March 2020 when an escalating global pandemic ushered an abrupt end to Mannequin Pussy’s high-profile tour with Best Coast. It was a blow for the Philadelphian punk trio, made up of frontwoman Dabice, drummer Kaleen Reading and bassist Colins “Bear” Regisford who, a decade and three albums into their career, have seemingly been permanently on the cusp of greatness. It’s a good thing, then, they’ve been primed to adapt.
Mannequin Pussy formed in Connecticut in 2010, initially as a duo between childhood friends Dabice and guitarist Athanasios Paul, who left the band earlier this year. “It’s a lot of work to do this,” Dabice says of his departure, “and it’s especially a lot of work to do this when you don’t have the instant gratification of playing shows and having [music] be the forefront of your life.” Together, the pair released a storm of ramshackle EPs with sinewy titles like Meatslave and Bonerjamz! before eventually relocating to Philadelphia.
Following 2019’s sentimental powerhouse “Patience”, Mannequin Pussy returned with their new EP Perfect in May. Toeing a similar line between punk and anthemic rock, Perfect edges the band closer to stadium-rock territory while sacrificing none of the lyrical and emotional potency they’ve delivered in the past. If anything, Perfect finds the band doubling down on the intensity, the passion and the ambition they’ve demonstrated previously, further cementing them as a titanic voice in modern rock.
“Control” by Mannequin Pussy from the ‘Perfect’ EP, out now!
