The Velveteers discuss tour, gas station orders, tight jumpsuits, and new music.
via Makinzie Ford
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ☆
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: The Velveteers
The band discusses tour, gas station orders, tight jumpsuits, and new music.
By Kinzie Ford
May 21, 2023 – Columbus, OH
The Velveteers, based out of Boulder, Colorado, are currently taking the Rock n’ Roll scene by storm. Their glamorous style– paired with a punchy, complex, and energetic discography, and a mesmerizing stage presence– creates an addictively electric atmosphere. Comprised of Demi Demitro (vocals/guitar), Baby Pottersmith (drums), and Jonny Fig (drums/guitar), the talented group have opened for bands like Greta Van Fleet, The Black Keys, The Smashing Pumpkins, and are currently touring with the Blue Stones.
I first saw The Velveteers when they opened for Greta Van Fleet in Kalamazoo, Michigan in early 2022, and instantly fell in love with their sound and style. I have seen them perform countless times since, as openers and headliners, and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them and their music, and watching them grow as artists. This time, I got to sit down with them in Columbus, Ohio at the Newport Music Hall to unpack touring, gas station orders, tight jumpsuits, new music, and much more.
We carefully walked down the compact spiral staircase which led to their green room, down to the backstage area, sneaking behind the thin black curtain that separated us from the Blue Stones’ blaring set and an exhilarated audience. Jonny led the way to the back industrial door, and as we stepped out into the dim evening light, we were met with The Velveteers’ modest touring crew, packing mannequins and equipment into their van to be carried to their next destination. We stepped over cymbals, guitar cases, and other miscellaneous hardware into a back alley where Baby, Demi, and Jonny, found a concrete stoop to sit on, while faint melodies from the show inside surrounded us. Still dressed in their stage outfits, glitter adorning their faces, and the post-show glow apparent, our comfortable conversation steadily transitioned into a discussion of music, style, and life on the road.
Q: What is your favorite part about being on tour with the Blue Stones?
Demi: We haven't been on tour in a couple of months, so it’s really nice to get back out here. Because the shows have been everyday, day after day, it’s been cool to just – experience time. It’s gone by really quick so far.
Baby: We went on tour with some bigger bands last year like Greta [Van Fleet] and the Black Keys, so it’s nice to come back to some smaller venues where you can really see everyone in the crowd.
Jonny: We’re playing a couple new songs, so it’s been fun to play those and test them out in a live setting.
Q: What are your gas station orders while on tour?
Demi: At 7/11 they have this really good cold brew and I get silk milk in it. — That’s kind of boring… I’ll sometimes get pickles! Not always, I have to be in the mood.
Baby: A pickle and a coffee. (laughs)
Jonny: What do I get? — I’ll usually get a coffee and doughnuts.
Baby: I’ve been getting nuts. I’m the only one on the crew who likes almonds and nuts.
Demi: We got [Baby’s shirt] (pictured above) at a gas station! And Baby just got a really cool hat at a gas station.
Q: What is your favorite tour memory, of any tour you’ve been on?
Demi: For me, I think it was that very first Greta Van Fleet show we did. Just walking out to that stadium and all of the fans with their signs – everyone screaming. That was a really exciting, magical feeling.
Baby: That’s mine too.
Jonny: Yeah, same.
Q: Do you have any essential pre-show rituals?
Baby: We have one, yes. Right before we go out [on stage], we all huddle, and Demi will say how we want the show to be fun and we want to have a good time, and then (laughs) we kind of thank the universe.
Demi: We also drink Redbull.
Q: Did you bedazzle your equipment yourself? Whose idea was that?
Baby: Demi has had her amp and pedalboard bedazzled for a couple of years, and every tour we try to change the drum wrap, which we always do ourselves, so we just decided to copy Demi’s amp. But, you should have seen [the drums] like five days ago, it was much more bedazzled! Now [the gems] are all falling off. Every time we leave a show the stage is covered in gems and bedazzled.
(They all laugh at this)
Q: What or who has inspired you most to create the “glam rock” aesthetic and style you have adopted?
Demi: For me, It’s probably David Bowie and Marc Bolan. When I first started listening to Marc Bolan I felt like the album Electric Warrior kind of changed my life.
Baby: Well, we don't want to be taking too much inspiration from the 70s, but then we oftentimes accidentally end up doing that.
Demi & Jonny: (laugh) Yeah…
Baby: I’ll be like “We should maybe dress a little less costume-y,” and then the next tour we’ll dress in super David Bowie[-esque] jumpsuits. So, it’s kind of accidental, our subconscious just wants to do that.
Demi: I think it’s just fun to get dressed up and get way over the top, because where else are you going to do it than on stage?
Baby: We keep doing this thing where [Demi and I’s] costumes get more and more extravagant, but Jonny’s costume keeps toning down. (they all laugh) He’s just in this like two tone, black pants and white shirt. We’re all just kind of becoming more our true selves.
Q: What would you say is your favorite article of clothing that you have worn on stage?
Baby: I can think of so many cringy things I’ve worn or things I regret wearing. (laughs)
K: Well you can tell me that too!
Baby: Well, we were just in New York, and the last time we were there I really embarrassed myself, because I accidentally threw a water bottle at an older woman’s face… like a full water bottle. I [felt like I] had to redeem myself this time around in New York. Another time, Marlena, who sometimes makes our outfits and a lot of Demi’s jumpsuits, made me this really cool cheetah print jumpsuit. It was super, super, super tight, like SUPER tight. I put it on at the last minute, right before we were going out [on stage] and I was wearing women’s underwear and uh… it did not leave anything to the imagination…it was disturbing. (They all laugh) After the show people were tagging me in photos and I was like “Oh my god!” It just looks like it’s my skin! Like it was not ideal! (Laughs)
Jonny: It was so funny listening to the audio of those videos and the screaming, “ahhhhh, ahhhh.” (Jonny cups his hands around his mouth and whisper-screams to mimic the crowd.)
Baby: Yeah! I come out to [have someone in the crowd hold my drum] and I’m wearing the jumpsuit, and people usually scream when I do that, but there’s a video of me and I’m in the jumpsuit and it’s really really tight and people are just screaming really loud because of the drum thing, but seeing the video [out of context] you’re like “...what?” It’s such a funny combination. (They all laugh)
Q: What is your favorite component of your style, the animal print, the glitter, fringe, etc.? What is the most essential “Velveteers?”
Demi: I feel like it’s sequins for myself. I think it’s fun to look like a disco ball.
Jonny: I don’t know… I just don’t know what to wear, so I just end up wearing simple stuff.
K: So what is your essential? What do you need to feel like, “Okay, I’m going on stage right now.”
Jonny: I need a good pair of pants. (Laughs) If my pants are lame, then I feel lame. These are a good pair of pants! (pictured above) I like these ones.
Baby: One thing that I like that we do – [which] we’re not really doing it right now – but a lot of times we’re all wearing white sneakers. Demi has these cool boxing sneakers. I like when we’re super glammed up in cool outfits, but we’re just wearing white sneakers.
K: That is really such a great contrast.
Q: The past few years you’ve certainly gained more popularity as an up and coming rock band, how has the influx of followers and fans impacted the transition to gaining that popularity?
Demi: It’s been pretty cool, it’s been a really awesome feeling to just go play at a venue in the middle of America and have a hundred people come out. [The three of us] are really really grateful to everyone who listens to the music. It’s inspiring to see that what we’re doing resonates with other people.
Baby: Yeah. It makes me feel really protective over everyone who comes to our shows who are singing along to the music. When I see them singing along, even if we’re the same age, I feel like we’re their parents. (laughs) I just want to make sure they’re all safe and get home safe.
Demi: Yeah. That’s a cool feeling, when everyone is singing. It feels like… one big gang. (laughs)
Q: What are some of your favorite experiences and memories with fans?
Demi: I have one that actually happened tonight! We have this fan named Don Kloss, and he might be in his 60s or 70s, I’m not sure, but he’s been our fan for a really long time, around five years. Tonight he brought me a guitar that he made. He’s also covered a couple of our songs. He’s very sweet.
Baby: Yes, he's very nice.
Jonny: My favorite experience was really our very first show we played on the Des Rocks tour (2021), the first tour I [played] with them. In Detroit, there was this guy who was singing “Charmer And The Snake,” but he was just screaming it, and it was so goofy. (laughs)
Demi: (laughs) I forgot about that!
Baby: That was right when the album came out, and we didn’t know if anyone would be listening to it [or know the words,] and we walked out to our van to load it, and this guy was just there, and he started, at the top of his lungs, screaming at us, not in [tune] at all! (laughs) I will never forget the sound of him screaming [“Charmer and the Snake.”]
Q: If you could record a song with one artist, dead or alive, who would that be? What would your song sound like?
Demi: That’s a good question! – Maybe David Bowie.
Baby: I had a dream that we were making a song in this really weird playhouse, and Demi [said,] “I’m going to go work on the music, and you work on these photos,” or something, I said “okay,” and then for some reason I sat down at a piano and then this other guy was there and we were playing these notes, and I looked at his face and it was David Bowie! I was just staring at him in my dream and he just started playing. I woke up and it really just felt like I had met David Bowie. But – maybe Lana Del Rey. I feel like Demi’s voice and Lana’s voice would sound so good together.
Jonny: Elliot Smith – and it would be the quietest song we’ve ever played. (laughs)
Q: How did you come up with the name “The Velveteers?”
Demi: Baby and I were obsessed with finding the perfect band name. We had seen all of these people that we know in bands, local bands, that would start a band and have a band name, and then they would change it a couple months later, and then they would decide they didn't like it again and then they would change it. That happened a million times, so Baby and I made a book, like sixty pages [long], of a bunch of really really bad band names. Baby came up with one called “The Quads.” (they all laugh)
Baby: Yeah…
Demi: I came up with one called “Little Bo Creeps,” – it was really dumb.
Baby: We almost did “Operation(??) Identification.” I am so glad we did not do that. (laughs)
Demi: We have this little coffee shop that we would have band meetings at, it’s called Trident, it’s in Boulder, [Colorado]. We were getting hot chocolate one night and we were reading a book of poetry [that they had there] and Baby opened the book, and it was the word ‘vetiver,’ but [Baby] pronounced it ‘velveteers.’ We just stuck with it.
K: That book will be in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame one day!
Demi: I wish we knew what [the book was called]!
Baby: It’s just a book about grass! (they all laugh)
Jonny: That would be really hard to find!
Q: How does your creative process work when you’re making new music?
Demi: We usually all write a song, or a riff, or something, and then I’ll bring it to Baby. Baby and I will work on it, and then we’ll all come together and add everything.
K: So is it always a riff first or lyrics first, or how does it start?
Demi: It kind of depends – usually for me it all comes at once. Like I’ll be on guitar and the riff will come, the vocals, all of that at the same time, but it’s always different.
Baby: To get to the finished product of one song, it takes us a long time. Demi will write the song pretty quick, and we’ll get the melody and the structure there, but then it will take us months of playing it together to work out all of the kinks and add all of the extra things that make it feel like a ‘Velveteers’ song. Something we’re trying to do on this tour is playing some new songs to workshop them before we start recording for a new album. We didn't get the chance to do that on [Nightmare Daydream] because of COVID, so we just practiced them all the time and just hoped they sounded and felt good live. The songs ended up changing a bunch after that album [came out] to make them work in a live setting.
K: From a fan’s perspective, it’s super fun to notice those changes.
Baby: That’s cool that people notice!
Q: What is your favorite song in your discography?
Jonny: Mine changes from “See Me,” “Father [of Lies],” and “Beauty Queens.” Those are usually my three favorites.
K: Is that because of the drum lines?
Jonny: “Beauty Queens” is just super fast, and when we were making it it was like “Man, this thing sounds insane!” “See Me” is just a really really pretty song with a really great melody. “Father [of Lies]” just rips every time we play it.
Baby: Demi wrote this song called “Growing Up,” that I hope people hear someday. That song is just so so perfect. That’s my favorite.
Demi: I would say– same [as Baby]. There’s a couple unreleased ones that I really like.
Q: What is your favorite unreleased song that you have been working on and playing?
Demi: Maybe “Leopard Spots.” It’s really fun.
Jonny: Yeah, I agree.
Baby: Demi hates this song right now, but [my favorite is called] “Take It From The Top.” We tried to play it tonight, well we did play it tonight. I really like that one, it’s kind of pop-y, more so than some of our other stuff.
Jonny: Definitely “Leopard Spots,” as well.
Q: If you’re allowed to say, when can we expect new music or are you planning anything exciting that we can look forward to?
Demi: I would say that.. we are… (they all laugh)
Demi: We are making new music, and to expect it… soon. (laughs)
Baby: I don’t want to give a date, because we don’t know – we don’t know! But we know when we’re recording.
Demi: Yeah! We’re in the process, it’s happening.
Baby: I don’t know how long it will take, but once the album comes out – it’ll be worth the wait.
Jonny: Yeah!
Needless to say, we can expect new music from The Velveteers soon, and some other fun surprises they may or may not have let me in on. In the meantime, you can find them on tour with The Blue Stones. Get your tickets to all upcoming shows here!
Being able to chat with a band you admire and respect so greatly is a rare opportunity, and I am beyond thankful that I was able to. The Velveteers are not only incredibly talented, but some of the kindest people you will ever meet and I could sing their praises endlessly. Be sure to check out my gallery from the Columbus show as well!
