Music

New Cross Inn

Shay, lead singer with incendiary Elastica-meets-Girlschool rocker The Veez, thinks there’s a more basic reason that Rocklands has formed its own identity. ‘A lot of it is to do with the tubes I think. We’ve got nothing like the Northern Line, and that’s beyond our control,’ she says. ‘But it’s good to be part of the south-east London movement. It brings people together in a really productive way. It’s more exciting than Camden or somewhere else further afield – I feel more of a sense of belonging, and less a sense of trying to prove yourself, or a pretence. We love playing everywhere, all across London, but I hope that this is going to create more recognition.’

Of course, these days you can’t have youths hooking up without MySpace being involved, and the popular networking site’s mitts are all over Rocklands, but probably not in the way you might expect. More pessimistic commentators have predicted that MySpace would lead to users creating online avatars, and retreating into fantasy dreamworlds, their interpersonal skills atrophying from years of pretending to be cool over the internet. However, the kids in New Cross have adopted the opposite mentality – used to the ease of supportive networking, they apply the same rules of establishing quick friendships to exploit the slightest hint of mutual interests. This is what makes it easy for them to approach complete (or at least relative) strangers in pubs and ask them to make a video for their record, or write a narrative for their next comic. Feature continues

Equally interestingly, no one is doing it for the money. The group’s collective ambition is more to be able to make a living doing something they love. ‘Commodifying yourself is a very tantalising prospect when you’re staring down the back of the sofa for coins,’ grins Charlie, ‘but it’s more important to actually say the message clearly.’

'Indie' - not just 'guitars and messy hair'

In these days where the word ‘indie’ usually just means ‘guitars and messy hair’, it’s refreshing to see a scene that is actually, properly independent. Rocklands isn’t just organic in the ‘unpolluted’ sense, it’s organic in the Soil Association sense – everything is homegrown, sustainable and aspires to high quality. It’s a safe bet that you’re not going to like all the bands you hear around there – local electro-noise outfit Lost Penguin, for example, are almost certainly the shoddiest band in London. But the spirit of the scene is highly infectious, and you’re guaranteed to find something to get you wet, no matter what your artistic persuasion.

‘Right now the exciting thing is it’s all really, really properly kicking off,’ bubbles Butchery. ‘We spent three years trying to spread the word, the big phrase – and this is going to sound as hippy as fuck – was ‘share the joy’. People were like “Aw dude, is that supposed to be ironic?” and it’s like no – honestly, just share the joy, because it’s either that or misery. All these people now, they’re sharing their own form of joy. It’s just wicked.’

Rubbish & Nasty, 308 New Cross Rd, SE14.
Fox & Firkin, 316 Lewisham High St, SE13.
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