Three rising alt-rock acts came together to create a fun, explosive night of raw energy and connection at Paper Dress Vintage last Saturday.
At Paper Dress, the line between stage and crowd blurs together. Retro clothing lines the walls of this small, intimate Hackney venue, complemented by gig posters, creating a unique space where clothes and music come together.
The intimacy of the space allows you not just to watch a gig, but to drift through it. Brushing shoulders with strangers, catching snippets of conversation and, by the end of the night, finding yourself standing a few feet away from the very people who came off the stage.
Paper Dress presented the Scarsdale Fats, Curser, and Your French Girlfriend to bring together a fun, dynamic alternative rock night.
From the first act, the crowd settled into an easy closeness the venue encourages, the audience, all pressed into a shared, low-lit pocket of Hackney for a night that felt more like a gathering than a performance.
The stage was beautifully lit, with dreamy reds, purples, and blues complementing the red curtain backdrop, pulling you into each act as you become mesmerised not just by the stage lighting but also by the music.
Your French Girlfriend opened with a hazy, slow-burning confidence, leaning into a ’70s soft-rock sound combined with alternative rock, which felt both nostalgic and melancholic.
As a six-piece band, they delivered a layered, rich sound that set the tone for the rest of the night.
At first, the songwriting duo clashed, with Phillipa Knox’s vocals drowned out by the instrumentation and Ethan Faiths’s vocals.
But, whether by the band’s adjustment or a technical issue fixed, her vocals began to shine through, commanding the attention of the crowd – and, for me, what emerged was something almost theatrical.
What really elevated the performance was the saxophone. It added a distinctive sound that went beyond standard alt or indie rock and really highlighted that ’70s, soft, melancholic sound.
What remained at the end of the night was the memory of a band that was layered, melancholic and as the name suggests, romantic.
Next, Curser arrived with a sharp jolt of energy. Their sound was dynamic, faster, louder and more explosive whilst still leaning into the reflectiveness and moodiness of rock.
The tension and explosiveness were felt by the crowd, demanding a reaction as heads nodded faster and bodies moved closer and faster towards the stage.
They didn’t just play with us, they drew a reaction that made it fun and energetic.
Offstage, they were more grounded. That blurring barrier between the stage and the audience disappeared completely as Curser took the time to talk and connect with the crowd.
They came across as genuinely appreciative, with a hint of self-criticism, as I complimented the final song.
Though it’s a small detail, it suggests that the band are still evolving, pushing and refining their sound.
Lastly, the main act, the Scarsdale Fats, closed the night with a sound that was both refreshing and nostalgic, tapping into a classic alt-rock sound whilst still making it their own.
Their set had a nice balance. At times it drifted into something looser and more atmospheric, then snapped back into tighter, more driven sections, ending the night nicely.
Feature image: Tia Melville
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