Be Your Own Pet

Be Your Own Pet, an American punk rock band from Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 2003 while all members were in high school at Nashville School of the Arts. The group initially consisted of lead vocalist Jemina Pearl, guitarist Jonas Stein, bassist Nathan Vasquez, and drummer Jamin Orrall. Their early performances included house shows and gigs at local venues such as Guido's Pizza and Bongo Java. Be Your Own Pet released their first single, "Damn Damn Leash", in 2005, which gained attention after being played by BBC Radio One presenter Zane Lowe. This led to a string of EPs and notable festival performances, including Coachella, Bonnaroo, Glastonbury, and Reading & Leeds. The band signed with XL Recordings and Thurston Moore's label Ecstatic Peace! in the UK and North America respectively, releasing their self-titled debut album Be Your Own Pet in 2006. The album received critical acclaim from publications such as NME and Pitchfork. Be Your Own Pet supported bands like Arctic Monkeys and Sonic Youth, and made their debut TV performance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Their second album, Get Awkward, was released in March 18, 2008. Following a small tour of England, the band announced their breakup on August 1, 2008, citing misogyny directed towards Pearl and general burnout from industry pressures. Be Your Own Pet disbanded after their final show at Dingwalls in London on August 26, 2008.