Electric Velvet celebrates 25 years of music and community

Electric Velvet will celebrate 25 years of rock ‘n’ roll Friday, Sept. 6, at Conch Island in Rehoboth Beach. 

The high-energy cover band hopes to not only commemorate its journey since 1999, but also the music culture of the beach region over the past few decades. Anthony Carmen, the founder and guitarist of the group, is inviting fans, local musicians and former band members to honor the relationships that have made Electric Velvet a piece of the music scene in southern Delaware. 

“This is a reunion of a bunch of musicians who’ve shared the stage over the years, and we’d love to share that experience with people who have been any part of Electric Velvet over the years,” Carmen said. 

Electric Velvet will perform with Anthony Carmen; his wife, Kristen, on vocals; Dale Loeser on drums; and Nick Kashmanian on guitar. The trio of Anthony, Kristen and Loeser has remained the core since 1999. 

Former members who once completed Electric Velvet’s four-piece group will be at the anniversary show. Founding member and bassist Roger Hillis, who is currently in local band Freshly Squeezed, and Mike Hatfield, a bass player in The Damn Dirty Lush in Bel Air, Md., will perform on stage. They will be joined by drummers Kiran Contractor and Cecilia Grace’s Mike Littlejohn. Mike Curry, who plays with Ginger Band and Love Seed Mama Jump, was a guitarist for Electric Velvet for 14 years. 

This summer, Electric Velvet gets its Bethany Beach fill playing at Big Chill Beach Club on Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. and Mango’s every Friday night from 10 to 11:30 p.m. The twosome of Kashmanian and Anthony Carmen also perform live karaoke on Wednesday nights at Dogfish Head in Rehoboth Beach from 9 to 11 p.m. Kashmanian and Carmen play combinations of the 500 popular rock songs they can strum off the top of their heads. 

“If you’re in the mindset of ‘I’m going out to have a fun time,’ you’re going to have a fun time at an Electric Velvet show,” Anthony said. 

The old-school, guitar-based drum band got its start practicing at Loeser’s Quiet Storm Surf Shop and playing in Rehoboth, which Electric Velvet still calls home. Performing at open mic night at Arena’s and opening up for other bands every other Friday night at the Bottle & Cork were some of the first gigs. Venues both past and present like Zogg’s, Sir Guy’s, Irish Eyes and Cloud 9 were also some of the early supporters of Electric Velvet’s sound. 

Electric Velvet had longer stints with The Frogg Pond, Irish Eyes, On the Rocks and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. Connecting with various venues and their owners, and cultivating exciting environments is what keeps performances going, Anthony said. 

“When we look out and not only is the crowd into it, but the bartenders and the staff are all happy and enthusiastic and everybody’s having fun, that’s what we consider to be a successful night,” he said. 

Electric Velvet has performed shows across the Mid-Atlantic region, but the band’s focus remains on keeping a strong live music tradition in southern Delaware. It’s about the world-class musicians in Sussex County who created the live music culture, and the younger bands who are finding their voice, Anthony said. As he reminisces on jam sessions at Arena’s and late nights at The Frogg Pond, Carmen is grateful for the journey so far and what the future still holds for Electric Velvet.

“We have so much appreciation for not only the venues, but also the fans and the community in the Cape Region and Sussex County that have made us able to continue to play music at a lot of these venues and also have supported all the musicians,” Anthony said.