hard to make a living off rock opera,” he said. “It’s fun to do; we have decided to stick to music.”

Along with Rust came new band members: violinist Mary Weingartner and cellist Jake Brookman. Among the originals, Matt plays guitars and handles vocals, Jason takes over percussion, Krumm adds lead guitar and Hunt caps off the lineup at bass.

“The newcomers made the sound a lot bigger, not to mention add two new writers,” Hunt explained. “We all really clicked from day one. Our musical influences are so different, it’s surprising. Matt is into swing, Jason’s into classical — we pretty much listen to all styles. There isn’t just one band that sticks out.”

The Chain has done showcases at both the South by Southwest and Memphis Crossroads Festivals. The quartet has also played with The Drovers, Poi Dog Pondering, Drivin’ & Cryin’, Matthew Sweet and a host of others. They are set to record in February.

“Adam does a great studio job,” Hunt said. “Our records sound a lot like a live show. We’ll record a song 20 or 30 times before we catch the magic behind it.”

The Suede Chain frontman is said to be Matt, who wrote a large bulk of the material on Ripplemark.

“We don’t have a particular formula for writing music,” Hunt added. “One of us will start with a basic structure and work on it with someone from the band. We all have finished songs on the disc.”

The bands future plans include lining up a headlining tour in 1996 to support their new album. The boys are also negotiating a deal for a song on the soundtrack of a new feature movie. As far as describing the band’s name, they have a long ways to go.

“Eight years, the concept behind our name was very deep, but that’s not so much anymore. It has something to do with the element of being connected,” Hunt said. “I think it now more represents something for everyone to enjoy, something diverse.”

The Suede Chain plays The Memorial Union M-Shop on Saturday night with a North Carolina band, June, opening.

The show is scheduled for 9 p.m. and all tickets are $4; $5 the day of the show.