Philadelphia as a music city is often overshadowed by the likes of New York and Nashville and Los Angeles even though a ton of popular music has come out of the City of Brotherly Love. Think Hall & Oates, the Roots, Cinderella, Patti LaBelle, Jill Scott, Frankie Beverly, Will Smith in his Fresh Prince days, and everything you’ve ever heard from Philadelphia International Records.
And then there is Mannequin Pussy, who are admittedly not like their predecessors from The 215, but more in line with other Philadelphians presently having a moment such as hardcore punkers Soul Glo (whose Tiny Desk Concert on NPR in April came with an “explicit language” advisory). Don’t tell anyone, but Philly has a fantastic punk scene — The Dead Milkmen and (honorary Delaware Valley denizens from New Hope, Pennsylvania) Ween would be proud.
As Mannequin Pussy, Marisa Dabice (guitar and vocals), Maxine Steens (guitar and synths), Kaleen Reading (drums) and Colins “Bear” Regisford (bass) play, in their own words, “cathartic tunes about despairing times.” Careening from gritty bombastic punk to dreamy pop, they’re a fully realized statement from top to toe. Their growth and evolution since forming in 2010 are most evident on their latest full-length album, and second for Epitaph Records, 2024’s I Got Heaven — especially on a title track that interrogates ideas of the sacred and the profane.
Lest anyone think that contemplating such weighty matters might be a musical buzzkill, please keep in mind that Mannequin Pussy are still a punk band. And don’t be lulled into false submission by the pretty music saying bad things; a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down.
Dabice has said the ethos of Mannequin Pussy is to bring people together, which they have been doing quite a lot and effectively of late through consistently sold-out shows. Mannequin Pussy also found time to pitch in on the latest album by Miami shredder du jour (and 2024 Survivor finalist) Ben Katzman. That’s them as well joining forces with California’s Scowl on the incendiary Destroy Boys single “You Hear Yes.”
Mannequin Pussy and Margaritas Podridas play an all-ages show 7pm Thursday, October 24 at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale. mannequinpussy.com ~ Tim Moffatt
