Identical twins Daniel and Danny Chavis originally hail from Raleigh/ Chapel Hill, North Carolina programmer Hayato Nakao, originally from Japan, hooked up with the Chavis brothers while living in New York. Forming the main members of the Veldt. Lifting their band’s name from a Ray Bradbury science fiction story, their own life stories have also been quite fantastic. After signing to Capitol Records in 1989, The Veldt were soon in the studio with dream-gaze guru Robin Guthrie working on their initial recordings, playing American= concert halls with Cocteau Twins and The Jesus and Mary Chain, and recording ‘Marigolds’ with Lincoln Fong (Moose). Not long after, they would record their classic ‘Afrodisiac’ (1994), produced by Ray Shulman (The Sundays, Bjork, Sugarcubes) and released via Mercury Records. They have also collaborated with TV On The Radio, Mos Def and Lady Miss Kier (Deee-Lite), and shared the stage with The Pixies, Throwing Muses, Echo & The Bunnymen, Cocteau Twins, Manic Street Preachers, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Oasis, Chuck D, Living Colour, and Schooly D. Recent years continue to be been monumental, with highlights including sold-out tours with Phantogram and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, a European tour, two separate Canadian tours, appearance at some of North America’s and Europe’s hottest psych fests, a spotlight feature on Time Warner Cable TV and being named as east coast support for Modern English. They have been on tour with Chameleons as part of the Arctic Moon Tour for over a year now. 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 royalty of the legendary North Carolina music scene, including bands such as Superchunk, Archers of Loaf, The Connells, Dillon Fence, The dBs, Squirrel Nut Zippers, and Ryan Adams. Pitchfork recently included their album ‘Afrodisiac’ in the top 50 shoegaze albums ever released and Stereogum included a single from that album, “Until You’re Forever” in their list of 31 essential shoegaze tracks. Their sound also inspired future generations of alternative artists, including TV On the Radio & Bloc Party.
I had the chance to catch up with Danny Chavis ahead of the April 8 event at The Majestic in Madison, part of the ongoing tour for the Veldt with Chameleons. We get into what a new person to the shoegaze scene might expect at a show featuring these two acts. The history in the room alone is a testament to working around the industry. We also learn about new music that will be able to take home if in attendance to one of these upcoming shows as well as new music coming out soon in an album form. I could not help but help guide listeners new to this band to the ‘Afrodisiac’ album from 1994 as a starting point – this is an epic album for me as I remember navigating around this particular sound. I was so thrilled to just sit back and listen to the types of bands from back in the day to the new music being made today that Danny was aware of. It was a study session for me and hopefully for you as well. The Veldt are an important fixture in my ear – not only as musicians but as people who stand for similar things as I do.
