Last year I listened to an album for my weekly mini review series. There was a band with a new album that Third Man Records had been pushing like crazy, and I decided to give it a try. That album was Be Your Own Pet’s Mommy, and it absolutely blew me away. I was instantly hooked. Now, fast forward almost exactly eleven months later, and I got the chance to see them live at The Bottleneck in Lawrence, KS.
A quick history lesson on Be Your Own Pet might be in order for the uninitiated. They are a punk/garage rock band formed in 2004 by a group of high school friends, who released just two full length albums and three EPs before sadly calling it quits in 2008. But despite only being around for four years, they developed quite the cult following and critical acclaim. Their return to the stage in 2022, and studio in 2023, was celebrated by articles written by Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and NPR.
Looking back at comments made by enigmatic leader, Jemina Pearl, it seems like there was always a sense of unfinished business. They weren’t done climbing yet. They were still early into their ascent. To quote Jemina in an interview with Pitchfork, “I’ve been waiting 14 years, so I’ve got a lot of pent up energy.”
But a lot can change in 14 years. Do they still captivate an audience like they once did? Do they still have that same energy that garnered them their initial stature of punk/garage rock icons back in the 2000s? I’d answer both questions with a resounding yes. From the opening snare roll of “Worship the Whip,” to the chaotic sounds that close “Bunk Trunk Skunk,” Be Your Own Pet appeared to have picked up right where they left off in 2008.
Guitarist Jonas Stein does most of the heavy lifting musically. He plays with a precision that perfectly counter balances the reckless energy coming from the rest of the band. Nathan Vasquez brings some Talking Heads-esque bass grooves, and still has the giant hair. John Eatherly is the drummer and comic relief. He sits there with a vape pen and throws out some banter between songs. Speaking of the banter, it speaks to their lifelong friendships. Inside jokes and personal jabs.
They all put on great performances, and brought the energy. But frontwoman Jemina Pearl really steals the show. She was not kidding about having a lot of pent up energy. I don’t think she ever stopped moving. She’s always doing something. Whipping her head back and forth, pretend strangling herself with the mic cord, walking through the crowd, rolling around on stage, or getting in the face of someone in the front row. And through it all she’s singing everything perfectly, note-for-note.
The set list was very well balanced. They played at least one song from every one of their releases, except the Extra Extra EP. I was pleasantly surprised that their self titled debut album got the most representation. That’s my personal favorite, and judging by the crowd reaction, I’m not the only one with this opinion. They also played a brand new song called “Get on YR Knees.” So hopefully this reunion continues with another album.
The highlight for me was probably “Rubberist.” It’s my favorite song from Mommy. It’s just got such a cool vibe, and it was even cooler live. And Jemina belting out the chorus live is definitely unmatched by the studio recording. So much power. But also seeing them perform classics like “Wildcat!,” “Adventure,” and “Bicycle Bicycle, You Are My Bicycle” was awesome, too.
And after the show ended, the band mingled with the crowd in the front of the venue. Jemina Pearl even worked the merch booth, which I thought was really cool. It gave everybody a chance to talk to her. I can confirm that they are all really nice people. I also walked away the proud owner of two signed copies of Mommy. The album that made me a fan.
