MUSIC Daniel Chavis, left, and Danny Chavis of The Veldt.
DEFYING Expectations The Veldt’s three-decade run shows no signs of slowing down by DAVID MENCONI photography by SAMANTHA EVERETTE
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hirty-some years ago, local musician Alex Maiolo walked into Chapel Hill’s Hardback Café and saw a band of young Black men called The Veldt. They were setting up on stage to play what Maiolo figured would be some variant of soul or rhythm and blues. He was neither the first nor last to be surprised: it was a wall of psychedelic rock, 38 | WALTER
the sort of music that was more typical for British bands. “They were playing music you don’t often see being made by Black people around here, which was very striking,” says Maiolo, who plays these days in a number of local bands including Lacy Jags. “At a time when most other Triangle bands seemed to be wearing cutoffs and playing punk rock, they had it down
with dressing great, playing great, and looking cool and in control and putting on a show. They’re always early to the party with whatever they’re doing.” Led by Raleigh-born twin brothers Daniel and Danny Chavis, The Veldt is still at it more than three decades later. They’ve been around long enough to become a local-music institution, and to tour internationally, too. And they’re
