PHOTOS: Mannequin Pussy | 4.15.24 @ The Basement East

Mannequin Pussy
w/ Soul Glo
The Basement East; Nashville, TN
April 15, 2024

Photos by Elizabeth Marsh

One of the most celebrated and dependable fixtures in the indie punk scene for more than a decade, Philadelphia’s Mannequin Pussy have been no strangers to Nashville over the years, performing in many of the city’s intimate clubs and DIY spaces like Drkmttr, The End, The High Watt, and even beloved neighborhood burger joint Dino’s (remember when they used to host shows?). Though they’ve long been critically-acclaimed and adored within their scene, the group’s recent fourth LP- and first full-length in five years- I Got Heaven, has brought them a renewed wave of broader attention, lauded as perhaps their best, most ambitious, and impassioned work to date, and one that- as we experienced first-hand- absolutely rips live.

Returning to Nashville for their first headlining show here in several years and largest to date (a supporting slot with Movements last fall at Brooklyn Bowl notwithstanding), the band sold out The Basement East this week for a visceral, high energy, and emotionally resonant performance with Soul Glo. After that powerhouse opening set, Mannequin Pussy erupted into a heartfelt and euphoric and dynamic show, balancing the ferocity of their more punk and hardcore skewing tendencies with the more pop-accessible and hypotonic indie rock they also do so well. The crowd matched their energy, moshing and stage diving and singing and screaming along mere inches from singer Marisa Dabice’s face, who took full advantage of the venue’s lack of barrier to lean into the audience and jump around the stage.

Given the brevity and propulsive nature of much of their music- especially the older stuff- it came as no surprise that the band played literally every single song from I Got Heaven, mostly situated towards the beginning of the show, effectively delivering the balance and emotional nuance and dynamic nature of that brilliant record. Towards the end though, as they powered through cuts from prior albums Patience and Romantic, as well as 2021 EP Perfect (only omitting material from their eponymous 2014 debut), the intensity really hit a fever pitch, conjuring up memories of those sweaty and raucous and extremely punk rock early Nashville shows they played throughout the 2010s. All of those years of honing their sound and forging their live show have really made Mannequin Pussy into something extra special and musically transcendent, and not only did they just drop what’s sure to be one of our favorite albums this year, but they also delivered one of the most incredible shows we’ve seen in support. Check out our photos and the full set list below!

All photos by Elizabeth Marsh

_

Setlist:

I Don’t Know You
Sometimes
Nothing Like
Patience
Drunk II
Control
Softly
Split Me Open
Loud Bark
I Got Heaven
Of Her
Aching
Everything
Perfect
Clams
OK? OK! OK? OK!

Pigs Is Pigs
Emotional High
Romantic