Mannequin Men

Chicago's Mannequin Men came together in 2003 and swiftly earned acclaim from Windy City audiences as among the city's loudest and most combative acts, consistently outpacing their listeners in nightly consumption. Local magazines and weekly papers delivered enthusiastic write-ups of the band's ferocious performances, underscoring a commitment to rock & roll that stayed reckless, raw, and chemically fueled. The lineup featured Kevin Richard on lead vocals and guitar, Ethan d'Ercole on guitar (also active in Chicago avant funk outfit the Watchers), bassist Rick Berger, and drummer Seth Bohn. Drawing from predecessors such as the Stooges, Rolling Stones, Television, and the Meat Puppets, the quartet blended those influences into a gritty, abrasive proto-punk sound tailored for garage settings. Their self-released debut album Showbiz Witch was captured live in a single day inside the group's own loft studio, after which the members immediately began composing additional material even as the record circulated. A glam rock strut emerged to offset their established abrasive style, and once several of these tracks had been road-tested, the songs coalesced into the band's second release and Flameshovel Records debut, Fresh Rot, which appeared in September 2007. By the next spring Rick Berger departed on good terms to pursue marriage, with Miles Raymer stepping in on bass for an unbroken run of performances.