Heartbreaking Bravery

Four to six hours during the middle of winter, in a vehicle that runs  minimum heat and has busted windshield wipers, is a drive that can only be prompted by something worth being incredibly passionate about. Throw in hazardous conditions (outside of general Chicago rush-hour traffic) and it’s enough to give anyone operating in the limits of sanity room for pause- but fuck pause and fuck sanity; Perfect Pussy is not worth missing. While that statement was closer to speculation than not until last nights blown-out set at Schubas Tavern, it now resides firmly in fact.

While the road conditions forced a late arrival that meant, sadly, having to miss both Broken Prayer and Split Feet, Perfect Pussy’s set immediately obliterated any lingering thoughts or feelings on that matter. After a very brief set-up time, vocalist Meredith Graves (battling a nasty spell of laryngitis) introduced Perfect Pussy before the band kicked off their set. What happened next is difficult to summarize in words, as the reactions their set prompted were closer to visceral emotion than coherent thought- but it’s worth an attempt, however unwieldy.

For 15-20 minutes, the crowd at Schubas careened into each other in a fiercely communal experience, driven by their shared love of the music that was happening onstage. Normally, the intensity levels of the band and audience at shows like this interact in a symbiotic manner, with each doing their part while feeding off the other until a climactic fever-pitch is hit (and, hopefully, sustained). This is where Perfect Pussy stands out. They subvert the notion of a symbiotic relationship by projecting their energy onto the audience instantaneously and the audience responds in kind. There’s no build-up, no long-con, just pure immediacy.

During their set, which at times bordered on noise so thorough that instruments became indistinguishable, the Schubas audience got most involved during “I” and “IV” from I have lost all desire for feeling. Despite the unavoidable fact that audiences tend to be more responsive to material they know, it was the newer material that stood out strongest. From an incendiary performance of “Driver” to a few more choices off of their upcoming record, Say Yes to Love, it was abundantly clear that the band really believes in the new material. That dedication and commitment manifests itself in every conceivable facet of their art, live performance included.

After a whirlwind set that saw no shortage of boundless energy and focused determination, it ended as suddenly as it began. There was nothing as glamorous (or contrived) as an encore because at some point, there’s virtually nothing left to say. Perfect Pussy hit that point a few times throughout the short amount of time they were onstage and looked completely spent after. Everything had been laid out and picked bare. If there was an audience member that didn’t know who the band was before they came in, they definitely knew by the time their set was reduced to nothing but a warm hum of controlled feedback. When a band can find the perfect resting point between an immediate and lasting impression, they’re worth paying very close attention to. When they can do it so frequently on so many levels? …let’s just say this wasn’t the first and definitely won’t be the last post on this site about this particular band.

Keep an eye on Perfect Pussy’s tour dates and see them as soon as possible, even if it means crossing state lines while driving with dangerously low levels of visibility. It’s worth it. A life without risk can frequently lend itself to a life without reward. Take risks; get rewarded; go see Perfect Pussy.