Concert Review: I Got Heaven at Mannequin P***y’s Concert

By Lillian Jones

Music Director 

Throughout the day of April 20, drizzling precipitation foreshadowed the calm before the storm that was Mannequin P***y’s performance at Mohawk in Austin. Alongside some friends, I packed into a car filled with anticipation as we made the gloomy I-35 journey downtown.

Mannequin P***y released their newest album I Got Heaven on March 1st and shortly began their tour after. The band has a unique sound, teetering between brushing the surface of riot grrrl or calming it down and adding more singer-songwriter/folky elements into their pieces. This genre exploration is quite apparent in this album with songs like “Loud Bark” and ”Softly”. Despite these contrasts, Mannequin P***y remains consistent with their songwriting themes revolving around anti-patriarchy, queer exploration and religious themes.

SOUL GLO

Upon our arrival, we got in a long, but fast-paced moving line as opener Soul Glo began their set. I had heard of Soul Glo through other bands such as Zulu and Jesus Piece, but had never taken the time to listen to them. Outside, through the infamous Mohawk wood and staple-filled wall, I could hear intense fry screaming and nasty bass riffs that remained consistent throughout the rest of their set.

Making our way inside, we packed ourselves into the crowd like sardines and enjoyed the remainder of Soul Glo’s set. Soul Glo is a punk band from Philadelphia that incorporates rap into their sound as the lead vocalist spits fast-paced lyrics while mostly fry screaming. I found myself quite entranced by the lead vocalist, Pierce Jordan, as he achieved crazy vocal tricks like it was nothing, seemingly high-pitched vocal fry may just be his natural way of speaking. Notably, Pierce stage-dived and crowd-surfed for a short time before starting their song “Gold Chain Punk (whogonbeatmya**?).” There was a sudden uproar from the crowd during the chorus as the sold-out venue screamed the lyrics “Who gon beat my a**?” at the top of their lungs. Bassist, GG Guerra, ended the song by handing the crowd the entire mic stand and then walking off stage.

MANNEQUIN P***Y

As dance music played in between the sets, a sense of nervousness arose as the consistent light drizzles began to pick up into heavier drops of rainfall. This nervousness mixed with the anticipation and tight squeeze of the venue became quite intense as it grew closer for the main act to take their place on stage. Around 9pm, the crowd began to yell in glee as Mannequin P***y made their way on the covered platform. By this time, the rain had started to pick up, but no one seemed to care.

The band opened the set with the song “I Don’t Know You”, a personal favorite of mine off of their new album. I watched in awe as lead singer Missy swayed side-to-side to the rhythmic guitar and repetitive lyrics. Any feelings I had of being overwhelmed by the crowd had fled as the droning guitar and the soft lighting from the stage entranced me. Shortly after, the rain had turned into a full-on storm, and everyone, including myself, was completely drenched. But this did not stop the show from going on. In fact, it made the experience even better.

I decided after the first couple of songs to put on my big girl pants and join the mosh pit. This was the best decision I could have made. After the intense track “Loud Bark” got the crowd feeling rowdy, Missy dedicated the next song to everyone who grew up in the church and without acceptance for being who they are. This song was none other than “I Got Heaven”, the debut single from the album sharing the same title. During this song, I may have had a blissful, religious experience myself. As the crowd forcefully shoved against me, I kept my eyes locked on Missy as the lights shined around her in her flowy white top, making her appear as a real-life angel.

Shortly after my religious experience, I was faced back with reality as a man decided to grab me by my shoulders and forcefully move directly in front of me, which ticked me off so much that I decided I needed a break to get water. After returning from getting water, I was faced with everyone leaving the venue as lightning was spotted and the show was canceled.

Overall, it was one of the shortest, but also, one of the most beautiful performances I have ever witnessed. I am still sad that I have yet to hear “Romantic” live as it’s one of my favorite songs to scream in the car with my friends and I am still mad at that man. If you were that man, I hate you.