No Fun At All MasterClass in Punk Rock @ New Cross Inn

by | Dec 20, 2018

Our special relationship with the U.S has afforded us a rich bounty in musical imports.  Many of us will have spent our formative years engrossed in the sometimes raucous, and often melodic punk rock of Bad Religion, Pennywise, and No Use For A Name.  And frankly, we were lucky to have lived through their glory days.  But much like our political, and personal, relations our musical relationship with the States has left our necks craned to the west whilst the opposite direction held so much more.

Last night London’s New Cross Inn was privy to a masterclass in Punk Rock dealt out by several of the UKs most interesting prospects, headed up by Swedish punk legends No Fun At All.

No Fun At All’s legacy is apparent on both sides of the pond, in Europe the likes of Satanic Surfers, Antillectual, and Venerea all owe thanks to NFAA for the foundations they created in both melodic punk and skatepunk.  And in America, a whole generation of punk bands show signs of influence in their high tempo and melodic punk; whilst the likes of Belvedere and Mute display the blistering, borderline metallic, guitar riffs that NFAA popularised so well on their ’95 debut No Straight Angles.

First on stage were London and Brighton skatepunks Fastfade whose charismatic energy and playful stage antics captured the crowd from the onset. The banner behind them reading No Fun At All seemed quite the juxtaposition when considering the crowds reaction.  Their slick blend of Skatepunk and pop-punk is reminiscent of Captain Everything, Dear Landlord, and early Green Day.  Keep an eye out for these in future.

After a short turn around The Burnt Tapes took the crowd by surprise with conscious, anthemic, punk in the vein of Signals Widwest, Arms Aloft, and Timeshares.  Melodic guitars and punchy lyrics lured the crowd into singalongs.  They rounded out their set with the rousing Things Get Weird; and as their amps fell silent echoes of the lyrics hung in the cold December air.

Quite frankly, the room wasn’t ready for Spoilers despite everything that came before their entrance. They’ve had a brilliant year which their singer and guitarist Dan acknowledged mid set.  They have the confidence of a band that know exactly where they’re going.  Think Flatliners guitars meets the lyrical styling of Consumed; this is one of the UKs finest punk rock exports of recent years, on par with Murderburgers.  They even managed to get in a fast paced cover of Slade’s Merry Christmas Everybody.

 DARKO, where do I start?   DARKO supporting NFAA may come as some surprise to the casual attendee, but as previously noted NFAA’s sound has influenced generations of punk.  Truly, few bands belong on this tour, DARKO belong in that small community that couldn’t be more perfect.  The influence of the headliners is apparent in the driven, blistering riffs and purposeful lyricism.  But the way they utilise punk as the foundation for greater exploration into the realms of technical guitar and drums is thrilling. They commanded the room from start to finish with real emotive energy.

Think the clinical accuracy of A Wilhelm Scream or Jet Market.  It almost seemed too easy for them.  A supreme talent, that whipped the room into a frenzy several times throughout their set and imprinted themselves in the memory of everyone in the room, and possibly a few passers-by on Clifton Rise.

Tonight a band, 20 years my senior, reminded me how out of shape I am.  From start to finish No Fun At All not only commanded the entire room, they were relentless.  The New Cross Inn would do well to christen that stage the No Fun At All stage, and in name it wouldn’t represent the show we saw tonight.  A constant stream of crowd surfers accompanied by gang vocals from an expectant crowd proved, without a doubt, that the pioneers are still the masters.  Churning out fan favourite after fan favourite with a seemingly endless set list, NFAA crushed this room.  All of the tracks you would expect plus a few new ones from the 2018 release GRIT.

Opening the show with Believers, then heading straight into new song No Fun IntendedStrong And Smart and Wow And I Say Wowback to back mid-set sent the pit sideways spilling a few drinks in the process.

Rounding off their set with Out Of Bounds the sweat-soaked feral pit-dwellers yearned for more delightful chaos, and after calls for an encore NFAA obliged.  Six more songs ensued until their brilliantly crafted set had to end with Master Celebrator.

By the end members of the crowd were stood on tables trying to get a better view of the carnage, several members of the crowd had hurriedly invaded the stage to join the band in gang vocals.  When the lights came up, and the cold creeped in from the open doorway a thin veil of mist ascended from the heads and shoulders of the sweaty crowd. Until next time.

No Fun At All’s tour continues in The Hague tonight, and Osnabrück tomorrow.  They play a handful of dates in Germany in late spring.

Live review by Thom Bentley and photography Pauline Di Silvestro of No Fun At All at New Cross Inn, London on 19th December.


Liang Lawrence (Ana Chen)

Liang Lawrence Unveils Reflective New Single ‘A Day Off In Margaritaville’ Ahead Of Autumn UK Tour

Rising alt-pop storyteller Liang Lawrence has shared her shimmering new single A Day Off In Margaritaville, a vibrant, emotionally layered track that marks the first offering from her upcoming EP It’s A Funny Thing, due later this year via The Other Songs.

Mae Stephens (Hannah Burton)

Mae Stephens Returns With Infectious New Single ‘Tiny Voice’

Breakout pop star Mae Stephens is back with a bang as she drops her irresistibly offbeat new single, Tiny Voice — a track as addictive as it is relatable. Following the runaway global success of her hit If We Ever Broke Up, which racked up over 500 million streams, landed her a Top 15 UK single, and earned Gold certifications in both the UK and US, Stephens continues to show why she’s one of the most exciting new voices in pop.

Maya Lane (Press)

Maya Lane Announces New Single ‘I Don’t Know You Yet’ And Debut London Headline Show Ahead Of New EP

Rising UK pop-country star Maya Lane continues her impressive 2025 trajectory with the release of a stunning new single, I Don’t Know You Yet, out now. The introspective, stripped-back track offers a poignant taste of her forthcoming EP, The Hurt And The Healing, due out on 4th September, and precedes her debut headline show at London’s The Grace on 3rd September.

Perera Elsewhere (Hugo Holger Schneider x Gene Glover)

Perera Elsewhere Returns With Electrifying Double Single Ft. Andy S & Announces New Album

Berlin-based, UK-raised experimental artist Perera Elsewhere (aka Sasha Perera) is back with a high-voltage double single, F*ck Le System / Time Will Tell, out now on Friends Of Friends – both featuring viral Ivorian rapper Andy S. The release serves as a bold statement on feminine strength, social rebellion, and sonic experimentation.

Don McLean @ The Long Road Festival (Press)

The Long Road Festival 2025 Assembles Its Biggest Line-Up Yet For August Bank Holiday Weekend

Now entering its sixth and most ambitious year to date, The Long Road Festival 2025 is set to deliver its boldest celebration of country, Americana, and roots music yet, taking over the scenic Stanford Hall in Leicestershire from 22nd–24th August. With more than 80 artists across six stages, the weekend promises an immersive blend of genre-spanning music, authentic Americana culture, and inclusive community spirit — and has already become the festival’s fastest-selling edition to date.

Stevie Wonder @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Bethan Miller-Carey)

A Night In Wonderland: Stevie Wonder And Guests Delight At BST Hyde Park 2025

“Awwwwight!” drawls Stevie Wonder, arms flung wide, grinning like a teenager trying on cockney charm for the first...
Neil Young @ BST Hyde Park (Trudi Knight)

Dance, Shadow And Harvest Under The Full Moon: Van Morrison, Yusuf Islam And Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts At BST Hyde Park 2025

Gone are the sparkled cowgirls and pop princesses of previous BST gigs. It’s the turn of the Baby Boomer generation to make up the core crowd of Hyde Park – a sea of grey hair, straw hats, and sensible shoes. They reapply sun cream religiously, have brought picnic blankets, and can be forgiven for taking their time getting up and down from the ground between acts. This is the generation that invented outdoor rock and folk festivals – and they’re here to show the rest of us how it’s done.

Poptones (Rune Gro-Nielsen)

Poptones Play Their Wild Card With New Single ‘Say Something Now’ Ahead of Forthcoming Album ‘Pure’

Danish experimental rock trio Poptones have unveiled their new single Say Something Now, offering a taste of the unpredictability and emotional depth that defines their upcoming sophomore album Pure, out 26th September via Happy Metal Records. Where lead single Skin Of Sea teased a shift toward expansive and instinctive composition, Say Something Now dives headlong into that experimental impulse—guided, intriguingly, by the rules of UNO. Yes, the beloved card game.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing