Pet Needs – Live Instore At Wax & Beans

Tonight is Pet Needs first visit to the northern market town of Bury, from my persepctive this is welcome for several reasons, first it’s a rare local gig for me as we don’t get many bands visiting with the city of Manchester being only a few miles away. Other than seeing a few obscure punk bands in dodgy pubs in the 90s, whose names are lost in the mists of time, and more memorably a very early incarnation of local success story Elbow, I’m struggling to recall many bands that have visited since I moved here. Tonight Pet Needs are playing an instore appearance at local coffee and vinyl emporium, Wax & Beans, and as supporting your local record shop is a necessity in these post austerity times this is a positive for our local vinyl outlet, this is also a more than welcome boost to what has personally been a fairly bleak 2024 so far. 

The soundcheck provides some entertainment as you can see and hear it whilst we’re waiting outside Wax & Beans, if it was warmer this would be a pretty good vantage spot for the rest of the evening, but this is Bury, in February, so that isn’t an option. After the initially minimal queue of the enthusiastic, the compact space in Wax & Beans rapidly fills up, initially the banner proclaiming “Pet Needs – kind of creative -mainly just a mess” stubbornly refuses to stay up, but it is eventually securely gaffa tapped into place and we’re ready to go. There’s a definite buzz about the place tonight as Pet Needs release their new album, Intermittent Fast Living, tomorrow, so tonight is a welcome opportunity to get a preview of their follow up to the impressive pair of previous full lengths, Primetime Entertainment and Fractured Party Music. Tonight is an intimate show with bass, acoustics and, well, a box that drummer Jack keeps the beat on, that takes place amidst the racks of vinyl. 

Pet Needs offer to play “respite” songs if people get bored of hearing their new material, so the start of their set is obviously focused on the new album and, after some rambling about the individual merits of wax and beans (in the end Jelly Beans won the argument) they kick off with an animated rendition of Sleep When I’m Dead. The new songs from the album are warmly received and the intimate nature of the venue leads to explanations about what inspired the songs, on Self Restraint this was Eddie, singer Johnny’s Dog, and is about how pets have more self control than their owners, my cats might dispute this! Despite being an acoustic gig the energy levels are kept high with many songs given a more than welcome debut live outing. The set includes a steady countdown to Intermittent Fast Living‘s release at midnight, the offer of respite songs isn’t needed as the strength of the new material gives the impression that their new full length could well be their strongest to date, I’ll find out in just under four hours.

Part way through the set a passing heavily refreshed gentleman presses himself up against the window, he then pokes his head into Wax & Beans and loudly declares “YOU GUYS FUCKING ROCK” before staggering off into the night, this threw the band somewhat but firstly, unsolicited compliments are always welcome, and secondly, it must be said that he made a good point. Pet Needs finish their set with “pudding songs” which kick off with Tracy Emin’s Bed, a personal favourite of mine, that is followed by Toothpaste and Get On The Roof that close this impressive up close and personal acoustic show. Afterwards there is a signing for slightly early copies of the album and I’m home ridiculousy early and impatiently awaiting the release of Intermittent Fast Living. Pet Needs are on tour in support of their new full length this Spring, including a stop in Manchester, and all being well I’ll be there to experience them in full effect.

You can experience Intermittent Fast Living here and all of your vinyl and caffeine needs can be met by Wax & Beans.