The Velveteers Live at The Basement East
The first time I heard The Velveteers was in a TikTok with their song “Charmer and the Snake” and I immediately followed them and ran to Spotify. To say they are unique is a total understatement. It is hard to put a name to it or box them into any genre because there is nothing else like it. To top it all off, they have perfected their image with an incomparable stage presence and dreamy visuals. From their music videos to sequined zebra print jumpsuits to a hand-rhinestoned drum kit, nothing compares to what The Velveteers are bringing to the rock n’ roll scene.
The Velveteers are a three-piece rock band formed in Boulder, Colorado in 2014. They are fronted by singer and guitarist Demi Demitro, and feature dual drummers, Baby Pottersmith and Jonny Fig. Two drummers coupled with Demitro’s baritone guitar creates a recipe for a sound unlike anything you have heard before. It is loud, heavy, raw, and totally its own thing. They have played with The Black Keys, Greta Van Fleet, The Rival Sons, and The Smashing Pumpkins and are currently touring with The Blue Stones. Last week, The Velveteers took the stage at The Basement East in Nashville, Tennessee with an electrifying energy and a presence that demanded nothing short of everyone’s undivided attention.
The stage was decorated with mannequins - some headless, some not - and everything was covered in rhinestones. Pottersmith and Fig took the stage first and took a seat at a conjoined drum kit where they gave a thunderous welcome to Demitro as she took center stage. Her presence is enigmatic and it was almost impossible to look away if not for the palpable energy coming from Pottersmith and Fig’s drumming. Their chemistry is unlike anything I have seen before. They all demanded the spotlight but never stole it from each other.
They opened the show with “Beauty Queens” from their 2021 album Nightmare Daydream. During the breakdown, Demitro played a distorted solo while Pottersmith and Figs pounded out a heavy barrage of drums. The two drummers are perfectly synced up and have such a dynamic sound that sets them apart from anyone else. They played other hits from the album, including “Motel #27”, “Father of Lies”, and one of my favorites, “Choking”. “Choking” features one of my favorite vocal performances by Demitro. You get the full range of raw and almost angry questioning, to a softer side of her voice towards the end of the song. Midway through their set, Pottersmith brought a drum out to the crowd and fans held it up for them as they hammered away it. Similarly, Demitro jumped off the stage and ran around and sang with everyone. Their stage presence alone is remarkable, but the level of crowd involvement takes them to another level. Towards the end of their set, they played fan favorite, “Charmer and the Snake”. Figs stepped out from behind the drums to join Demitro on guitar creating a powerful combination of both of their sounds. They closed out the night with “Dark Horse”, featuring the most impressive drumming performance of the night. Demitro placed her
guitar on top of the crowds outstretched hand and used a cellphone as a slide, while Figs doubled on drums and keys, and Pottersmith pounded away at the drums making for an explosive ending to a fantastic show.
It is safe to say that there are big things in store for The Velveteers. They are pioneering their own sound and no one is going to stand in their way. They are truly original and they know who they are and are well on their way to dominating the rock n’ roll scene.