On Aug. 27, Denver Westword hosted a private in-office concert, where the band Velvet Daydream performed for Westword staff, Westword members and university students.
These in-office concerts were introduced by Voice Media Group’s executive editor Chelsey Dequaine-Jerabek when she first joined the newsroom.
“For a long, long time in my career I have been inspired by the Tiny Desk Concerts that NPR does,” she explained.
Dequaine-Jerabek enjoyed how Tiny Desk Concerts “bring people into their office” and provide an intimate feel within their newsroom.
She pitched the in-office concerts idea to Westword with the intention of giving back to their supporters as part of the donation-based membership program.
“It’s just such a unique thing to provide to both the staff and our members, and it’s kind of our way to give back to the community and highlight local artists,” said Westword staff writer Hannah Metzger.
Since starting the in-office concerts in 2023, Westword has already featured many different artists.
Velvet Daydream, a 70s rock-inspired band based in Denver, CO., is made up of four members: guitarist Kaeden Keys, guitarist Ryder King, bassist Jude Pfanstie and drummer Nick Schwartz. Along with playing their respective instruments, all members of this group perform vocals. They cite their inspirations as “anything on the radio from 1959 to 1999.” They’ve just released an album titled ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ in March 2026.
“We just love rock and roll and that’s why we’re doing it,” King said.
Schwartz and King were childhood friends who met on the playground and happened to have a similar taste in music and the same birthday. In middle school, they began playing their respective instruments and then decided from then on they wanted to be in a band. In 2020, while in high school, they met Keys.
The trio went on without a bassist for three years until they started prepping for a Battle of the Bands competition in 2023.
“We did what any reasonable group of young men would do and you look at the band that won the year before and you beg their bass player to join your band,” Keys said.
Pfanstiel left his previous band, Melon Husk, and completed the group.
The band just completed a tour through the Midwest and East Coast; one of their favorite moments was going to New York for the first time. They performed at Cafe Wha? in Greenwich Village where artists like Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix got their start.
“It was also all of our first times in New York City. I think just experiencing that for the first time after being in Denver and all these other smaller cities was really part of the fun,” Keys said.
When it comes to their long term goals and their legacies, the band is in agreement that they want to continue making music and using their music to inspire others together.
“As long as people support us, I think we can make it,” Schwartz said.
