Pet Needs: UK Punk’s Rising Stars Set U.S. Stages Alight
Pet Needs is the pick-to-click for those looking for a new band to fall in love with. This group hails from Colchester, Essex, England — a 45-minute train ride from London — and is fronted by master showman Johnny Marriott on vocals, with brother George on lead guitar, Ryan Sharman on bass, and Jules Marrison on drums.
We’ve had the great pleasure of seeing Pet Needs recently at the beautiful, old-time Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, in the US, as part of their short one-week tour supporting Spike and the Gimme Gimmes, whom we reviewed last year. Doors opened at 6:30, with Pet Needs on at 7:30, but the general admission area was already crowded and buzzing with anticipation. Word of their dynamic live show had spread through the US punk rock community.
For those unfamiliar with US geography, Stroudsburg isn’t particularly close to any major population centre. Many people the writer spoke with had driven between two and three and a half hours to attend, with Pet Needs as their primary draw — a testament to the band’s growing popularity.
As the band took the stage, a cheer erupted, and they launched into “Sleep When I’m Dead” from their 2024 hit album “Intermittent Fast Living” (IFL), which charted at number 17 upon its release in the UK in December 2024. Johnny was a study in kinetic motion — running across the stage, balancing microphone stands, and belting out lyrics as if his life depended on it.
“Ibiza in Winter” followed, a song about staying positive and creative during downtime — like how summer party-capital Ibiza must feel when the crowds are gone in the barren winter months.
“I need to rest like Ibiza in winter, I’ve not been myself eating breakfast for dinner…”
Next came “Separation Anxiety”, another track from IFL. This fast-paced banger was direct in its message: touring strains relationships. Johnny missed his wife — and their dog, Eddie — and made no effort to hide it.
Speaking of Eddie, later in the show, Johnny made an impassioned plea for merch sales so he could feed his dog when he returned home. One of the most endearing things about Pet Needs is Johnny Marriott’s masterful storytelling. He knew how to bring an audience in and make them part of the journey. He spoke about playing various stages at Glastonbury, selling merch at each one, and agreeing to perform on one stage — only to discover it was the nudist venue. ‘We only sold one shirt!’ he exclaimed, to laughter. His childlike charm and sincerity were utterly disarming.
“Fingernails”, also from Intermittent Fast Living, was the song of a worrier — someone expecting the worst, assuming every phone call or message brings bad news. Anyone who has struggled with anxiety, self-doubt or depression will find it hauntingly relatable.
Looking back to an earlier release, the band delivered a powerful one-two punch with “Tracey Emin’s Bed” and “Toothpaste”. “Tracey” referenced the British artist who famously sold her unmade bed — complete with condoms and detritus — for £2.5 million, a commentary on value, art, and vulnerability. But for Johnny, it was also one of his first explorations into mental health. “Toothpaste” was an energetic nostalgia piece, evoking memories tied to objects and moments from the past.
They closed with what had become their anthem: “Get on the Roof” from “Primetime Entertainment”. It was a bouncy, shout-along tune that left the crowd begging for more. ‘I don’t know which direction that I’m running in, but I’ll run at it with everything…’ Sadly, as the support act, their time was up. But Johnny promised they’d be back in the area as headliners later this year. Everyone was waiting for the dates to drop.
Photos (c) David Fang
