Gothenburg-based Velveteen Queen was formed in 2021 and plays melodic hard rock with clear roots in classic rock. After the debut album Consequence of the City from 2024, it's now time for the follow-up The Greater Good, which was released on Friday and celebrated with a release concert at Debaser Nova in Stockholm. The small venue provides a close connection with the audience. The band mingles with the crowd before the performance and remains afterward to sign merch, take selfies, and chat with fans.
When Velveteen Queen steps onto the stage, it is the band that is in the spotlight. The production is stripped down and the audience stands close to the edge of the stage. No grand stage set or props are needed.
The show kicks off at a high tempo with “Too Far Gone”, one of the singles from the new album, followed by “Liar” and one of the band’s first singles, “Kenny’s Blues”.
Before “Can't Go Back in Time”, singer Samuel Nilsson talks about how we all have done things we regret, but that sometimes you just have to leave them behind and move on.
This is followed by “Dreamer”, perhaps the evening’s most personal moment. Samuel asks if anyone in the audience has ever been so desperate that they don’t know what to do. And darkness settles in. But somewhere, the dreamer is still there—the one who wants to live. The song is dedicated to all dreamers out there. Samuel sits at the piano and the tempo slows down for a sensitive moment before it’s time to amp it up again. When the song ends, Samuel remains standing and seems almost overwhelmed by the audience's reaction. It takes a moment before he finally manages to say: “I don’t know what to say.”
Before “Chains”, Samuel notes that there are always people who have opinions about music, including critics. So how do you irritate them? By writing an acoustic rock song, of course. It almost feels like a jab at me—how can I possibly trash the song in this review?
Jokes aside, here Samuel Nilsson’s vocals take center stage. It also becomes clear what a good singing voice he has. The acoustic setting suits him perfectly and is met with warm applause from the audience. Then it’s time to pick up the pace again.
With “Barrel of a Gun”, it’s the night’s biggest release of energy so far. In the middle of the song, Samuel informs the audience that buying a ticket came with an agreement: when Velveteen Queen plays, everyone who can, must jump. Also, Gothenburg awaits and the band's release concert there the next day. Surely Stockholm can jump better than the home crowd?
Velveteen Queen effortlessly alternates throughout the evening between classic rock drive and more personal moments. The one doesn’t lose energy for the other's sake.
Samuel Nilsson is a natural frontman and has a great ability to switch between humor, audience interaction, and more serious moments. He moves far forward toward the stage edge and often gets a response from the crowd. But the stage presence is created by the entire band. Lukas Axx, Noah Mårdh, Vilmer Fall, and Isac Borg are involved at all times, and together they make sure the stage is buzzing with energy throughout.
Eight of the eleven songs from the new The Greater Good are performed during the evening, and there is no doubt that they work very well live. The new songs already feel at home in the set and are joined by older songs that the audience clearly knows well.
When “Take Me Higher” closes the night with a jumping crowd, hands in the air, and sing-along in the chorus, it’s hard not to get swept up. I leave Debaser in my new Velveteen Queen shirt and am already excited to see them again. When does the train to Gothenburg leave? :)
