I love it when PET NEEDS release new material, even better when the new release is a collection of twelve classic tracks that have been re-visited, re-imagined and re-recorded acoustically, read on to find out what it’s all about….

Decamping to the tiny Welsh village of Borth, Pet Needs worked with producer Mike West, where they spent four frantic days reworking favourites from their repertoire to date and performing them live in the village’s deconsecrated church, Our Lady Studio. 

The result was ‘Kind of Acoustic’, the band’s first ever acoustic album.

Amongst Kind of Acoustic’s twelve tracks, smash singles (“Get On The Roof”, “Ibiza In Winter”, “Fear For The Whole Damn World”, “Punk Isn’t Dead”) have been re-worked alongside a smorgasbord of fan (and band) favourites from their debut “Fractured Party Music”, fiery follow-up “Primetime Entertainment”, and Official Top 20 Album ‘Intermittent Fast Living’. 

Let’s delve into some of the tracks….

‘Outline’ is the perfect way to kick off the record, whilst it sounds stripped back to its bare bones, the lyrics really shine through and I’ll admit that hearing this has made me go and listen to the ‘regular’ version of the track again as I swear it sounds like a different track altogether. 

‘Scratchcard’ delivered an upbeat, sing-a-long vibe, it may be acoustic, but it may as well be a ‘regular’ version that they’d play at one of their high octane live shows, I can easily see the audience going off like a firework to this version alone!

‘Ibiza in Winter’ sounds sublime with the piano working with acoustic guitars, it just completes the sound in a way that its regular recording doesn’t, that makes it sound like it is better acoustically, I guess I am listening with fresh ears and to me, it just sounds ‘different’ compared to the full fat version.

‘Fear for the Whole Damned World’ is a diversion from the original, with piano leading the charge and guitars coming in near the end, the juxtaposition between the electric version and this are so far removed, it shouldn’t work, but it does….

I caught up with Johnny recently to chat about the new record and the driver behind why they chose to ‘re-imagine’ twelve of their tracks acoustically. He said that it was something that they’d always wanted to do and was almost a step back in the process as all of the songs that they write are done acoustically and then re-worked ‘electrically’, so revisiting the tracks was a great chance to remember what they sounded like in the early stage of the track come together.

I asked Johnny when the band would be putting out a live album (which to me seems like a natural progression), and it was a topic that he wasn’t too keen on, adding that if he knew that a show was being recorded, he wouldn’t be able to relax in the way he does at a regular show and behave naturally. He added that a sound engineer recently recorded a show from the mixing desk (without the band’s knowledge) and it sounded great! I suggested that they might consider doing what Iron Maiden did back in the 80’s and record shows from a tour and then compile a live album from it, this was an idea that Johnny was happy to consider so keep your eyes peeled as it may happen, goodness knows when, but the seed has been sown!

Hearing these tracks performed acoustically makes you question which version you actually prefer, on one hand, I love their live shows, the power, the energy, the audience participation and on the other, I am quite happy to sit back with a mug of cocoa and my headphones perched atop my bonce, losing myself in the pure musicianship that is on offer. I always say that performing a track acoustically, or live removes any safety net that the band may rely on, this album proves that Pet Needs have never relied on a safety net and are more than capable of hammering home their message, (they only spent 4 days in the studio to produce the whole thing!) whether it be via electric or acoustic means.

‘Kind of Acoustic’ was released on 24th January 2025, via Xtra Mile Recordings. 

Supporting the release in fitting fashion, PET NEEDS will be heading out on a run of acoustic shows around the release at the end of the month - tickets on sale HERE

The band are also limbering up for two special FRACTURED PARTY IV shows in London this May, with the support acts just confirmed. 

Sonic Boom Six are special guests at the full band electric show at The Garage on 4th May with Shed and Pageant Mum also supporting. 

Generation Feral has been added to the two acoustic shows on 3rd May at The Church in Stoke Newington. With the two acoustic shows on 3rd of May already sold out, final tickets are remaining for the band’s headline show at The Garage and can be grabbed now. 

JANUARY

23 - The Salty Dog, Northwich 

24 - Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh 

25 - The Hairy Dog, Derby 

28 - The Parish, Huddersfield 

29 - Lincoln Drill Hall, Lincoln 

30 - The Frog & Fiddle, Cheltenham 

31st - In Cider Festival 

 

FEBRUARY

1 - St Stephen's Church, Ipswich

- FRACTURED PARTY IV -

3 - THE CHURCH, Stoke Newington, London - SOLD OUT w/ Generation Feral

4 - THE GARAGE, London w/ Sonic Boom Six, Shed, & Pageant Mum 

Go listen to ‘Kind of Acoustic’, immerse yourself in it and maybe revisit the original track to understand the differences that the acoustic version offers, it truly is a stunning body of work. Other bands should follow suit, but then again, not every band has the raw talent to pull it off as well as PET NEEDS have, BRAVO!

Steve Muscutt 2025