Pet Shop Boys kicked off a five-night intimate residency at Camden's Electric Ballroom in London, treating die-hard fans to a set of rare tracks and B-sides. Neil Tennant announced early on: 'No hits!'—a promise that drew roars from the crowd, who were eager for deep cuts from the duo's 42-year career.
The band rehearsed 35 possible songs for the run, with several receiving their first live performances. Highlights included the debut of 1986 B-side 'Jack the Lad' and a medley of 'One in a Million' and Culture Beat's 'Mr Vain', last played in Latin America in 1994. Tennant's delight at the audience's knowledge was evident, particularly during singalongs to 'Will-o-the-Wisp' and 'Two Divided by Zero'.
Softer tracks stood out, revealing a tender side often hidden behind their pop armour. 'To Face the Truth' made disappointment feel sensual, while 'Do I Have To?' featured some of Chris Lowe's loveliest piano work. 'King of Rome' enveloped the room with its warm horn refrain.
The encore opened with 'Your Funny Uncle', a lament to a friend lost to Aids, played by Tennant on solo piano. The set concluded with 'The Performance of My Life', which recalled the 'wonderful old-school drag queens' the band encountered during early recording sessions.
Throughout the evening, the duo's precision in archiving and the unpredictable crowd reactions highlighted the personal histories embedded in each song. Many of these tracks, once hidden as B-sides on 7-inch singles, are now available on streaming, but the live experience brought them back to life for the faithful.
