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| NEWTOWN NEUROTICS: The Long Goodbye Cherrry Red Films Running Time: 119 minutes Released September 2005 �24.99 CHERRY RED This DVD features the last gig by the Newtown Neurotics at London�s Fulham Greyhound on October 29th 1988. The Neurotics in case you don�t already know, produced a decades worth of punk rock beats on top of agit prop statements. A theme that bands like Chumbawamba, and Billy Bragg took to the 4 corners of the UK more successfully, but with not quite as much integrity. After 4 albums, 8 singles and not forgetting their bass players ill health, which subsequently drove the final nail into their moral coffin. �The Long Goodbye� captures their funeral pyre in all its sweaty glory. I can�t honestly say im that sad at their departure, I wasn�t exactly a great fan of the band when they were anxiously putting the world to rights. But they did come up with a handful of memorable anthems when they weren�t busy trying to sway our vote towards leftfield politics or ramming slogans into their air. Lead singer/ guitarist Steve Drewett dons perpetual shades and a lean outlook and is the spiritual leader and spokesman with a cropped conscience. He informs the crowd as a shrunken yellow �I wear Durex� t-shirt clings to his frame��its good to see so many people here because the money we get tonight is our redundancy pay�. And that sums up this bands attitude perfectly. The Neurotics in the bleak eighties claimed they stood for the British working man who was unionised and voted Labour. However everyone else was deemed pretty much suspect! But their combination of socialist politics and street music had enough melody and style to make a heartfelt attempt at denting the mainstream music arena. However even with a generous music press on their side throughout their reign, and enough angst to fill venues on a regular basis, this trio of red dissenters just wasn�t sexy enough to reach a wider audience. And even in a live situation despite some rave reviews, you can see in this film why they didn�t have enough stage presence or star quality in their tank to spur a broader appeal. They do however entertain a packed Fulham Greyhound with a water tight delivery and Drewett�s hardworking Paul Weller ethic, that drives their Harlow neurosis round all the dangerous bends. This mammoth 25 song set is only interrupted with a brief backstage introduction with the band and their bloated devotee, the slimy poet Attila The Stockbroker. This fat bard makes an appearance on stage mid set and gives us one of his anti fascist rants which was wasted coz it was spat out at an already converted audience. But its soon back to the main event. This is basically all live action that don�t give the viewer much scope on its shoe string budget. As we sit through those long, dark back of the room camera shots we rarely see the action up close. A sight which would�ve no doubt given us a fright, but might�ve added a new dimension to this films endurance. The gritty sound quality ain�t bad, although Id strongly recommend you sample the bands recorded legacy first. �The Long Goodbye� only really warms up towards the middle of the set when the scolding �Mindless Violence� was ripped out to good effect. I much prefer them when they sing about everyday life and all its pitfalls. The band also excel in tunes like the amusing CB tale of �Suzi Is A Heartbreaker�. They also had a knack of transforming old punk classics into mid 80�s polemics. Check out �Blitzkrieg Bop' for example ��an never ending arms race, its gonna blow in our face, we�ve already had a fore taste� at the blitzkrieg bop�, which certainly got the crowds fists raised. On their most memorable ditty �Living With Unemployment� which is set to the Members �Solitary Confinement� takes them to another level! But its on their self penned numbers like �When The Oil Runs Out� that they really make you think. However its always a bit suss when a bands best songs are nearly always reworked covers! Most entertaining spot of the wake came when the venues manager climbed up on stage smoking a Cuban cigar and in his most genial way, told the punters to refrain from stage invasions. His plea was met with an expected barrage of derision and abuse. The band sensing the early stages of Anarchy then quickly launched into the highlight of their set �Kick Out Tories� which was a batton charge against the Thatcher regime of the era. Oh how the times have changed eh. It would be interesting to hear what they think of the current Labour government. The gig ends with Atila the stockbroker leading a chaotic version of �I Fought The Law� and that was it finito, or so we thought. Since this release, the band have been given the kiss of life and tempted back with some sporadic gigs penned in to promote this DVD. So maybe you will get a chance to hear a revised version of �Kick Out The Cronies� after all. WATCHABLE PETER DON�T CARE |
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