The Velveteers Delivered Authentic Rock and Roll at the Bluebird

Anticipation was high when the doors opened to the Bluebird Theater on April 26. The night's show was a stacked bill, with some of the best rock bands in Denver: funk-rock act May Be Fern and indie-rockers Tiny Tomboy opening for the Velveteers, the breakout trio from Boulder that Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach signed to his label, Easy Eye Sound, in 2020. After that came the band's debut album, Nightmare Daydream, and tour gigs opening for Guns N' Roses, Greta Van Fleet and Smashing Pumpkins.

Now, the Velveteers have released an excellent sophomore follow-up, A Million Knives, and are touring in support of the searing full-length.
May Be Fern kicked off the evening with vigor. The set was a standout, belting out original tunes from the band's 2023 debut album, Okay, Grandma, Your Turn, and sharing a new single, "Old Ways Die," released the day of the show. Guitarist Madi Spillman absolutely shredded as Kate Fern bowed low with her bass, and Hannah May maintained a cascade of keys while new drummer Ian Spillman held down the beat. It's impossible not to grin ear to ear while watching May Be Fern, whose members share an infectious energy and kinship that fuses with the funky music. Next up, Tiny Tomboy shared its powerful sound. This trio is another of Denver's best, bringing heavy inflections to indie-rock sonics that underscore intensely vulnerable lyrics. Comprising vocalist/guitarist Eliza Neiman-Golden, drummer Sam Seymour and bassist Ethan Gould, the band performed songs from its sophomore album, Psychic Scar, which won an award for Best Indie-Rock Album this year. The band demonstrated that its visceral sound isn't limited to the studio, delivering a raucous set that saw crowd surfers riding the tunes as Neiman-Golden made her guitar sing while sitting astride Gould's shoulders. Phones immediately shot into the air to capture the moment.
The vibes were high, and the Velveteers were about to make them peak. Two drum kits were rolled onto the stage atop pink platforms, complementing the entire setup: a giant pink heart emblazoned with "the Velveteers" hung in the center behind the band, framed by a large, silver crescent moon and smiling orange sun. It evoked a dreamy, '80s glam-rock aesthetic that the members themselves lean into — and as they strode onto the stage, the crowd roared. Demi Demitro, decked out in a sparkling hot-pink ensemble, came to her spot at center stage, while Baby Pottersmith, also in pink sequins, and Jonny Fig sat at their kits. What followed was a pristine demonstration of raw, authentic rock and roll. The band's new album is an amalgamation of unfettered, youthful creativity navigating the complexities of social strata and adulthood, and Demitro sang new songs such as "On and On" with abandon as Pottersmith and Fig bashed on their drums. The sound was intense and unadulterated, evoking that primal spirit for which rock and roll thrives. Demitro owned the stage like a rock demigod, casting a spell with her guitar that had us headbanging, crowd surfing, moshing and dancing. And she crowd surfed, too, while offering a guitar solo at the same time.  
Throughout the night, it felt as if the Bluebird had transformed into some form of the famed NYC punk club CBGB. It was a reminder that rock and roll is not only alive but reaching new heights, thanks to the ingenuity of these Colorado bands.

See more photos from the show below: Find more concerts in Denver on our concert calendar.