Pussy Riot at Elsewhere, Brooklyn

Nadya Tolokonnikova

Nadezhda "Nadya" Tolokonnikova, her husband, Pyotr Verzilov, and Yekaterina Samutsevich were members of Voina, a Russian street-art group known for their provocative and politically charged works of performance art, from the group's early days in 2007. They split from the main group in St. Petersburg and formed a separate Moscow-based group, also named Voina. Tolokonnikova and Samutsevich then founded Pussy Riot in Moscow in 2011 as a feminist collective staging illegal guerrilla performances that voiced dissident art and political action united by feminism, anti-authoritarianism and opposition to Russian president Vladimir Putin. Pussy Riot's many controversial protests made headlines in Russia but the group gained global notoriety when five members of the group staged a performance inside Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior in 2012; that three members were sentenced to two years in prison for hooliganism led to an international outcry. In 2015, Pussy Riot released its first song and video in English. Pussy Riot has released seven songs and five videos, but have not released a conventional album.

Pussy Riot's first North American tour promised that it would be more of a political event than a concert. Unlike Pussy Riot's spontaneous and illegal performance art events in Russia, tickets would be sold for the American events, which a press release described as "a subversive mix of activist art and live set." That series including tonight's engagement at Elsewhere in Brooklyn. That event began with a lengthy pre-recorded political statement and video projection. Tolokonnikova then came on stage along with a disc jockey and two dancers, one of whom was the opening act, American-born Dorian Electra. All wore colorful sportswear and Pussy Riot's trademark balaclavas (ski masks), which obscured their faces. The high-tech political rally aspect prior to Tolokonnikova's appearance was refined for an impactful execution, but Tolokonnikova's politicized marriage of performance art and concert proved less riveting due to all the dancing and pop melodies. Tolokonnikova's raps were sometimes projected on the large screen backdrop. "Bad Apples" suggested that the best place to find some politicians was in their graves. "Straight Outta Vagina" was a feminist statement. Were all the vocals live? At times, even the vocals appeared to be prerecorded. Nevertheless, as the intent of the electro hip hop songs was to serve as a medium for Pussy Riot's pro-freedom and equality message, then this aim also was accomplished.

Visit Pussy Riot at www.zona.media.