photo by Matthew Ismael Ruiz

I look out from the side of the small stage and all I see are sweaty boys, hands reaching skyward, faces contorted in a snarl that reads, "More riffs, now now now." It's not an uncommon sight at the shows of Nashville pop-punks Diarrhea Planet, but on this particular night, the front row was asking for more more more from Marnie Stern. All they got was a song, "Hammer of the Gods” from the Planet's recent album I’m Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams, but it was, without a doubt, the highlight of the show— more for what it meant than even how it sounded.

This past weekend, at both Manhattan’s Mercury Lounge and Brooklyn’s Shea Stadium, Stern acted as the Planet’s fifth— yes, fifth— guitarist. And from the moment Stern took the stage, it was clear that the Planet guys not only viewed her as a peer, they admired her— and specifically, her shredding abilities. The message was definitely not “You play pretty good, for a girl.” And their behavior set an example for their predominantly male fanbase, even in a venue like Shea Stadium that doesn’t tolerate sexism.

How Stern and Diarrhea Planet even got together shows great respect on the Planet’s part. As it goes, the two were touring on a similar route, with Stern trailing behind the Planet. Guitarist Emmett Miller wrote her an impassioned letter and left it with a sound guy at a shared venue. From there, a friendship sparked. I hope it sticks, because she brings something new and exciting to the Planet’s already must-see live show.

Even in subcultures and scenes that exist on the fringes of the mainstream, it’s not a given that everyone is progressive with their politics. Sure, there were women getting in the mix in the small, seemingly friendly pit that raged on throughout the Planet’s impressive set. Do I know how they were treated specifically, though? No, but seeing someone like Stern leading a pack of sweat-soaked, semi-shirtless guitarists doing their best Eddie Van Halen vamping is something. Any band— male, female, it really should not matter— would be lucky to have her.