The Velveteers

The Velveteers

The Velveteers are an alternative rock group from Colorado, active since 2014. The band is built around Demi Demitro, Johnny Fig and Baby Pottersmith, with Demitro on guitar and a playing style shaped by long hours of practice while growing up in Boulder.

Sound and performance

The Velveteers are known for a heavy, agile rock sound with theatrical and idiosyncratic guitar work. Their live shows develop a reputation for intensity, helped by Demitro’s baritone guitar and the band’s conjoined drum setup with Baby Pottersmith and Jonny Fig. Their music draws on rock history while aiming to sound immediate rather than retro.

Recording and collaboration

Clips of the band’s live performances and DIY videos reach Dan Auerbach, who invites them to his Nashville studio to record Nightmare Daydream. Auerbach produces the release and also works with Demitro on “Charmer And The Snake,” which the band records in the first few takes. The song is described as being about older men in music scenes who present themselves as charming while trying to take advantage of others.

Writing and themes

Demitro describes the group’s aim as sounding like a band of the present rather than one from another era. Nightmare Daydream presents their sound as stripped back to basic rock elements such as riff, rhythm and snarl, then rebuilt in their own style.