building the ultimate “Obscure” Pet Shop Boys setlist
Marking 40 years since their 1986 debut album Please, Pet Shop Boys are set to perform five intimate shows this April 2026 at London’s Electric Ballroom.
Titled Obscure Pet Shop Boys, these performances will offer a unique experience, focusing exclusively on deep cuts, non-single album tracks, and B-sides from across the duo’s celebrated career—many of which will be performed live for the very first time. In contrast to their Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live tour, this series promises a rare dive into the hidden gems of their catalogue.
Recorded on the exact 40th anniversary of the release of Please, this episode explores what the “obscure” concerts in early April 2026 might have in store—and why this concept is so exciting for longtime fans.
What we cover
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Why we’re doing our first full episode in English
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The concept behind the Obscure Pet Shop Boys shows
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What counts as an “obscure” track:
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non-single album tracks
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B-sides and bonus tracks
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rarely or never performed songs
PSB live history – the deep dive
- Around 190 different songs performed live over the years
- Why the most played tracks are almost all singles
- Early tours (especially 1989) and their setlist logic
- Surprising omissions and one-off performances
- The role of album promotion in shaping live setlists
Rare performances & oddities
- Deep cuts appearing on specific tours (Pandemonium, Hacienda show, etc.)
- Songs performed in unusual versions or arrangements
- Orchestral performances (BBC Philharmonic, Royal Albert Hall)
- Tracks that only appeared once—or under very special circumstances
Albums that were underrepresented live
- Bilingual and the Savoy Theatre residency
- Electric vs. Elysium
- Hotspot and the dominance of Dreamworld
- Nonetheless and its late additions to the setlist
Songs still never played live
A closer look at tracks from classic albums that have never made it onto a stage, including:
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Please
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Actually
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Introspective
B-sides live
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A surprisingly short list of B-sides ever performed live
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Key examples from different eras (Alternative, Format)
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Why B-sides remain largely unexplored in a live context
Our rules for the perfect “Obscure” setlist
We create our own setlists based on:
- ~25 songs total
- At least 13 songs never played live before
- No singles
- No cover versions
- Limited inclusion of previously performed tracks
Fan questions & some speculation
- Will the setlist change from night to night?
- Full band or stripped-down setup?
- Who handles programming and production?
- Original versions vs. new arrangements
- Possibility of medleys or mash-ups
- Chances of shows outside the UK
Main part of the episode
- Our personal “Obscure” setlists
- Song-by-song discussion
- Alternating picks and reasoning
Further Listening, Reading and Watching
- In Depth (Pet Shop Boys fan podcast, including „Obscure“ episode)
- PSB Commentary, interpretations and analysis by Wayne Studer
- Tour statistics @ setlist.fm
– Live in Cologne (Stream) 2002
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