Pack of Animals

By Resonate | December 5, 2024

Words by Poppy Jarvis

I first met Pack of Animals on a chilly Wednesday afternoon in Bristol. It was the kind of day where the city felt alive with students amidst the faint hum of anticipation for the weekend. I strolled to their shared flat, where we sauntered through the city centre before settling in a secluded pub. 

Pack of Animals arrived as a loud, lively crew in leather jackets, baggy jeans, and an unmistakable camaraderie that instantly marked them as a tight-knit group. Fran, Theo, Henry, Marcel, and Ethan looked every bit the quintessential rock band – edgy but laid-back as they humorously coalesced about their previous late-night. 

Our walk through the bustling streets to the interview location revealed why they’d left their home county of Devon for Bristol. “Devon’s nice, but it’s not exactly a music scene,” frontman Theo joked. For Pack of Animals, Bristol isn’t just a university town; it’s their second home. As we made our way through the city, they talked about Bristol’s influence on them, a scene they described as “alive” and “accepting,” where they could be themselves and make music without limits. Bristol’s freedom has allowed them to create a sound that is a heady mix of punk, rock and indie – blending punchy synths and the energy of Sonic Youth’s Teenage Rio.

We parked on a few sofas in the corner of the pub, where the group joked quickly and sat comfortably with a pint in hand. They spoke about their musical backgrounds, each sharing that music had been integral from a young age. 

“We’ve all been playing since we were kids”, Fran mentioned. Pack of Animals didn’t start as the band they are today. In Devon, they experimented with covers during lockdown when they realised their chemistry was potent enough to make high-quality original music. They discussed how their first gigs in pub back rooms in places like Ottery Saint Mary (a place where local farmers would jig along to their music) allowed them to express themselves, even if it was in the “middle of nowhere”. Their desire to create and perform led them to relocate to Bristol. As Fran enthusiastically stated, “Everyone can be whoever the fuck they wanna be”. 

The band’s name was born almost accidentally. Fran explained, “It just fit”, as they were throwing around similar word plays on a bus to band practice. They joked that it has “no real meaning” yet now fits seamlessly, mirroring the bond they share. Theo expressed their likeness to a “hive mind”, and the group all immediately agreed, stating they’re “together all the time” and have just become “different variations of the same people”. Ethan then exclaimed, “We’re the same person in different fonts, Fran’s in italics”, as everyone laughed with Theo adding, “he’s a bit wonky”. 

As the band started to come together more professionally, they stopped covering other people’s music. They found their sound and created original work inspired by bands like Talking Heads and Smashing Pumpkins, among other influences. They described their initial vibe as slightly over the place, not falling directly into a specific genre. What set them apart from other bands was their uniqueness and individuality, which Theo described perfectly: “Putting yourself into it makes it different.”

Their creative process is as spontaneous as you’d expect. “We don’t sit down with a plan,” Fran explained. “Someone brings a riff or an idea, and then we all build around it.” This organic approach led to their first release, In Your Eyes. Ethan had been fooling around with a bass riff that the others latched onto, and within an hour, they had a song. 

“We’re onto something that feels like us,” Theo told me, excitement clear in his voice. With In Your Eyes. They described the sound as “cool, fresh and exciting” with a debt to Joy Division. For the band’s cover art, one of the images displays Theo holding two fish eyes over his own – a quirky, almost absurdist image that reflects their sense of humour and their desire to be memorable without being pretentious. 

“Everyone nowadays is trying to say something and be deep”, Theo laughed. “We just want to look cool and sound awesome”, whilst also exclaiming how he felt: “holy shit, we’re onto something that no one is doing at the moment. We’re ahead”.

Having settled in Bristol, they’ve managed to carve out a space in the community by staying true to themselves, doing everything from promoting their shows to designing their own posters. Their shows have been gathering steam, too. When they performed at The Exchange, it “felt special.” A sold-out crowd sang along to their first single, a surreal experience for all five of them. 

Theo chipped in, “It was the first time that I heard people singing something that I’d written down, you know… when you go to write a song, you kinda feel like you’re crazy”. The city has allowed them to create a quality brand for them to build upon as it’s so accepting: “Bristol has a good foundation for like-minded people who are interested in the music industry and going out and having fun. People in Bristol are willing to step outside their door and have a good night”. 

In the continued discussion about their live shows, they stressed the importance of how they present themselves. “The way you present yourself on stage is just as important as your music,” Ethan emphasised. It’s all part of the aesthetic; it’s not only what you’re listening to, it’s also what you’re watching.” With thick bass lines, piercing synths, and a manic energy, they’ve crafted a stage presence that pulls fans in from the get-go. 

For the forseeable Pack of Animals are now focused on smaller, more personal gigs: “‘We want to have some fun in some basements and pubs and get sweaty and hot” they joked. Their upcoming shows in November and December are set to be memorable nights, and they’re ready to bring their brand to new audiences. “We’re just getting started,” Theo grinned with confidence that makes you believe him. 

Although working so closely together brings challenges, at the end of the day, their friendship is the glue holding them together. “We’re like a family,” Fran said, “these guys made me fall in love with music”, and it’s this raw youthful energy that Pack of Animals convey. They’re not polished, pretentious, and they’re not trying to change the world. They’re here to have a good time, make loud music, and connect with fans in the most direct way possible. They’re ambitious, sure, with dreams of growing beyond Bristol and the UK, but for now, they’re focused on the present. Ethan summarised this perfectly: “You’re here on this planet one time, have as much fun as you can.

Follow Pack of Animals on Instagram @packofanimalsband