BE YOUR OWN PET AT BACKSTAGE BAR & BILLIARDS LV

Be Your Own Pet hit downtown Las Vegas for a headlining show at the Backstage Bar & Billiards on Fremont Street, making for a fun Tuesday night for area punk rocker connoisseurs. The band made a mark in the early 2000's Nashville punk scene, with a debut album in 2006, and a second hit release Get Awkward in 2008, before a crash and burn and disbandment. But BYOP made a comeback in the last few years, reuniting after 15 years to tour in support of Jack White, signing with Third Man Records (co-owned by White and Jemina Pearl's husband Ben Swank) and releasing a new album, MOMMY, in 2023.

Frontwoman Jemina Pearl is a dynamic force, kicking and flailing across the stage in a TShirt and fishnets and not much more, as she belts out "Thresher's Flail" from their debut, with guitarist Jonas Stein ripping through the chorus, bassist Nathan Vasquez hair swinging

all over and drummer John Eatherly beating out the backbone. BYOP's Vegas set had cuts from all

three records, getting the crowd fired up with single "Worship The Whip" from new MOMMY,

and singing along with "GoodTime". We got a retro punch from "Becky" and "Teenage Heaven", then Peal was back in our face with "What A Bitch", and we danced away with "Zombie Graveyard Party!"

Pearl's Riot Grrrl roots are still there, and after 15 years or so the BYOP band is still just as potent as ever - the new record is a self-assured Jemina, and has maybe more grown up topics, but still raw and fierce as hell. MOMMY reflects new chapter in Pearl's experiences and songwriting, and she's here to tell you about it. Loudly.

BYOP are touring through October, more on Be Your Own Pet, tour dates and MOMMY HERE.

BYOP Photos Jo Anna Jackson Sstardogphotos.com