Two of the best female-fronted punk bands alive today graced the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, unleashing a night of unrelenting anger and energy. Starting off, Florida’s Gouge Away exploded onto the stage with “Only Friend” the opening track from their second album, Burnt Sugar. Lead singer Christina Michelle delivered her signature ferocious yells, alternating between a scowl or a wide grin on her face as she stormed back and forth across the stage. The band followed up with the bouncy, angular “Maybe Blue” from their latest release, Deep Stage. The rest of the set list drew from these two albums, maintaining their ear-piercing force throughout, with the tempo slowing only once in the middle of the set with the dark and ominous tune “Newtau”.
Mannequin Pussy was up next, marking their first Vancouver appearance on their multi-year tour since their album I Got Heaven. The band opened with the album’s poppy yet urgent lead single, “Sometimes”. Front woman Missy Dabice strutted around the stage with poise and confidence, met by the bouncing moshing energy from the audience. As the set progressed, the music grew increasingly angrier and aggressive. Towards the end of the night, Dabice paused the music to speak out against issues such as the patriarchy, leading the audience to chant “pussy” out loud as a way to normalize sexuality. She also voiced frustration with the growing rise of fascism, punctuated by their anti-authoritative classic, “Pigs is Pigs”. For those that didn’t make it out to the concert at the Commodore Ballroom, your still in luck with our exclusive photo gallery featuring both bands just below. To stay up to date on everything Mannequin Pussy, give the band a follow on Instagram @MannequinPussy for more content from the group and search the Musik Mirage archives for past coverage articles.
Article & Photos By Sam Leung (@sammich)
