Not Just Any trip, It’s a Velvet Trip!  

By Kim Gray 

Naarm/ Melbourne, Northcote Social Club   

Psychedelic pop rock indie band, Velvet Trip is fronted by Wiradjuri multi-instrumentalist Zeppelin Hamilton, alongside bandmembers, Izzy Antonievich (keys), Toby Anagnostis (bass), Lozz Benson (drums) and Harry Barwell (guitar). Velvet Trip is a Sydney based band, that will make you chill out, dance, boogie and sing along all at once!

Velvet Trip’s ‘Glimmer’s continued’ tour kicked off in Sydney / Gadigal before going to Melbourne/ Naarm with Brisbane/Meanjin following and Adelaide / Kaurna on the 27th of March, and Perth / Boorloo on the 28th of March.  

For Melbourne/ Naarm, Opening the show was Divers, consisting of members, Ben Bray, Scott McQuilten, Jake Green and Tom Evans. Divers formed in 2019, Divers is a surf rock, indie alternative rock band, from Australia.  Some key songs played during their set were: 

• Head Chief  
• The Great Tree 
• Cruisy confusion  

One thing about Divers is that no song sounds alike to their last, they are experimental with their sound, whether its driving down the coastlines, a city walk or a simply just hanging out, there’s bound to be a song to fit the mood you look for.   

Second opener for the night was, Milou Moon, consisting of members of Emily/ Em McGill, Sam O’Neil, George De Silva and Jevaan Waldron. Milou Moon is a psychedelic rock and alternative project created by Emily McGill, originally from Chicago with French American roots, she is the driving force of Milou Moon, formed in Melbourne/ Naarm. Emily’s French influence is pronounced in Milou Moon’s discography, songs like Suberosa and Mon Ami Interne are great examples. Milou Moon brings chill energy to even the glummest of days, you can be sitting by the beach on a summer’s day, hanging out with friends in the backyard for a pool day, cooking dinner on a rainy day with a glass of wine or if you need some music to relax to? Milou Moon is the go-to option. 

Some set list highlight songs include: 

• The Murray  

• Suberosa 

• Circles  

After each opener performed, they joined the audience to watch Velvet Trip together, which I thought was cool!  

A surprise for all ticket holders, was a sticker pack, which was a thoughtful surprise and delight for Velvet Trip fans! I had gone to the merchandise stand to have a look at a vinyl to buy after the performance, the merchandise attendant got out the different colours to choose from, black, orange or pink, and told me to have a think which colour I wanted during the show (safe to say, I snapped up an orange one), before being given the sticker pack, a small gesture with a lasting impression for sure.  

Velvet Trip opened with a mash up of some classic hits throughout musical history, which mimicked the sound of a cassette playing or a vintage record playing, before the lights brightened and the band kicked off with their visual introduction. Velvet Trip’s performance had everyone dancing, singing, swaying and emotional, the energy Velvet Trip exhumes is unlike any other, the stage presence of each member was extraordinary!  

I overheard a conversation next to me, there was a duo near me in the crowd where one was unfamiliar with Velvet Trip and the other was a longtime fan, by the end of the night, the one who was unfamiliar with Velvet Trip was really into it almost outdancing the longtime fan, which I thought was heartwarming and gave me a bit of a laugh, to see someone casually bopping their head and swaying to full on grooving, it is a testament to the positive energy Velvet Trip brought to the venue!  

Set List Highlights: 

• Fr3o 

• ‘Man I Need’ by Olivia Dean- a cover  

• It don’t matter  

• Tell me why  

• The Bends  

• Burnin’ Up 

• Calling your Name  

• Silly Boy 

Once the performance had ended, I went into line for the orange vinyl, and while in line Zeppelin was taking photos and signing vinyls at the merchandise table. Something that stuck out to me was he had a conversation with absolutely everyone, at one point talking to everyone waiting in line for merchandise. I was lucky enough to meet and have a chat to him, he offered to sign my vinyl and we took a photo. An artist who is generous to their fans and interacts with them, will always win and I hope nothing but the best for Velvet Trip’s musical future.   

Funnily enough, I was just a casual listener of Velvet Trip’s music, until recently I was doing a segment here on TuneFM where Velvet trip’s newest release was announced and I went into a rabbit hole. Velvet Trip’s songs have since been in heavy rotation in my playlist and you better believe when I saw they were touring, I absolutely had to go, and I couldn’t be happier that I did! I highly recommend you listen to Velvet Trip or see them live if you get the chance, you won’t regret it!  

Image: AMRAP