Mannequin Pussy and Destroy Boys in Chicago, IL

Ever have one of those days where you put something aside, promise yourself to get back to it as soon as Riot Fest is over, then five months go by? I could have sworn it was just September like last week…

Mannequin Pussy is such a perfect band. They first caught my ear on tour with AJJ a few years ago and I was hooked. They shred the stage with such intensity, it’s a wonder it doesn’t collapse in their wake. This show was originally supposed to be at Schuba’s and I was wondering if there would be any survivors. Moving it to a bigger venue, Lincoln Hall, only seemed to attract enough people to sell out the show once again. Based on the energy that night, both the band and the crowd were looking to bring down the house no matter the size.

As someone in their 30s I have absolutely no idea what the kids are into these days, but it warms my heart when I see success for Mannequin Pussy and Destroy Boys. With record levels of bullshit these days, we need bands that can tell it like it is while reminding people of the joys buried underneath. It’s a rare thing to see such fearlessness and honesty in a performance and I am on board 100% for more.

Here are some photos from the show that do a much better job capturing the spirit of the night than my 5 month old assessment: