A "plain 22" kettle" is no different than a Performer, minus the extra features a performer has. Use it just like you did before. The charcoal baskets are nice to hold the charcoal to the sides when you want to do indirect cooking.
If you don't have a Weber chimney, buy one for $15. Put it over the performer burner for 5 minutes or so, turn gas off, wait until the flames are licking the top of the chimney, empty it and spread evenly all across the charcoal grate if you want to cook everything direct.