Tonight was meant to be dinner at a local Italian restaurant with my old friend John. But then I found that the Italian was not open on a Tuesday, so I had to come up with a plan B. I suggested going to the Dublin Castle to see some music, since I wanted to see the Mitchells and their lead singer Troy had told me when I bumped into him the previous week that they had a gig there. So I thought we would go and see them (as they appeared to be low down the bill) and see how much more of the acts we could stomach before filling our stomachs at a nearby eatery. Camden does not lack restaurants.
Now I did not hold out much hope for this as top notch entertainment, not least as the ticket prices were £5 a head. You can't expect too much for a fiver. Certainly not a pint. And aside from the Mitchells I had never heard of anyone on the bill. Anyway, tickets said doors open at 7:30 so I said to John meet at the front part of the Castle (which is a standard bar) at 7, allowing him to buy me a drink beforehand (setting off the price of admission with me winning by a quid or so!)
Lucky we did arrive early as in fact doors opened at 7 and indeed the first act completed his set before the official opening time. Unsurprisingly he had a limited audience. He was a lad from Liverpool called Sam (Sam Taylor or Tyler?), evidently there with his dad. I would guess only mid teens. Seemed a really nice boy, playing his own songs on acoustic guitar, which weren't bad. Good looking lad too, but.... Yes there was a but. Really rather poor vocals, bit flat and unsteady. I suspect nothing that a good vocal coach couldn't get to being decent. We tried to give as much appreciation as we could to a youngster who had hauled himself down from Liverpool to play to a dozen or so early comers at the back of a pub.
Next up was a rather more accomplished (and older) young man, Leo Stewart, also playing solo acoustic guitar. Good voice
But then the real surprise act, AM Shanley. Not a name I recognised at all. American dude. Looked like a young Lou Reed. Also on acoustic guitar, but delightful voice
And then his act was supplemented for final songs by a violinist who very much added to the sound. Very good.
After three solo guitarists who were pretty much straight one after each other, we were allowed a little drinks/toilet break before the next two acts. I had assumed the Mitchells were up next but in fact it was a trio from Southampton called the Latest. If they had been three teenagers I would be really excited for their prospects as they were everything I want an indie rock band to sound like. But they are more towards middle age and frankly that is too old to make it big in this world. Didn't stop us enjoying their set though.
And then onto the Mitchells, who as I say were the only act I had heard of. Now a little background; I had seen half of the boys once before at the Dublin Castle when they had been called in at short notice to fill in for a band that had dropped out. Not all the band could make that gig, so I felt I wanted a chance to see the full group. They had been listed as headlining a show at a pub in Hackney Wick, but when I turned up at that one, I found the gig had been cancelled earlier in the week. (To add insult to injury, not only had I bought a ticket online a few days after the bar staff told me that the gig had been cancelled, the ticket agency even sent me a reminder for the gig on the morning of it!)
Anyway, I then met Troy Mitchell, the lead singer, a couple of times at other gigs the previous week, so I was keen to give them a go. I think my mate John was rather surprised when we entered the pub that this young man bounded out from the side and embraced me. You get a more intimate relationship with acts at this level!
The Mitchells consist of the Mitchell brothers on guitar and drums, plus Troy, an unrelated Mitchell, on vocals, and Luka also on guitar and not a Mitchell at all. And as a quartet they were great. Think early Libertines. Lovely energetic set of their own stuff plus a cover of Circa Waves's "T-Shirt Weather" in the middle.
But Troy, no don't go for the Oasis look. What were you thinking boy? It was hot as hell and you start in a buttoned up anorak?
Neatly, the lead singer of the Latest joined Troy on vocals (and the Latest bloke is a much better singer)
And then it was Troy with young Luka. They seem good mates.
At that point John and I decided we needed food so popped down the road to an utterly deserted sushi restaurant. We had a lot of sushi. Washed down by warm sake.😋
After which John wanted to head home, but I fancied catching the headline act, Sam Vincent.
He was ok, but no great shakes in my view. I gave him and his band a few songs and then pootled off myself, only to find the Mitchells outside on the street buttoning up against the wind and rain. (Yes Troy, now is the time for that anorak, not when on stage!) It was a filthy night. I had a chat with Troy on the way to the tube station (he is a very outgoing young man) and he said that he had been under the impression originally that they were headlining. And he pointed out (as I had already done to John by whats app from the venue) that there were more people watching the Mitchells in the middle of the show than stayed to watch the headliner. And it was a more enthusiastic as well as numerous crowd.
I will see the lads again no doubt in the New Year, somewhere on the London pub circuit.
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