A band that preceded this site by just a bit, but for a brief moment felt like one of the most exciting and important indie rock bands in the world, if, a few years ago, we were ever pressed to pick any one Nashville band to reunite, it would’ve been Be Your Own Pet, despite the prospect seeming ever-unlikely year by year. Formed in 2004 while still in high school, the group went from burned CDs and DIY shows to world tours, major labels, and endless critical accolades at lightning speed, performing major fests like Coachella, Bonnaroo, Glastonbury, and Reading & Leeds, earning praise from Zane Lowe, appearing on late-night television, and touring with the likes of Sonic Youth and Arctic Monkeys all while still in their teens. Adopting a pop-laden garage punk sound and a wild and unpredictable performance style, BYOP released just two albums and a handful of EPs before burning out in 2008, largely due to the immense pressure of touring, major label pushback, and the constant attention brought on by their meteoric rise.
After their split, singer Jemina Pearl tried her hand at a brief solo career and married Third Man Records’ Ben Swank, guitarist Jonas Stein (also one half of Sparkle City Disco) launched another popular Nashville group who’ve since disbanded, Turbo Fruits, along with second drummer John Eatherly, who later fronted New York post-punk outfit Public Access T.V. and currently makes music as Club Intl; bassist Nathan Vasquez has long been apart of local group Deluxin’, and, of course, original drummer Jamin Orrall found fame with his band JEFF the Brotherhood (and isn’t part of their reunited lineup, though he gave his blessing). Since originally splitting on rocky terms more than 15 years ago, Be Your Own Pet had begun to feel more and more like an amazing band cut short who’d simply be relegated to history, a footnote for those too young to obsess over the next big thing during what’s recently become dubbed as the “sleazy indie” heyday. But a few years ago, after noticing reunions from peers and beginning to reconnect as friends, the band had warmed up to the idea of staging a comeback for fun. And once Jack White came calling, asking them to open for him at a string of shows in 2022, they couldn’t say no.
It wasn’t initially clear if those 2022 Jack shows in Nashville, New York, and Atlanta, along with a couple of headlining pop up performances around them (including Nashville’s Soft Junk the night before taking the Ascend stage) would be the extent of their return, but given the rapturous response to their comeback, their clear nostalgia for making music together, and the electrifying chemistry in picking up where they left off, we weren’t surprised (but were incredibly thrilled) when the group began joining festival lineups like Primavera, Shaky Knees, and SXSW in 2023, cementing their full-on reunion with the announcement of a new LP, more than 15 years after their sophomore effort, Get Awkward, called Mommy, which dropped two years ago through White’s Third Man Records. Ferocious and frenetic, the record blends the sound and punk spirit of their original work with the experience and life lived in the years since, and after those festival dates and international shows, BYOP hit the road for their first proper North American reunion tour throughout the latter half of that year, preceded by an absolutely incredibly performance at Third Man’s Blue Room, capturing the unbridled intensity that earned them such high praise back in the day.
Continuing the momentum into 2024, BYOP appeared at more festivals, and continued to tour the U.S., returning them home to headline Eastside Bowl last summer. And the rockers have stayed busy in the year since their last Nashville headliner, appearing at even more festivals in 2025, touring with groups like The Linda Lindas, and even treating Nashville to yet another intimate local show, at the ten year anniversary party for Duke’s back in the spring. Currently in the midst of a tour with Anamanaguchi, BYOP dropped their first new single since Mommy, called “What A B*tch,” a couple weeks ago, along with an accompanying music video (watch below)- yet another fantastic, second act effort that captures the raucous energy this band does best.
And though there weren’t any Nashville dates on their initial tour announcement, Be Your Own Pet always make sure to show some hometown love, having just added two nights at intimate DIY venue Soft Junk, on Oct. 24 & 25. Unlike the last time they made a surprise appearance at Soft Junk in 2022, which was outside and free, these performances will be inside and ticketed, which means space in limited and tickets will go quick! Get tickets to night one, with openers massie99 here, and night two, with Wesley & The Boys, here!
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