By his own admission, Olli Appleyard is tired. “I fucked myself up this weekend,” he says – the result of their triumphant appearances at Reading and Leeds, the latter on home turf, less than 48 hours before tonight’s sold-out show. Both appearances are rights of passage for Static Dress, who are touring their self-released album Rogue Carpet Disaster and proving themselves as post-hardcore stars of tomorrow.
Opener Fleahouse sets the tone: two seconds in and the moshpit has already opened. The crowd’s energy seems to be restorative for Appleyard, who asks the crowd to help him sing, something the punters are only too happy to do. Time and again it’s the community surrounding Static Dress who really make the gig a success. Tracks such as fan favourite Sweet become karaoke moments, and the steady stream of crowd surfers and stage divers points towards a confidence and sense of safety that the band inspires in its fans.
