DeKALB | What do you get when you add together two Chicago mainstays, a group of up-and-coming youngsters and one of the Windy City’s many unsigned buzz bands?

Well, chances are, you’d get something a little like Friday night’s show at The House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Highway.

Spitalfield – fresh off an Australian tour to promote its latest Victory Records release, “Better Than Knowing Who You Are” – played to an enthusiastic crowd who sang along to every song. Older songs played included “I Loved the Way She Said ‘L.A.’,” and new ones included “The Only Thing That Matters.” With singer/guitarist Mark Rose’s performing a haunting solo rendition of “Texas With a Dollar Sign,” the band proved once again why it has remained a pillar of the Chicago rock scene for nearly a decade.

John Ugolini of Kickstand Productions was singled out by Rose as having a “good time,” which was upgraded to “great,” “excellent” and “superb” throughout the night.

“Spitalfield is extremely nostalgic for me,” Ugolini said. “They put on such a fantastic show.”

Inept, the night’s biggest draw, brought scissor kicks and guitar spins to the House’s modestly-sized stage, playing songs from their EP, “Say Goodbye To This,” as well as songs from their upcoming full-length, due tentatively later this year. Between appearing on a multitude of tours with nationally-recognized acts and “The Call (No More Crying)” receiving airplay on Q-101, Inept may not be the best name for this apparently very “ept” group.

“They were so much fun,” said Ashley Kaminski, 19, of Geneva. “The people [in the crowd] were going crazy. I never expected that in a place like [the House].”

Dr. Manhattan, frequenter of DeKalb, brought its bizarre mix of techno/dance and punk/hardcore to the stage, melding sung and screamed vocals, rave-esque keyboards and dance-y drum-and-bass moments with huge guitar sounds.

The band’s stage presence may leave something to be desired, but its music certainly does not.

Last Fast Action opened the show. Longtime friends of Spitalfield as The Dog & Everything, a whole different side to this new project was shown Friday as drummer Tommy Constantino was unable to play due to a broken hand. His remaining bandmates adapted by playing stripped-down versions of their songs and asking the audience to clap along on some songs. But, while more than half the band may be D&E alumni, Last Fast Action is a different band.

“We wanted to put together an amazing five-piece band and not compromise a thing,” said guitarist Augie Schmidt. “[We wanted to] push ourselves in to a new direction with no limitations, incorporate more keyboard sounds and interesting arrangements.”

Mark Rose from Spitalfield is playing a solo acoustic show at Schuba’s Tavern in Chicago (3159 N. Southport) on May 4. Inept will be at The Rave in Milwaukee (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave) on May 25. Dr. Manhattan will play the SPEC in Decatur (1099 W. Wood) on April 28. Last Fast Action will be at the Diversions Lounge of the Holmes Student Center on Friday, April 27.