The Velvet Teen + The Americas + Out Circuit

The Velvet Teen + The Americas + Out Circuit


Velvet Teen

When faced with infinite possibility, some artists turn to self-imposed structure, restrictions and rules in an attempt to narrow their focus and amplify their creativity. Alexander Sokurov’s Russian Ark (2002) managed to condense 300 years of Russian history into a 96 minute film, enacted by a cast of thousands in St. Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum, that was made in both one uninterrupted shot and in one take. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, having already acquired the distinction of being the only artist to ever win a Grammy for a song that contained the lyrics “fist fuck,” is currently at work on a monophonic album that will feature absolutely “no chords. anywhere.” And now, The Velvet Teen has subverted everyone’s expectations with their most recent release, Elysium, by completely abandoning the guitars that were once so integral to their sound in favor of piano-heavy compositions and sweeping orchestral arrangements. While this latest effort from the Northern Californian trio is their most epic venture to date, they have covered a considerable amount of sonic and lyrical ground during the four short years they have existed as a band. Their songs range from the gleeful, sing-a-long, starry-eyed pining of “Counting Backwards” (Plus, Minus, Equals) to the more aggressive pontifications of our vulnerability to media in “Radiapathy” (Out Of The Fierce Parade) to the growing social and political awareness in “Chimera Obscurant,” the thirteen minute centerpiece of Elysium which pleads to be heard and refuses to be ignored. The Velvet Teen are no novices to touring, and with such a diverse repertoire it is no surprise that their ever-growing fanbase has resulted in their numerous, extensive tours of not just the continental US, but of Japan as well. Indeed, a quick glance over the Sunday night crowd at the Knitting Factory’s Tap Bar confirmed their widespread appeal; highschooler and hipsters alike were present, and even drifters from other shows within the three-story venue came to bear witness. I myself recall purchasing my first fake ID at a tender age a few years back, not with the intention of getting ugly drunk, but because I had wanted to see The Velvet Teen play live. Suffice it to say, these kids bring people out of the woodwork. Out Circuit (Washington, D.C.) led the pack with their roving guitar swells, ambient grooves and sparse vocals but it wasn’t until The Americas took the stage that the crowd put their drinks down and diverted their attention from their idle conversations. In fact, if you weren’t looking directly at them, it would be hard to believe that much noise could come from two people. While the mercurial shifts between the crooning and thrashing of this duo from Chico, California may have been hard to digest at first they were, nonetheless, intriguing. Equally noteworthy were the tireless efforts and kinetic drumming of Casey Deitz who left the stage only to return a few minutes later as the drummer for The Velvet Teen (Deitz has taken the reigns from previous drummer Logan Whitehurst, who left the band to attend to a medical condition). The Velvet Teen thanked the near-to-capacity crowd for their support before setting in, Deitz back on the drums, Josh Staples on the bass and lead vocalist Judah Nagler at the helm behind the keyboard. They began with the first three songs off of Elysium and quickly proved that the absence of guitars did not make for a diluted sound. Nagler, more chanteuse than showy frontman, gracefully conducted the programmed orchestral arrangement that emanated from their laptop with one hand while firmly pounding out the opening piano line of “A Captive Audience” with the other. While the crowd was certainly pleased with the new material the collective cheering became especially vociferous when Nagler picked up his guitar for “Radiapathy” and a potpourri of old favorites. The band frequently thanked the attentive audience throughout their set, and though they returned visibly tired to play “Counting Backwards” for their encore, they mustered every last bit of their strength while feeding off of the crowds’ appreciative energy. Before the show Nagler confessed that this tour had been particularly intense; nearly six weeks on the road with only one break and according to Nagler, “that was a while ago.” But the resounding applause and the Cheshire grins they all left the stage with made it evident that their hard work is worth it. Over the past few years, The Velvet Teen has managed significant artistic growth without losing their unique sound, and you can be sure that both they and their fans will be around for a long time to come.