Pop punk legends Neck Deep ignited their Manila show

Welsh pop punk band Neck Deep once again took over Manila’s punk scene, this time at New Frontier Theater! After years of rocking three shows at Skydome, they finally booked a bigger venue last May 11, 2025, as they ignited the stage while voicing their advocacies.

The crowd erupted as the band launched into their first three songs from the raw emotions “Hearthbreak Of The Century”, to the rebellious energy of “S.T.F.U”, and finally, the longing to leave everything behind and join the UFO: “Take Me With You”.

The nostalgic part of the set hit hard with “Gold Steps” and “Can't Kick Up The Roots”. Since the show was held on Mother’s Day, Ben Barlow dedicated “Lime St.” to all the mothers, as the song explores themes of love, regret, and longing. During “She’s A God”, lead vocalist Ben Barlow encouraged the ladies to join the mosh pit, claimed that women do it better. He then reminded the crowd of “It Won’t Be Like This Forever” from their self-titled album, emphasized that tough times are temporary and that whenever you feel lost, this song is a reminder to keep going.

When the band cued Wish You Were Here, a song they usually don’t perform, except when they performing here in the country, fans certainly didn’t miss out on the high-energy opening track from their self-titled album, “Dumbstruck Dumbf**k”, which reflects self-doubt and frustration. Following that, they played “Sort Yourself Out”, a song centered on self-reflection and the need for change. As the show neared its climax, the band sang “We Need More Bricks”—a call to action directed at the government, urging higher-ups to give power to the people. They acknowledged the political climate and upcoming elections in the Philippines, using their platform to raise awareness. As they ended the song, they also voiced out their stance on global issues. Their message was clear: stand up, resist, and make a difference. Jokingly exiting the stage, the band returned one last time to perform their hit songs: “December” and “In Bloom”. Before ending the night, Barlow thanked every single person who came, including PULP Live World for making the show a reality. Neck Deep won’t be missing us for long, as they promised to come back many, many times from the other side of the world and continue playing for their Filipino fans.

Photos by Christian Melanie Lee