Pet Shop Boys Obscure London Show Setlist and Rare Tracks

Pet Shop Boys have commenced a series of intimate live performances in London titled Obscure Pet Shop Boys, focusing exclusively on non-single album tracks and B-sides. The residency, which began on Monday, April 6, 2026, at the Electric Ballroom, aims to highlight what the duo describes as fan favourites rather than their most recognized hits.

Reporting from NME indicates that the opening night featured several songs performed live for the first time in the band’s history, alongside deep cuts that had not been played in over two decades. The show opened with Will-O-The-Wisp, the lead track from their 2020 album Hotspot, marking its live debut.

This was followed by Two Divided by Zero, the opening track of their 1986 debut album Please, which had not been performed live since 2012. During the performance, singer Neil Tennant highlighted the rarity of the setlist, specifically noting that the 1986 song Jack The Lad had never been played live until that night.

Live Debuts and Rarities

The first night of the residency saw the live debut of 10 different songs. These included tracks spanning several decades of the duo’s discography:

• Jack The Lad (1986)
• Hit And Miss (1996)
• Always (2002)
• The Performance Of My Life (2006)
• King Of Rome (2009)
• After The Event (2012)
• New Boy (2020)
• Love Is The Law (2024)
• A Dream of a Better Tomorrow, an unreleased track from their musical Naked

In addition to the debuts, the duo revived several tracks that had been absent from their setlists for years. Your Funny Uncle was performed for the first time since 1991 in an acoustic version with Tennant on piano. Other returns included To Face The Truth and One in a Million / Mr. Vain, both last played in 1994, and The Theatre, which returned after a hiatus since 1997.

The performance featured special guest Sylvia Mason-James, who joined the duo for Happiness Is an Option, The Theatre, and One in a Million / Mr. Vain.

Upcoming Residency Dates

The residency consists of five shows in total. Following the opening night on April 6, performances continue through Friday, April 10, 2026. The show scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, 2026, will serve as a benefit concert to raise funds for War Child.

Recent Career Developments

This residency follows a period of significant activity for the electro pioneers. In April 2024, Pet Shop Boys released their 15th studio album, Nonetheless, which Tennant and Chris Lowe have described as their queer album.

The duo also recently released a remix project titled Disco 5, which featured contributions from artists including Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher, Primal Scream, and Sleaford Mods.

Beyond their own recordings, Pet Shop Boys have engaged in several high-profile collaborations and protests. They contributed silent tracks to an album protesting the use of AI, appearing alongside other artists such as Kate Bush, Sam Fender, and Paul McCartney.

the group has partnered with Russell T Davies to adapt It’s A Sin for a dance production based in Manchester.