Pioneering shoegazers The Veldt are about to kick off their North American tour. With dozens of shows to keep them on the road steadily, their gigs include an appearance at the now-revived Black Angels-associated super psych rock festival Levitation in Austin, Texas, as well as some one-off dates with legendary American alternative band Violent Femmes. In addition, they’ve been invited to participate in a live performance at Seattle’s KEXP after receiving extensive airplay there throughout this year.
Folks can expect to hear some materials from the band’s forthcoming ‘Illuminated 1989′ album, which Cocteau Twins’ Robin Guthrie, produced in autumn 1989 and subsequently remastered in 2023. While this record was intended to be the band’s first album, their label Capitol Records shelved the recording (resulting in the debut album now known to us as ‘Marigolds’ being produced by Lincoln Fong of Moose).
To date, they’ve released the lead track‘The Everlasting Gobstopper’ and latest single ‘Aurora Borealis’, the original 1989 version produced by which also sees Elizabeth Fraser make a cameo appearance on backing vocals towards the end. Complementary to this A-side is theB-side remix, created by The Veldt around the turn of the century.
One of the most notable first-wave shoegaze bands, formed in North Carolina in the 1980s, The Veldt surrounds identical twins Daniel Chavis (vocals, guitar) and Danny Chavis (guitar). Their unique sound was influenced by Cocteau Twins as readily as Marvin Gaye and free-jazz warriors Sun Ra and Pharaoh Sanders. Referencing European post-punk while embracing modern hip-hop, these trailblazers work with transient dreamscapes as fluidly as solid song structures.
Pitchfork included The Veldt’s album ‘Afrodisiac’, produced by the legendary Ray Shulman (The Sundays, Bjork, The Sugarcubes) and released via Mercury Records, in the top 50 shoegaze albums ever released, while Stereogum included ‘Until You’re Forever’ in the top 31 shoegaze tracks. Their sound also inspired future generations of alternative artists, including TV On the Radio.
The Veldt’s journey is fascinating. Performing since they were children, the Chavis brothers’ musical roots lead back to the church and southern juke-joints, and listening to music that included gospel, Motown and Pink Floyd. The Veldt formed in the late 80’s in Raleigh amongst the legendary North Carolina music scene of the time, initially signing with Mammoth Records – leading to a chain of major-label relationships that took the group across Europe and the U.S. playing shows with the likes of Throwing Muses, Pixies, Cocteau Twins and Jesus & Mary Chain.
After moving from Raleigh to New York, they briefly performed as Apollo Heights before returning to their original name The Veldt. Joined by Japanese bassist-programmer Hayato Nakao, they together forging music that is a heady and sensual blend of shoegaze and progressive soul, dreamy soundscapes and infectious grooves. Some of the band’s recent notable releases include‘The Shocking Fuzz Of Your Electric Fur’ EP (2017) and the album ‘Entropy is the Mainline to God’ (2022).
Over the years, The Veldt has collaborated with TV On The Radio, Mos Def, Lady Miss Kier (Deee-Lite), A.R.Kane and toured or played with Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Pixies, Throwing Muses, Echo & The Bunnymen, Cocteau Twins, Manic Street Preachers, Phantogram, Modern English, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Oasis, Chuck D, Living Colour and Schooly D.
‘Aurora Borealis’ is now available everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify andBandcamp. On November 24, the ‘Illuminated 1989’ album will be released on vinyl, CD, cassette and digitally via Portland-based Little Cloud Records and 5BC Records. From October through December, The Veldt will be touring the USA in support of this release with an appearance at Levitation Festival, performance at Seattle’s KEXP, and exclusive dates supporting Violent Femmes.
CREDITS
‘Illuminated 1989’ released via 5BC Records and Little Cloud Records Danny Chavis – guitar
Daniel Chavis – vocals, guitar, lyrics
Marvin Levi – drums
Joseph Hue Boyle – bass
Elizabeth Fraser – additional vocals
Robin Guthrie – programming, additional guitars
Lincoln Fong – programming
Written by Danny and Daniel Chavis
Recorded and produced at September Sound by Robin Guthrie
The Veldt photo by Teresa Moore
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
TOUR DATES
SAT 10/21 = Norfolk, VA @ The Norva with Violent Femmes
SUN 10/22 = Richmond, VA @ The National with Violent Femmes
TUE 10/24 = Nashville, TN @ the Underdog
WED 10/25 = Memphis, TN @ Growlers
THU 10/26 = Little Rock, AR @ EJ’s Eats & Drinks
FRI 10/27 = Dallas / Denton / Fort Worth, TX – TBD
SAT 10/28 = Austin, TX (as part of Levitation Festival)
MON 11/27 = Atlanta, GA @ 529
TUE 11/28 = Birmingham, AL
WED 11/29 = New Orleans, LA
THU 11/30 = Houston, TX @ 1810 Ojeman with EMP and Diptera
FRI 12/1 = Austin, TX @ Hotel Vegas
SAT 12/2 = Silver City, NM @ Whiskey Creek Zocalo with Tremours
SUN 12/3 = Phoenix, AZ @ Linger Longer Lounge with Tremours
MON 12/4 = San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar with Tremours
TUE 12/5 = Los Angeles, CA @ Gold Diggers with Tremours
WED 12/6 = San Francisco, CA @ Kilowatt with Tremours
THU 12/7 = Portland, OR @ Show Bar with Tremours and Sun Atoms
FRI 12/8 = Seattle, WA @ the Central Saloon (as part of TremoloFest)
SAT 12/9 = Vancouver, BC
SUN 12/10 = Bellingham, WA @ The Shakedown with Tremours
TUE 12/12 = Olympia, WA @ Le Voyeur
WED 12/13 = Tacoma, WA
THU 12/14 = Seattle, WA @ KEXP
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