Mannequin Pussy @ DC9 [DC]- 9/17/2019
Marisa Dabice of Mannequin Pussy at DC9 (Photo by Mauricio Castro)
For the last three years, Mannequin Pussy have played the role of seasoned road warriors, opening for Japanese Breakfast, Charly Bliss, and more. So when the time came for their own tour in support of their latest album Patience, it wasn’t surprising to see that the fruits of their labor paid off with a sold-out show at DC9.
Singer/guitarist Marisa Dabice may have been sniffling and coughing, signs of a still-in-progress recovery from a recent bout of sickness, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to let that stop her from leaving it all on the stage. She belted out favorites like “Patience” and older cuts like “Piss Drinker,” which was requested multiple times to her on Twitter by a dedicated fan. The crowd couldn’t help but root for her for powering through. Every scream and headbang from the band served to induce a mosh pit right in front of the band, and it worked effortlessly. It would be enough for most bands to give an unforgettable performance, but Dabice didn’t stop there. She also shared a message that is worth spreading far beyond the confines of DC9:
“There’s an intersection between anger and kindness. That anger, when it’s internalized for too long, you begin to hate yourself, and you’re easier to control if you hate yourself and others. We need kindness in this world, for family members and the people we don’t know. We need to translate that anger into something beautiful, and art and music have the power to transform us. You have the power: transform your anger, and don’t let it kill you.”
Patience is out now through Epitaph Records.
Opening for Mannequin Pussy were Ontario-based band group and the frenetic Sacramento-based Destroy Boys. Though they weren't the headliners, Destroy Boys's performance resulted in multiple mosh pits and electric energy that stood shoulder to shoulder with Mannequin Pussy's. Singer Alexia Roditis upped the ante by jumping into the crowd numerous times to get fans dancing too. The band has a lot of charisma and loud, imposing songs to go with it, making them a formidable group deserving of a headlining slot of their own.
