The Necessary

The Necessary emerged from North Carolina as an alternative pop/rock-emo outfit whose sound merges aggressive, hard-driving energy with consistent melodic hooks. Their catalog stands out for deeply introspective and confessional songwriting that steers clear of carefree celebration; instead, the material frequently leans toward melancholy themes. This blend of serious-minded, inward-looking lyrics with punk-pop intensity defines the emo approach that took hold in the 1990s and early 2000s, setting it apart from the politically charged, socially conscious, or sexually frank material typical of late-1970s and early-1980s punk-pop acts. Primary touchstones for the band include Sunny Day Real Estate, Green Day, the Juliana Theory, and Texas Is the Reason, all of which surface regularly in critical comparisons, while listeners across North Carolina have additionally linked the quintet to Jimmy Eat World, Good Charlotte, and Copeland.

The group came together in the early 2000s in Greensboro, North Carolina, uniting lead singer and frontman Josh King with rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist David McLaughlin, lead guitarist Joel Kiser, electric bassist Jeff Linn, and drummer Todd Turner. That configuration quickly generated a modest regional audience throughout the Carolinas. In 2003 the Necessary inked a deal with Forsaken Recordings, the modest independent Greensboro label operated by Joel Collins of Bloodjinn. The imprint issued the band’s debut album, This Is Us, in June 2004; its title track, co-produced by Collins alongside Necessary members, was selected as the lead single.