Last week, Nadya Tolokonnikova of Pussy Riot delivered a powerful performance at White Oak Music Hall.
In the landscape of music and modern activism, few figures stand as boldly as Nadya, a founding member of the Russian feminist punk rock performance art collective Pussy Riot. Supported by opener Boyfriend, this electrifying performance left an indelible mark on all fortunate enough to witness this empowering show.
Supporting act, Boyfriend, set the stage by performing in various stages of undress. The Louisiana based rapper performed an unconventional strip tease, rubbing her socks under her armpits and in between her toes to raucous applause from the audience, eventually standing in only a sheer shirt and ass-less stockings. The feminist burlesque perfectly complemented her truly hilarious lyrics and wit. She threw flowers and gummy bears to the crowd as she lamented over the men who failed to satisfy her in “Like My Hand Did”. Cutting and witty lyrics paired with the deep bass and beats aided in establishing one of the show’s ongoing themes of women’s autonomy, power and pleasure in “Ethical Slut” and “Re: Future.” Through her bold performance and clever lyricism, Boyfriend created a space where her, and other women’s desires were unapologetically embraced.
Amidst the pulsating beats and flashing lights of the White Oak Music Hall, Nadya took center stage, two dancers behind her clad in balaclavas, a symbol of resistance and defiance. Nadya wasted no time launching into a powerful set. The audience members did not need to speak Russian to understand the raw emotions and sense of urgency dripping from Nadya’s voice in songs like “Black Snow” “Track About a Good Cop” “Sexist” and “Rage.”
Songs like “Princess Charming” and “Punish” subverted typical gendered power imbalances. These songs reject the passive roles women are expected to exist within, they are assertive in their declaration of power and dominance in everyday life as well as sexual contexts. “Chastity” further expounds upon power dynamics, control, and women’s sexual pleasure. Nadya’s tantalizing stage presence and delivery of these songs command attention, compelling audiences to confront the entrenched norms that seek to constrain and diminish women.
The dancers unleashed a mesmerizing display, writhing, kicking, gyrating, headbanging, twirling, and bouncing to the music, embodying the undeniable strength and power inherent in the female form. Their movements illustrated the music’s unfiltered intensity and primal passion.
Nadya welcomed Boyfriend back on stage to perform their song “Dance with the Devil.” The pair delivered haunting vocals over a pulsing beat. The song closed out as the two took turns bending over to receive floggings from each other, using Nadya’s whip.
Before the closing song “Hatefuck,” Nadya addressed the crowd, sharing her grief over the recent loss of her friend, Alexei Navalny, an opposition leader, activist, and political prisoner who courageously worked to expose the Russian government’s corruption for over a decade. In the poignant moment, she reminded the audience the importance of moving into the future with kindness, joy and happiness, to always fight against the darkness that surrounds us.
Nadya’s performance at White Oak Music Hall was more than just a concert, it was a rallying cry for change, a reminder that the power to shape the world lies within each and every one of us.
As a Houston native, I am passionate about the deep well of talent that Texas has to offer. From DIY shows to major label musicians, I just love to consume live music. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to highlight and memorialize incredible artists through photography and writing. When not on tour, studying at the University of Houston, or at local shows, I can be found reading, writing songs, enjoying soft cheeses, planning themed parties, and rolling down the hill at Hermann Park.
