Punk-rockers Mannequin Pussy rolled into Providence on Friday, September 12th, joined by the always energetic Gouge Away as support. Both bands complimented each other well with political messages crammed into each song. After the week that led up to it, the show couldn’t have met the moment better.
Gouge Away’s front woman, Christina Michelle, bounced, screamed, and swayed around the stage while the band performed. Michelle gave the audience an explanation before some of the songs, stating that their music has always been political. “That song was about abortion, which should be available to everyone,” said Michelle after their song “Idealized. “Consider” followed, which was described as a song against ICE. Stage diving is notoriously not allowed at the Fete Music Hall, which made this show have a different energy than other Gouge Away sets, but this didn’t stop Michelle from engaging with the crowd as much as possible. During the last song, she leaped into the mosh pit to the surprise of the crowd. The set was the perfect warm-up for Mannequin Pussy, who weren’t shy to share their similar political beliefs.
When the lights went down to welcome Mannequin Pussy on stage, Lead singer Missy Dabice sauntered out to a NLE Choppa song wearing a tight black corset and knee-high black boots. The band played some of their more pop-esque songs from their newest record, I Got Heaven, to get the set started. However, a couple tracks in, Dabice assured the crowd that they’d be getting into their heavier hits for the rest of the night. With that statement, the energy shifted. The sound got louder, Dabice’s soft voice turned harsh, and the band kicked into high gear. MP launched into their two biggest hits at the moment, “Loud Bark” and “I Got Heaven” with the crowd shouting every lyric back to them. At about the halfway point of the set, the band left the stage except for Dabice and guitarist Maxine Steen. Dabice used the break to share her viewpoints on capitalist America, white supremacy, and the war on Palestine. The crowd was encouraged to shout a primal scream and the whole room let out a deafening shriek. The set felt like a group catharsis, people letting go with the help of music. If this was the mission of Mannequin Pussy’s tour, consider it a successful one.
Check out the rest of Emily’s photos here.
