Mannequin Pussy set Providence on fire at Fête Music Hall
The fall leg of Mannequin Pussy’s tour kicked off at Fête Music Hall, and from the opening moments it was very clear the band had outgrown the room. The Providence stop sold out long before doors, and the space felt almost too small to contain the sheer volume of their rise. A fact that only made the night sweeter for the devoted fans lucky enough to be there.
Gouge Away Sets the Tone
The night opened with Fort Lauderdale’s hardcore outfit Gouge Away, who wasted no time turning the floor into a mosh pit, something not every opener can successfully pull off. Frontwoman Christina Michelle screamed into the mic, into fans’ faces, and ultimately into the pit itself, joining the crowd for their final song. It was the perfect warm-up act. It was chaotic, confrontational, and impossible to ignore. And it set the tone for what was to come.
A Band Arriving in Their Moment
When Mannequin Pussy hopped on stage, they carried themselves like a band well aware the world is finally catching up to them. There was no hint of hesitation, only command. Bear Regisford’s braids whipped in every direction, Kaleen Reading’s drumming hit with the force, and Maxine Steen’s guitar carved through the mix with grit. And at the center, Missy Dabice embodied everything punk can be.
Between songs, Missy delivered what felt less like banter and more like sermons, sultry but sharp, directed not just at the crowd but at the culture at large. Early in the set, she spoke at length about men failing others and themselves under the weight of patriarchy. Later, she turned her attention outward, leading chants of “F*ck ICE!” and calling for the liberation of Palestine. At one point, Bear punctuated the tension with a blunt, “you reap what you sow.” These weren’t throwaway lines for shock value; they were statements of purpose. They were proof that Mannequin Pussy intends to use their platform as fiercely as they play their instruments.
Songs That Rip, Songs That Resonate
The setlist was a near-perfect sweep through their catalog, mixing the intimacy of tracks like “Softly” and “Drunk II” with the blunt-force chaos of “Clams” and “Pigs Is Pigs.” Missy dedicated “I Don’t Know You” to anyone “with a crush on someone who doesn’t know it,” and later offered “Emotional High” to “all of you who came alone tonight. You don’t need anyone to validate your shit.”
Each aside drew the crowd deeper in, blurring the line between performer and audience until the entire room was surging as one. Mannequin Pussy puts on more than a great show, they take you on a full journey.
Looking Ahead
Next week, Mannequin Pussy opens for Turnstile in Boston. It’s a pairing so potent it’s destined to be the talk of the town. But on this night in Providence, the band didn’t need a bigger stage to prove anything. They already feel like one of the most vital live acts in punk right now, and the world is watching.
Get your tickets for the rest of the dates on Mannequin Pussy’s tour here.
