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Leaping across the stage, Pet Needs gets their crowd moshing to a unique blend of punk music.
Walking out to an onslaught of cheers, they make clear how much they appreciate their fanbase, a feeling that is reciprocated. The band has been able to support itself financially for two years now, and instead of discussing merch, the band chose to praise their warmup acts and their friends who helped make touring possible. The first warm-up act of the night was Private Party - a relatively new indie pop group, with bright guitar solos, and catchy melodies from their vocalist Violet.
The second support act was Glitchers - covered in duct tape and playing gritty hardcore punk music, they pull increasingly chaotic antic on stage while singing about their problems with the politicians and modern-day society. Pet Needs had one of the best setups I have seen in Clwb Ifor Bach, but that might be due to the sheer number of people that filled the venue. They used the booths for their merchandise, consequently forcing people to stand up patiently and wait for the acts to begin, creating an immediate crowd in front of the stage.
A refreshing take on punk music, Pet Needs switches between different intensities of the genre, keeping the set engaging and unpredictable. At times songs such as ‘Kayak’ appear to be heavy punk rock, with distorted guitar solos and full shouts – encouraging chaos in both the moshing audience and the lead singer jumping across the stage. Whereas songs like ‘Tracey Emin’s Bed’, while still punk, feel much more like early 2000s Blink 182, following a singable melody and anthemic choruses. Between songs the band makes sure to promote their third album ‘Intermittent Fast Living’, coming out next February 16th, even playing ‘Separation Anxiety’ a single off the album, building anticipation for the release.
Pet Needs made one thing very clear to their audience, that they expected enthusiasm and energy. At times they dare the audience to out-jump and sing their previous crowds, stating “Every show before this has been a warmup for Cardiff!” and encouraging them to put Bath (the previous night’s venue) to shame. Jack Lock on drums, Ryan Sharman playing bass, George Mariott playing guitar and lead singer Johnny Mariott finish off the show with the same high energy as they started it, being sure to thank the sound team and promising to play again with the new album next year.
Set List: 1. Separation Anxiety 2. Tracey Emin’s Bed 3. Ibiza in Winter 4. Fear for the Whole Damn World 5. Overcompensating 6. Tried and Failed 7. Primetime Entertainment 8. Kayak 9. Pavlovian 10. As the Spin Cycle Span 11. Scratch Card 12. Punk Isn’t Dead 13. Lost Again 14. Toothpaste 15. Get on the Roof
