Just over a month since his last showcase at the Good Mixer, Mr Steve returned to the infamous watering hole for the third instalment of his ‘A Good Time Rock ‘N’ Roll Show’.

Like the previous editions, the lineup reads like a roll call of artists Steve Cutler (Mr Steve) has championed over the past year, A growing circle that’s bound by his enthusiasm and infectious personality.

It a testament to the man and his shows that the room was packed with previously billed names that included Charles Bueller (Dead Freights), Max Bianco and members of Away Fans. These artists didn’t just turn up, they turned out. Loyalty is earned, not booked.

In this past year alone, Mr Steve has embedded himself into the creative bloodstreams of Southampton, London and beyond. Backing acts of any size and capacity probably louder than they do themselves. He gives stages to those who need one.

The Good Mixer serves as a fitting setting for Mr Steve’s shows. It’s a proper Camden boozer steeped in musical history, but tucked far enough away from the chaos of Camden High Street to make you feel part of an elusive gathering. Not only hosting live music, but breathing it.

Stepping in from the cold, there he is holding down his usual spot on the corner of the bar, stamp in hand and guarding the door like a Rock ‘N’ Roll waiter. Across the room, resident soundman Paul Shipperley is nestled amongst a sea of wires, mic stands and pedal boards, acting as the silent operator without whom there would be no show.

Scan the room and you can immediately tell this isn’t a crowd, but a community of musicians, fans, friends and family. All centred around one man.

The bill paired Cambridge-born folk artist Emily Simmons with Southampton hardcore/grunge trio Arid Wave and garage rock upstarts The Howling Fiends. An ambitious three-way that promised contrast.

Simmons eased the room in, and As Mr Steve graced the Good Mixer stage, to set up another night of rock ‘n’ roll, she lurked in the shadows, before opening with the delicate ‘fragility’. A twinkling acoustic guitar and soothing voice that comforted the pub instantly. ‘Like Water Flow’ delicately nudged the temp up and suddenly the historic room was silent.

‘An Angel of Sorts’ and ‘Call Me Lazy’ lifted both the volume and the intent. Toes tapped and heads nodded. New songs ‘Lost On Me’ and ‘Mistaken’ followed suit.

Simmons dialled out the room, allowing her to focus purely on the songs. By the time ‘The Weight Of All Your Dreams’ and ‘Snakes and Ladders’ bought the set to its natural conclusion, the intensity in the room had grown carefully from hush to hum.

A short break was capped by a poem from Kosmic Girl ‘Today I Am In Love With Life Again’ which filled the room in warmth, before the tone was flipped on its head.

Arid Wave detonated the the calmness with seconds, marking their second appearance on a Mr Steve bill. They tore into opening track ‘Fold’ and dragged chaos onto the once-calm stage. The Palmer brothers Ben (Vocals and guitar) and Will (Drums), joined by Chris Cutler on bass, moved as a unit.

The energetic opener grabbed everyone inside and chaos surrounded the outskirts of the stage, rippling through the room.

‘Pushin’ 30′ was ferocious. Drummer Will Palmer snapped a drumstick mid-assault and had to finish the track with his bare hands. The pace barely dipped through ‘Honesty’ and ‘4.5’, tracks from the Hüsker Dööm EP released at the tail end of 2025. Ben Palmer’s screaming vocals were held together by the comfortable and tight rhythm section.

‘Life is Combat’ hurled punchy riffs at every wall, whilst ‘Strange Hill’ simmered the atmosphere, before it also boiled over. ‘All Blues, No Rhythm’, showcased Ben Palmers vocal range before closer ‘Valhalla’ blew the roof off.

for one final crashing verse, Ben Palmer launched himself into the crowd, riff still ringing as the rhythm section held tight. One last strum, and one last cymbal smash, and the pub erupted. They won the crowd over on their first appearance at the Good Mixer, and solidified their position with this performance.

As quickly as they arrived Arid Wave made way for The Howling Fiends. A garage rock trio Mr Steve stumbled upon on a “quiet” visit to The Good Mixer.

They opened with the guitar-charged ‘Warm Bones’ and won the room immediately. The shift from Arid Wave’s grunge sound, to this rock ‘n’ roll swagger felt instant and perfectly placed on a Mr Steve bill.

‘Roller Lover Recover’ followed, carrying a sense of The Strokes in its strut. Although this sounds knocked about the past 25 years, this felt revitalised rather than recycled..

Distorted guitars and fuzzy vocals bled into ‘Fat Wallet’, accompanied by a booming, elastic baseline that shook the walls and gave the groove some space to breathe.

Then they hit the accelerator ‘Never Coming End’ and ‘In a Box’ kicked the tempo up a notch and the trio tightened the screws, dragging the crowd down with them.

Riff heavy ‘Medicine Master’ reverberated around the room, its warbling psychedelic lead centre stage whilst the rhythm section locked everything down.

They ended their impressive set with the scrappy ‘Like a Dog (Ataxia)’, a track that threatened to turn sideways at any moment. Bluesy bass and drums laid the groundwork for a sprawling solo that held the entire room hostage. By the end of their set, they’d not just impressed, but recruited a new audience.

As is tradition with a Mr Steve show, the night doesn’t end there. Raffle prizes up for grabs for all in attendance. Signed Max Bianco “Max strength” crisps, a Ben Palmer signed banana and a Will Palmer signed bag of pistachio’s in the offering.

DJ Black Feather was also on hand once more, to provide a good night of rock ‘n’ roll into the early hours of the morning.

With three shows under his belt, it feel’s like Mr Steve is making moments in the Camden music scene. He’s building a scene, a sense of ocassion and gives the revellers something to keep showing up for.

Each show grows louder and tighter but also sharper around the edges. People are buying into his shows and turning out in numbers. Knowing Mr Steve he’ll already be concocting his next lineup.

Review by Brad Halcrow

All photography by Libby Grinham