Reunited Velocity Girl Mesmerizes Crowd at Black Cat
Words by Erin Corbin
Photos by James Todd Miller

Was this the last-ever performance by DC shoegaze heroes Velocity Girl?

This Saturday was a trifecta of awesome music at Black Cat in a hometown show headlined by the recently reunited Velocity Girl. To start the evening on Nov. 23, we had Richmond’s own Outer World, who brought joy and enthusiasm as they played their most recent LP, Who Does The Music Love? which was released in March. They fired up the crowd with dancing, good music, and an overall happiness to be on stage for such a great show. Then, Bad Moves entered the stage and brought pounding guitars and brought the fists up in the crowd who were so pleased to see them perform their last show of 2024.

My favorite Bad Moves song was “New Year’s Reprieve,” which was excellently executed. They played a number of tracks from their most recent album, Wearing Out The Refrain, which was released in September and is a great release on Don Giovanni Records.

Stream “New Year’s Reprieve” by Bad Moves on YouTube:

Last, but surely not least, was Velocity Girl. This band released three albums before their split up in the mid-1990s but was celebrating their new release, UltraCopacetic, which was a remixed and remastered version of the 1993 Sub-Pop release of Copacetic — and which had some unreleased tracks and some gems from the band’s 1993 Peel Sessions. It has been selling out of record stores and online to much welcome enthusiasm.

Watch the official music video for “Crazy Girl,” from UltraCopacetic, by Velocity Girl on YouTube:

Midshow, some of the band changed instruments and it was utter perfection. They sounded perfectly on point and were blessed with a large crowd that very much enjoyed their sound, shoegaze, if you will.

Unfortunately, there are no new shows planned for this band so hopefully they can be convinced to give the fans what they ask for and another few shows can be planned for 2025. Their sound on this new version of Copacetic are clearer vision of this early 1990’s release and has the sound we can reminisce to.

Please come back, Velocity Girl! But if you have the chance to see any of these three bands, please do. You will not be disappointed.

Here are some photos of Outer Worlds performing at Black Cat on Nov. 23, 2024! All photos copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.

Here are some photos of Bad Moves performing at Black Cat on Nov. 23, 2024! All photos copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.

Here are some photos of Velocity Girl headlining Black Cat on Nov. 23, 2024! All photos copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.