Deep within the intimate chambers of The Deaf Institute, Pet Needs emerge in a not- so silent, but certainly deadly show. The Essex based four-piece returned ready to rock the room with their usual punk presence, marking yet another monumental gig of their 2025 tour. With their most recent album, Intermittent Fasting, reaching #17 in
the UK Albums Chart, it’s clear the band are reaching new heights since their formation in 2016.
Warming up the crowd before Pet Needs, Salisbury-based band Carsick turned up the heat with their post-punk attitude, following the intimacy of one-man band Samantics. As the close-knit venue began to slowly fill, Carsick’s EP track, Thatcher’s Gold, certainly did not disappoint in warming the crowd up, quite literally, as it had the crowd jumping. With the raw and unpredictable performance from Carsick, tied in with the eccentric and deeply personable Semantics set, the atmosphere held the air of intrigue and anticipation, a perfect stepping stone to Pet
Needs surfacing. Moments before Pet Needs’ arrival, the neon blue lights dimmed, and the crowd of all-ages erupted into applause and cheers.
They had arrived. The band’s explosive and highly eclectic nature instantaneously captured the audience with opening single Sleep When I’m Dead, with a sea of waving hands bouncing up and down. Frontman Johnny Marriott held the crowd in the palm of his hand with his easy-going yet passionate stage-presence, whilst bassist Ryan Sharman’s grin bridged the gap between the stage and crowd, adding a sense of joyful chaos. In between songs, frontman Marriott’s charisma shone through his humour, jokingly stating, “This is the first gig I’ve played with a seated balcony, so I feel very posh.” Sitting on this balcony myself, I did indeed feel very posh.
Another banger, Punk Isn’t Dead, rippled through the crowd, captivating the audience in a three-minute whirlwind of fury, power and defiance. Guitarist George Mariott made his presence undeniable with his aggressive, fiery guitar solo, claiming the stage as his own and truly declaring that punk is very much alive. With the flow of music undying, the band transitioned smoothly from one song to another, soon introducing fan-favourite Tracey Emin’s Bed. The crowd remained passionate and messy, indulging in the disarray. Frontman Marriott jumped as he sang with bassist Sharman turning to riff with drummer Jules Marrison, illustrating the bandmates unyielding chemistry.
“Music isn’t about competition, but supporting each other,” frontman Marriott stated between songs, receiving approval from the audience, forming a magnetic connection with the crowd. With the band performing banger after banger, Overcompensating, from their 2021 album Fractured Party Music, was no exception. With adrenaline at an all-high, the crowd formed a mini mosh-pit, which ended with a man crowd-surfing and ending up on stage with the band, forming a momentary five-piece band. Both the band and the audience seemed to approve, laughing and cheering for crowd-surfing man.
Fingernails introduced a fresh, rocky vibe to the show with full-bodied guitar riffs and hard-hitting lyrics. Marriott’s lyrics certainly shy away from flowery language and instead dive into the gritty roots of emotion, with his Essex accent bleeding through. In connection to the hooked and adoring crowd, frontman Marriott addressed his appreciation, declaring, “We don’t have casual fans. People either don’t care or are just truly invested in us.” He wasn’t wrong. With the room bustling and atmosphere undying, the crowd’s exhilaration felt eternal.
Bringing a stripped back and down-tempo approach, the band performed Nobody Ever Warned Us, trading their usual chaotic energy for something tender. Marriott’s mellow vocals conveyed a heartfelt tone compared to the band’s usual, blazing approach. One audience member solemnly held a lighter in the air and slowly waved it, which caused bassist Sharman to chuckle for a few minutes. Marrison on the drums demonstrated dynamic range, highlighting sincere control and composure, carrying the tenderness of the song with him.
Pet Needs did not finish with a sombre note though. Finishing with a bang, they made their final impression with Get on the Roof, continuing to jump like maniacs while encouraging the audience to sing, and sing they did. After a sincere thank you to their deeply dedicated fans, Pet Needs left the stage in uproarious applause. With their energy contagious from beginning to end, the band truly left their mark on Manchester. But for them, it’s not a need, it’s a must.
WORDS BY ANNA TORRANCE
PHOTO CREDIT – NEIL WINWARD
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