The Newtown Neurotics
Phoenix Live, Halow
4th October 2025
* Actually, it was closer to Steve's 71st, but let's not quibble over technicalities.
It was a great surprise and indeed an honour to be invited to Steve Drewett's 70th birthay celebration bash that took place last night. For anyone who doesn't know, Steve was a founding member of the Newtown Neurotics a key fixture of Harlow's vibrant music scene of the late '70's and early '80's and purveyors of songs with sharp social commentary and political common sense for the last 45 years.
This was an opportunity to bring together under one roof some of the talent that exists in Harlow Town, that is otherwise little known beyond the borders of Essex.
Steve's long time gigging compadre, Attila The Stockbroker', was MC for the evening (of course!) bringing Steve's daughter Rosa to the stage first for a solo version of 'All Across The Universe' by some Liverpool band. She was followed by Murray Torkildsen who gave us a great little set with his guitar. More Harlow musical talent of the singer/songwriter ilk came in the form of Paul Howard and Jo Clack who gave an appreciative audience an Irish tinged set, very much in a Van Morrison vein. Pointing out that this night fell on the 89th anniversary of 'The Battle of Cable Street' they performed a rousing version of The Men They Couldn't Hang's 'Ghosts of Cable Street'.
Murray Torkildsen
Then it was Steve's slot with the Neurotics. The set was short but career spanning, from first, 'Hypercrite' to last 'Climate Emergency', with the likes of 'Licensing Hours', 'The Mess' and 'Stand With You' in between.
'Licensing Hours' - The Newtown Neurotics
Phoenix Live, Halow
4th October 2025
Leigh Heggarty who was also in attendance was invited up on stage to play 'This Fragile Life', which he did with aplomb aplenty. Apparently though, the guitar lead at hand was only about a metre long which meant that he was rather confined to the corner of the stage for the duration of the song. He guys managed to strike a couple of rock 'n' roll poses nevertheless to bring the song to a close!
Simon was clearly impressed!
As mentioned earlier 4th October was the anniversary of 'The Battle Of Cable Street', and event in 1936 when a march through the East End of London by Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists was halted by anti-fascist crowds.
What better timing for a rendition of 'Mindless Violence'/'Andy Is A Corporatist' to sign off with. And sadly as relevant today as it was when it was first recorded.
'Mindless Violence'/'Andy Is A Corporatist' - The Newtown Neurotics/Attila The Stockbroker
Phoenix Live, Halow
4th October 2025
... 'and we're gone'.
A huge thanks then to Steve for the invite, it was great to share this milestone with you.
No comments:
Post a Comment