Nail The Cross

Nail The Cross

02 October, 2008
by: Laurenevett

It's that magical time of year again, when the students of the country are riding high on a new injection of what feels like free money, the sun is still shining and in East London there are the hippest of events to attend. Being added to the list this year is New Cross's 'Nail The Cross' festival, a mix of art, music and barbeque filled beer gardens.

Once the sun sets on the various exhibitions the festival had to offer, bands start making their way from the smoking areas to the stages around the town and one of the first to do this is current 'it' band Ipso Facto in the Goldsmith's student union. While style seems to come firmly before substance with every aspect of this band, there is still something completely mesmerizing about the morbid garage sound these four dark creatures before us manage to produce. It's true that the only effort seems to come from drummer Victoria and it's true that singer Rosalie's voice sounds so much like Kate Jackson that you could almost believe that this is what she's doing in her time off from Long Blondes but Ipso Facto have that something you can't quite put your finger. It will keep watching and listening until you can.

Next it's to the Amersham Arms where the sound quality is doing Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man very little justice. Despite the rather significant hindrance, front man Frederick's deliciously dark and deep voice still manages to devour the ever growing audience throughout the set. To go with their unique goth/metal/indie sound the band gives an erratic and animated performance, with Frederick looming around the dimly lit stage with a tormented grimace while the remaining three throw themselves into their instruments displaying expert musicianship worthy of a far greater platform. More than just hype and haircuts, Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man are a hidden treasure.

With all evidence of the previous set removed from the stage a small table gracing a MacBook is brought on stage and the room knew what was, for many, finally in sight. One of the festival's biggest names are on their way and the walls start dripping with a mixture of sweat and excitement. These New Puritans are known for delivering either a hit or a miss when it comes to their shows but the chance to see their debut album 'Beat Pyramid' performed to perfection is worth the risk. Thankfully, the young four piece are on top form, singer Jack Barnett throwing angular shapes around the stage whilst emotively thrusting his vocals into the crowd. If you've been disappointed or underwhelmed by a These New Puritans show before definitely consider giving them another chance.

Ending the string of live acts at the Amersham is Thecocknbullkid, a name which has recently been doing the rounds on various 'ones to watch' lists. Image wise it's not difficult to see why: fronted by the perfectly styled Anita who looks part hipster/part soulstress their entrance turns heads and pulls people to the stage even though the venue has emptied considerably. Sadly, it's for very little as her soulful pop tunes are given a completely lackluster run through, failing to excite even the most enthusiastic of onlookers. Thankfully, the DJs that follow save the night and get people back into their dancing shoes.

Move over Shoreditch, as if this is anything to go by, then there's going to be many more Nail The Cross festivals to come.


Nail the Cross comes but once a year. Click these links to see what's going on at The Amersham Arms and Goldsmith's Student Union.

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Laurenevett