Mexican Pets, stalwarts of the Dublin music scene for most of the 1990s, have decided to pick up their instruments once more. Currently in the process of writing new material, the band has already lined up a couple of live shows: Thu 11 May - Roisin Dubh, Galway (as part of Strange Brew – free) special guests - Large Mound Fri 12 May - Whelan’s, Dublin (tickets €12) special guests - The Coldspoon Conspiracy Named after an urban legend that describes how a Mexican sewer rat is mistakenly adopted as a pet, the band first got together a decade and a half ago, proudly wearing the influence of melodic guitar-rock giants such as Husker Du and Dinosaur Jr on their sleeves. In 1994, they released Nobody’s Working Title…the album’s spiky guitar riffs, driving bass lines, and melancholy lyrics were well-received, and the band were invited to play alongside respected hardcore acts such as Fugazi, Pavement and Therapy. Indeed, Therapy’s Andy Cairns became somewhat of a champion of the Pets, releasing five of their singles on his Blunt record label. Over the next few years, the Pets garnered extensive radio airplay, notably on BBC’s John Peel Show; toured many times in the UK and Europe; had one of their songs featured on the soundtrack of acclaimed Irish film ‘I Went Down’ and in 1996 wrote and recorded their 2nd LP Humbucker which was released in early ‘97 to glowing reviews including single of the week in Kerrang! for ‘Supermarket’. In 1997, the band decided to hang up their guitars and go their separate ways, each of them going on to pursue their own musical and creative projects. The spirit of the sewer rat never really died, however, and in late 2005 they found themselves reunited through a shared love of playing loud music. The band is now working on new songs, and plans to kick off phase two a brace of live shows in May. It’s hard to kill a rat. Tickets (€12) for the Whelan’s show will go on sale on April 18th, from Road Records and Sound Cellar. www.myspace.com/mexicanpets