Last Thursday London based bands Penguinsrising and The Valves joined forces with Manchester’s Alias Kid for a night of high energy rock ‘n’ roll at The Phoenix, in central London’s Cavendish Square.

First to take the stage were the Alan McGee protégés Alias Kid. Most of the crowd had not yet arrived at the venue by this time. The band bore quite a ramshackle appearance, looking as though they had been lifted from their stools at the front of a Manchester bar and thrown on stage. Their set delivered a predictably Britpop influenced set of rowdy guitar tunes that got those already in the room warmed up for what became a night of enthralling rock n roll.

Next on stage was London three-piece The Valves. The crowd descended to the basement to watch their short-but-sweet set. Their gritty sound was characterised by frontman and guitarist Raff Jago’s driving, bluesy riffs that recalled Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and a deep, booming rhythm section, which encapsulated the audience. Their stage presence was energetic without being over the top. The band left the stage to an enthusiastic round of applause from the buzzing audience, indicating their job was well done.

The room was full to the brim of rock royalty by the time headliners Penguinsrising were due to perform, with Andy Bell and Jay Mehler of Beady Eye amongst those in attendance. The three-piece burst onto the stage in an explosion of electro-punk energy that had the crowd bouncing from the beginning. Enigmatic frontwoman Sshh Liguz dominated the stage with her confident and charismatic performance, whilst the rest of the band operated like a well-oiled machine behind her.

The crowd filtered out of the room with smiles on their faces; the night’s £5 entry fee clearly money well spent. Larger club shows seem to be on the cards for the bands that owned the small band room at the Phoenix with ease.