Sweet Unrest v ART at Bush Hall

So, two headline bands, one of whom I have seen loads and another a few times, came together with the idea of co-headlining a show under the pretence of being a  battle of the bands concert. On a stage dressed as a boxing ring, built by the dad of the lead singer of ART.

So this was the empty stage

In the very posh Bush Hall. If a venue has chandeliers, I call it posh

As this was based on a battle of the bands format, and they wanted to have supports to the two headline acts, there were also two bands who formed what was described as the undercard. First were a band called The Great Leslie, that I had never heard of before. They were not at all bad. Indie 4 piece, one slight female guitarist, a slightly geeky looking bloke on drums and the other two striking mainly as two blokes who, shall we say, can't have built muscles like that purely strumming a guitar. Both wearing vests to show that off.

One of the advantages of the boxing ring format was that one could change vantage point. I decided to head around to where the lead singer was. In the red corner!

As I say, they were not at all band. Strong vocals.

Following them were a band whose name I had heard, but I had never seen - Tres Kings. A trio (clue in the name I guess) rather less photogenic than their predecessors (especially the bearded heavily tattooed drummer), but with very good vocals and probably the better sound overall. I think winner in the battle on music, although if a genuine fight....

Now interspersing the music, the bands had recruited some jobbing improv actors for some bizarre battles as a sideshow. So below, a fight between two medieval knights in chain mail. The ginger guy was Sir Smegalot. It was all bawdy but very childish fun.

Another comic, even more childish sideshow was a square off between Popcorn Man (not shown) and Hot Dog Man, below, with his sidekick Ketchup Man. I guess this you know the acting career is not going to reach the RSC when you dress up as ketchup at a music gig...

Then up on the end stage the two main protagonists came up for the equivalent of the weigh-in/press conference - Sweet Unrest on the left, ART on the right

First up were Sweet Unrest. A slightly different to normal intro with their drummer coming in first.

Then the other band members - some smart suits!

And finally lead singer Jack in a boxing dressing gown.

Marlon having a chat with a member of the audience. You can do that sort of thing at this level  of gig

And for the last song, a glamorous violinist added to the mix.

Leon looking in the zone

Tom, now minus jacket and cool shades

Marlon, maybe in need of a haircut!

Then ART, who seemed to have the bigger crowd following. They are also more over the top, even than Sweet Unrest, at least Alfie the lead singer is.

From the middle of the Sweet Unrest set a mosh pit had developed. The audience was fun to watch too. And it included members of other bands. I spotted the lead singer of Scarlet Sometimes at the back, chatted to the manager of the Mitchells and below the guy on his manager's shoulders is Luka of the Mitchells.

Having finished on their big song, Milkshake, the two bands then combined for a rather crowded encore, given they are both five piece bands. The final song was that most classic of singalongs, Hey Jude.

A really great fun evening. Very enthusiastic crowd. Uproarious fun