REVIEW: A Cathartic Primal Scream with Mannequin Pussy
09/13 @ Empire Live, Albany
“Despite the tough facade and political dread, Mannequin Pussy’s show was deeply optimistic.”
It was a busy Saturday evening in Albany. Traffic was being redirected, stragglers wandered in and out of bars, and parking was slim. A passerby might attribute the excitement to the fallout of PearlPalooza still descending on the downtown area, but those in the know understood what the main event of the evening was—Mannequin Pussy.
The last time Mannequin Pussy played at Empire Live, they were supposed to play Empire Underground, but construction wasn’t finished, so they were bumped up to the main room. As it was 2021, a polite and wary crowd organically created their own rows, with ample room to stay two to three feet away from each other, and pits did not break out for fear of covid. Making a post-pandemic tour more difficult, it was their first show after having their van, equipment, and merch stolen in Ohio. Nevertheless, they borrowed instruments from their openers and – slightly drunk – played on.
Oh how the times have changed for Mannequin Pussy. Their 2024 album, I Got Heaven, was met with praise and even a brush with mainstream success as they appeared on Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney. In contrast to that show four years ago, their show on Saturday was sold out and there was absolutely no wiggle room as the crowd crept closer to the stage in anticipation. One had to stand on tip toes to get the attention of the bartenders and those who snagged a spot up front held it down with noticeable fervor. The stage was adorned with a large banner featuring MP’s angel logo and white pillars that emitted light in tune with their songs.
Soon the sound effect of Gouge Away’s song “Stuck in a Dream” rang out over the speakers. The sound evoked memories of a baby mobile hanging over a crib, or even the spinning top in the 2010 movie Inception. Out walked the band; the singer, Christina Michelle, looked as if Selma Blair’s character in Legally Blonde was plopped into Britney Spears’s “…Baby One More Time” music video. She immediately captivated the crowd with gut punching, deliciously gravelly screams, balanced with enigmatic, hauntingly quiet moments that encouraged the audience to pay extra attention to the lyrics.
Michelle was quite confident, and seasoned, but began twisting her fingers when introducing a song about women’s bodily autonomy and later, a song against ICE. She clarified that these things are hard to talk about, but it was important to do so anyway. Michelle’s vulnerability further warmed the crowd to the band, who showed their approval by clapping and cheering along.
Notably, Gouge Away had crystal clear, precise guitar work. One of the guitarists looked up into the lights, as if hypnotized by their own sound. The band was all smiles and Michelle’s excitement would often bubble over, exclaiming, “This is so much fun!”
Adorable as they were, when they announced they were playing a series of fast songs to end the set, they had no trouble spinning up a pit that even sent six-foot-something dudes flying. A standout song, “Fed Up,” is Michelle’s – in her words – “word vomit” ode to being disheartened by hospitals misdiagnosing her mother. She shrieks, “laying on the floor, body, become cement, gravity, don't let me down, cause I'm so fed up, and I'm so fed up with hope.” Mannequin Pussy would later call Gouge Away their favorite hardcore band. It was clear from their energy how happy they were to be in Albany, making it impossible for the crowd not to think of them as their new favorite hardcore band, too.
The crowd grew restless waiting for the headliners. They shifted on their feet and the roar of everyone talking over each other rose to an overwhelming level. Soon, a flutter of recognition went through the crowd as NLE Choppa’s “SLUT ME OUT 2” started playing over the speakers. The entrance music was a wink to the audience – Mannequin Pussy is playful. They know exactly how good they are and they aren’t afraid to flaunt it.
The band started off with a bang by playing “Sometimes,” one of the singles off of I Got Heaven. Immediately the crowd was crashing against each other like endless waves. In contrast to Michelle’s humble sweetness, Mannequin Pussy’s singer, Marisa “Missy” Dabice has a stage presence like a flirty bulldog. In a literal way, she wore a tough grimace even while emphasizing beats with girlish dance moves. In a figurative way, she enticed you to approach her, but you got the feeling she might snap once you do.
Dabice usually keeps an air of mystery at the start of their shows, not really talking to the crowd until she really has something to say. However, the love Albany’s crowd had for the band was too strong, leading her to break character for a second and gleefully point out that someone in the crowd was wearing a shirt with their bassist, Colins “Bear” Regisford’s face all over it. Bear, reciprocating the love, gave the audience member a shoutout and Dabice led a cheer for bassists.
They continued with a few more mellow songs. Dabice clarified that she wanted to get the pop songs out of the way before “we can really have some fun.” A crowd favorite in the first half of the set was absolutely “Drunk II,” where the entire room screamed out the line, “I still love you, you stupid fuck” in tandem.
Dabice likes to lure in the crowd with a sultry tone of voice before going in for the kill. Adopting a titillating inflection, the crowd leans in to see just how lured she might get. Instead, just when she’s sure the audience’s attention is nice and piqued, she will take the time to educate you. The band was crystal clear on their political stances: Billionaires want the little people to fight each other to take the heat off of their unfair accumulation of wealth. They want us to worry about what each other might say about trans rights, women’s rights, and Gaza, so we can turn our focus away from those actual issues. Minutiae and in-fighting don’t help anyone. In fact, she singled out the men and made them scream “pussy” at the top of their lungs. Demonstrating her point, she said, “It’s no fun unless everyone joins in!” and had the entire building screaming “pussy,” a direct segue into one of their most popular songs, “Loud Bark.” With the lyrics, “I’ve got a loud bark, deep bite,” “Loud Bark” is a new punk anthem, perfectly encapsulating the band’s stage presence.
Despite the tough facade and political dread, Mannequin Pussy’s show was deeply optimistic. Dabice said that the band was all about love before inviting a couple up on stage. The crowd that had previously been loud and rowdy fell silent immediately and pulled out their phones, recognizing what was about to happen. After an impassioned speech, one of the two fans got down on one knee and asked the other to marry them. When the proposal was accepted, the crowd absolutely erupted and the band played a snippet of the Bridal Chorus.
An audience member who must have really been feeling the love threw a bra at Dabice, who caught it and put it on with a joyous “thank you, baby!” before emitting gibberish calls, hoping the audience would respond back. The audience picked up the cue and followed her lead. The chants flawlessly shifted into the opening of their lead single, “I Got Heaven,” a song that blends punk intensity and a gorgeous, melodic chorus.
The set list dwindled and it was time for a Mannequin Pussy tradition. Dabice explained that at each show, they ask everyone to do a “primal scream” together. Put all of your rage, discomfort, sadness, and fear into one moment and share in the release with complete strangers. She counted us down and not a single soul kept quiet. Empire Live might never have been louder.
Though they usually end with “Pigs is Pigs,” an evocative, thrashing punk song about Black Lives Matter (“George couldn’t breathe, yeah this is fucked, Breonna needed sleep, no knock, no knock, why is it the brightest starts always get got”), the band said they didn’t want to waste time pretending to have an encore. They dedicated one of their last songs, “Emotional High,” to anyone who might have come to the show alone, before diving into their last song, “Romantic.” Fitting, as Mannequin Pussy was all about love that night.
As the show let out, the energy of the crowd refused to fizzle. People rushed to the merch line, laughed their way to the bathroom, or found community outside with those smoking or waiting for rides. It was clear that Albany reciprocated the love that night. And when Mannequin Pussy returns, I’d get tickets as fast as possible because they will certainly sell out again.