Tom Minor: The Manic Phase
Thievin’ Stephen & the Beautiful Chaos – Tom Minor’s The Manic Phase
by Jack Rush
“It may not have been his real name, but he introduced himself to us as Steve. We dubbed him Thievin’ Stephen, due to his subtle tendency to steal both drinks and hearts, often at the same time,” reveals Tom Minor, setting the tone for The Manic Phase, a vivid, theatrical, and emotionally jagged four-track EP that captures the frayed glam of Soho nights with lyrical bravado and a punk-pop grin.
The ‘we’ Minor speaks of are the same motley crew from his earlier single Saturday Eats Its Young (included here), weekend warriors haunting the pubs, clubs, alleys, and squares of central London. Their scene is gritty and romantic in equal measure, and the EP’s tragicomic antihero Steve — a charming, possibly bipolar giant from south of the river — is a vessel for the ecstatic highs and inevitable comedowns of nightlife living. “This is his story reimagined – or at least half of it,” Minor says. “Stevie dear, if you read this: we miss you. Hope you’re all right, wherever you are.”
The Title Track: A Wild Overture
Opening with the EP’s namesake, The Manic Phase wastes no time in plunging listeners into its sonic theatre. Produced by Teaboy Palmer (affectionately dubbed the "Phil Spector of Finchley Road"), the track is all shimmering percussion, dense guitar, and a manic mix of vocal acrobatics. Minor’s lyrics dance between surreal wit and emotional grit — “moral compass meeting magnet,” “bipolar bear,” “recreational use of lithium and lukewarm water” — creating a portrait of Steve that’s as poignant as it is playful. Like a barroom Bowie filtered through Camden grit, the song brims with chaotic charm and heavy-hearted hooks.
Saturday Eats Its Young: The Bender Anthem
Track two, Saturday Eats Its Young (featuring The Creatures of Habit), ups the energy with infectious grooves and razor-sharp lines. It's a swaggering, half-satirical homage to weekend hedonism — a musical tribute to the beauty and brutality of burning out in style. Despite its buoyant rhythms and big singalong potential, there's a sobering undercurrent: these nights can swallow you whole. Minor and his collaborators know this, and they deliver the message with a wink and a warning.
Expanding Universe: Cosmic Satire with Boots On
Expanding Universe follows, and it’s a left-field standout. Opening like an Ennio Morricone score warped through a Dalston daydream, the track builds with theatrical flair into a layered critique of consumerism and manic ambition. There’s Queen-like operatic complexity here, but filtered through indie swagger and sci-fi satire. Minor uses falsettos and baritones in call-and-response, crafting a surreal, funny, and biting reflection of a world spinning too fast.
Future Is an F Word: Gothic Closure
The final track, Future Is an F Word, leans into darker atmospheres. With a pulsing synth intro and moody lyrics, it's a goth-pop epilogue to the night before. Think of it as the long walk home after the rave — emotionally spent, philosophically hungover, but somehow still smiling. Minor’s storytelling is at its sharpest here, balancing narrative restraint with sonic ambition.
About the Artist:
Tom Minor, a North Londoner with roots in indie rock, punk, soul, and psych-pop, has spent years writing for others — but The Manic Phase shows he’s at his best when telling his own strange, swaggering stories. His self-described “existential indie” doesn’t just entertain — it illuminates.
Final Verdict:
The Manic Phase is more than an EP; it’s a mini rock opera of the nightlife spirit — messy, brilliant, tender, and unhinged. Minor proves himself not just a songwriter, but a dramatist, a satirist, and a romantic at once. If this is chaos, then chaos sounds damn good.
Have a listen and connect with Tom Minor:
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