Reviews

Be Your Own Pet are an absolute joy. I've been a fan of theirs since they burst on to the airwaves over here a few years ago. Touring Europe promoting new album 'Get Awkward', I was eager to experience this band live, and they most certainly did not disappoint.

Playing a breakneck set of oldies, newbies and everything in-between, BYOP are a whirlwind of excitement and youthful energy.

Exuding a strong sense of onstage unity, they are tight, melodic and positively sparking with brio. Barely pushing 20, their vibe is far from naive: BYOP have been on the road for months in a crappy van, got tired of the "get 'em out" attitude towards singer Jemina Pearl and become wiser, harder and more focussed as a result of it.

Pearl is a brilliant frontwoman, ricocheting between guitarist Jonas and bassist Nathan, thrashing her mane of peroxide hair and cutting through with that unique and gorgeous voice of hers.

Like some kind of punk rock Dolly Parton, she is strong, confident and totally absorbed live, striking a brilliant bittersweet balance between violent lyrical themes and coquettishly sweet vocal tone.

Highlights included the shaggy 'Wildcat', the wild 'Damn, Damn Leash' and the rollercoaster 'Bicycle'. For a fun, fast and fierce tangle in teenage anxiety, BYOP cannot be beaten.