I had the amazing opportunity to watch Afterdrive for their first ever headline tour, watching them bring their debut Ep ‘Dress To Drive’ to life on stage. Having previously performed alongside remarkable artists such as Maggie Lindermann for her sold out tour across the UK and EU, and Ed Sheeran to support at his Portman Road stadium show, this tour marks an important step forward for the band as the begin to establish themselves independently.
Opening the night were The Masses followed by SWRVE who both set the tone for the evening. I only managed to catch the ending of The Masses set but from what I saw they were already confident and comfortable on stage. Their sound and energy naturally fit into the lineup and they felt like a strong choice of support for the evening.
SWRVE was also a very strong opener for the evening, playing just before Afterdrive took the stage completely matching their energetic style while still bringing their own personality. Their set wasn’t just about performing songs, they actively spoke to the audience and I could clearly see they were confident on stage, creating a genuine connection with the room. Both openers gave memorable performances and I’d honestly keep an eye out for both bands. Afterdrive clearly chose two emerging artists who deserve recognition, while creating an amazing lineup that reflected the atmosphere they wanted for the night.
That sense of connection continued as soon as Afterdrive took to the stage, especially through frontman Ben Watts. The O2 Institute3 is a small, intimate venue which enhanced the connection between everyone in the room. The band and fans were able to interact with each other during the show, giving requests and Ben acknowledging people in the crowd.
The closeness between the stage and audience made the experience of the show 10x better, making the show feel like a shared experience for both the band and the fans. An especially memorable moment was when they began their headline show with the song ‘Neon View’, requested by a fan who waited 6 hours in the rain to get to the front of the crowd. This small moment already demonstrates how much connection with fans really means to the band which sometimes people forget about. To begin their official setlist, Afterdrive performed ‘Necklace’, an already recognisable track to their existing fans and a strong choice to begin the night. The band left no time to bring the energy that has become a familiar part of their live presence. For a band on their first ever headline tour, performing songs that have recently just dropped, there were times I forgot that this was their first time leading a tour by themselves.
As mentioned, it is clear that Afterdrive already have a dedicated fanbase. Whilst I was listening throughout the night, the crowd could be heard singing along which would turn into screams when Ben pointed towards them. There is already a distinctly modern boyband energy surrounding Afterdrive, and while that may sound surprising for a pop-rock four-piece, it is a testament to the connection they have already built with their audience.
For a band at the beginning of their headline journey, the level of devotion in the room was hard to ignore. From taking fan requests to hearing the crowd sing their songs back to them, Afterdrive have already created something that extends beyond the music itself. If their first headline tour is anything to go by, ‘Dress To Drive’ could be the beginning of a much bigger chapter for the band, and judging by the crowd tonight, their fans will be there for every step of it.
Words & images: Téa Rainbow
