God, do I love seeing a band that is unafraid or unapologetic while taking a crowd through their political and deeply personal beliefs. Enter Philadelphia thrash punks, Mannequin Pussy, a rowdy four-piece that combines ’90s punk and speedy/sludgy thrash guitar music under a whirlwind of drums, fuzzy bass, and the lead vocals of Marisa “Missy” Dabice.
This is a band with a message; one of loving yourself and saying a tremendous Fuck You to anyone who disagrees with the sentiment. Normally I dislike a band who really drives their message throughout a set, but for Mannequin Pussy’s Osheaga set, it was needed and part of the spectacle. Instrumentally, there are many bands that sound reminiscent of Mannequin Pussy—Amyl and The Sniffers (who are funny enough, playing on Sunday), Gouge Away, the ’90s Live Through This era of Hole, and even Montreal locals Whoredrobe—but no one can really match the tenacity and stage presence of Dabice.
The woman has a way with words and her lead-up to songs on the newest album, I Got Heaven, were masterful and playful. She uses a healthy combination of sex appeal, unbridled rage, and a prom dress to draw you in; sometimes with a sexy call girl whisper or an angry femme punk gravitas with screams that sound utterly painful. She wants to turn you on, make you think you have all the power, and then quickly snatch it away for herself. The woman could easily be a cult leader, so let’s be happy that she is spreading a positive, anti-capitalist, anti-war and fuck the patriarchy message. Mannequin Pussy has a platform right now and they are aware of it. Dabice’s rhetoric about the church’s hypocrisy was also palpable before diving into “Split Me Open,” and her vicious takedown of rich white males was literal music to the ears. More on her vocal style, she sounds like she is reading you a tantalizing bedtime story and then ushers a mournful scream. It’s like ASMR pushed through a sputtering woodchipper. There’s no way of saying it differently at this juncture.
The other members of Mannequin Pussy also deserve some praise. Bass player Colins Regisford is tight as sin and had his own vocal moment that felt very Bad Brains-y. Guitarist Maxine Steen has that hyper grunge, thrash metal style that feels a bit Anthrax, but then bursts out into discordant drones. I could honestly watch her play guitar for hours. The bed of sonic chaos is held together by drummer Kaleen Reading, allowing Dabice to really freak out at times.
I’m curious to see what the new album sounds like on recording and I sincerely doubt it will come close to witnessing the church of Mannequin Pussy live.
Photos Courtesy of Osheaga
