The Mitchells, the Sick Fix, Mayfair, Kit and others at Dingwalls 2

I was looking forward to this gig as I had long wanted to see the Mitchells headlining a show rather than just being buried in among the supports. I was even happier when they announced the Sick Fix would be supporting them. Then I saw the full line up and knew that however good it was going to be, it was also going to be a long evening. Indeed the band's instagram account told me that doors open at 6, although my ticket said 7. There were a lot of acts to get through.

First on, as you can see below with it still being broad daylight outside, was a young man called Theo. He said that he normally played with his band, the London Outfit, and that would have been an improvement I think. Always prefer bands over solo artists. But he was pretty good; good voice, striking looks and the songs were not at all bad. Encouraging start

Next up was a very young lad, Noah. Or "Noah Sonofamod" as he was billed. Now for such a young lad to get up on stage and perform is quite something. But being objective, the problem was that he was a lad acting at being an older bloke performing mod songs. He didn't appear to be himself, including putting on a deeper singer voice than he actually had

He also got Luka from the Mitchells to duet with him on his cover of My Generation

The next act didn't, in my hearing anyway, introduce themselves. The otherwise missing act from the bill was Britsgotgroove, so despite being in the wrong order from the bill, I guess this duo was them. They played one song and departed. Which was a relief as they were dreadful, comfortably worst act of the night. Out of tune.

So I don't normally like singer songwriters turning up with an acoustic guitar. Nine times out ten they are just incredibly dull. But on came "Kit", and he proved to be the other one out of ten. Properly good voice, his own songs were decent and he finished on Lightning Bolt and Passenger, both performed superbly. It doesn't seem long since young Jake Bugg was starting out singing Lightning Bolt, but in fact more than a decade ago. Maybe this lad is stepping into his shoes. Although I could find nothing about him on the net as with no surname given Kit just isn't enough to go on!

Pearlesence were the first proper band on - by which I mean they had a drummer! Don't foresee them going anywhere - lead vocalist had passable vocals, the tiny girl on guitar massively overdid movement on stage to the point she was distracting rather than entertaining. One song was about the singer's hair turning brown, ironic in that under the unrelenting red stage lights he just looked ginger.

Then we had a strange interlude to mark the birthdays of two of the audience members, with cakes being produced

Back to main the proceedings and Mayfair. I have seen them before. They are a good act. Sixties retro is their thing as you could tell from both music and appearance. Would recommend. For tonight they had Luka making his second guest appearance of the night this time on guitar instead of vocals.

Main support were the Sick Fix who had come down from Manchester for this. I have seen them a couple of times before at the Dublin Castle. They were a good fit for the Mitchells, in that if you asked me who they both sound like I would say the Libertines. They also seemed to enjoy being in the audience for the Mitchells.  It is very much wall of noise stuff with Leo holding it together as front man. Slightly chaotic, but Leo has just enough personality (and voice) to bring it all off.

And finally the Mitchells. While Leo of the Sick Fix goes for the "kid with attitude" vibe (very Manc), Troy Mitchell does more the chipper cheeky cockney. What I found most interesting about tonight is that this was the first time young Luka (on the right below) really blossomed as a personalty in his own right rather than being dominated by the very outgoing Troy. Don't totally get the group dynamics as the Mitchell twins are both very good musicians but seem content to work largely in the background on guitar and drums.

Anyway, this was a seriously raucous set before a small (but sold out) audience, I was at the front of the stage on the right throughout hugging a wooden pillar. By the time the Mitchells were well into their set the crowd was going nuts with a proper mosh pit (including all four members of the Sick Fix) and I was glad of the pillar. I have no idea how the plywood barrier at the front held up. I was sure it would snap at some point as bodies got hurled into it.

Luka looking contemplative. He was visibly blowing towards the end as this was his third appearance of the night, and for the Mitchells a long set.

Halfway through Troy finally discarded his coat (it was very much not coat temperature!) to reveal a Plymouth Argyle shirt. I asked him afterwards about this and they are apparently his second team after Chelsea (whose shirt I have seen him in before, hence my enquiry)

One of the nice parts of headlining even a relatively small show is that you can do an encore. Which the boys duly did. With Troy and Luka returning to the stage now without their tops on, which to be fair better reflected the temperature than their coat and jacket before. Just added an element of cool to the show.

Overall a very memorable night with at least four stand out acts who would grace a bigger stage. I would see the Mitchells again next week, but I am going to see Another Day the same night as they are playing, and Louis of Another Day was in the audience tonight! (Its a small music scene in North London!). And now, having seen the Mitchells headline, I want to see the Sick Fix do the same!