Bad Copy

I was greeted with a chilly fall breeze as I loaded my camera gear into my car. High-energy punk band Mannequin Pussy is currently tearing through their world tour. Their next stop was at The Sylvee in Madison, WI, where the art-rock duo Finom was set to open the night. After the car was packed, I headed over to the venue with a huge smile on my face.

I made my way to the front of the barricade and caught the energy of passionate fans in ’90s grunge attire. The room was packed wall-to-wall; the anticipation thick as the crowd behind me. I positioned myself front and center with my camera in my hand, and braced for the night to come.

Kicking off the night were Chicago natives Finom, who immediately set the tone. The duo assumed positions and exchanged a look before diving into their set. Noise filled the room as the first note played. The band took pauses to chat with the crowd and poked fun at their heavily pregnant guitarist and c0-vocalist, Sima Cunningham. She jokingly said “This isn’t fake! I’m really pregnant!” as the crowd laughed along. Their performance perfectly balanced this fierce energy with soothing vocal harmonies. As a result, they left the crowd completely captivated before the chaos that was about to follow.

The main act of the night, Mannequin Pussy, was up next. Hailing all the way from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the band stepped on stage to a deafening roar. They launched straight into “Softly,” a track off their album I Got Heaven. It was the perfect song to introduce their set. Missy Dabice’s stage presence was absolutely magnetic. She held the room in the palm of her hand, locked in intense eye contact with the front row while pacing the stage like a force of nature. As a result, mosh pits formed and crowd surfers flew over my head. Their set was a healthy blend of high energy and passionate moments.

Overall, both bands brought something special to the night. I had a blast capturing every moment.

Check out my photos below: