“Plastic Mannequin” by JAM
Welcome back for the second installment of the Port City Experiment’s Song of the Week. Without further ado and with great pleasure, we are overjoyed to introduce JAM’s 2022 single Plastic Mannequin off of the “Ruffle My Jammies” EP. JAM as a name works doubly to define the members of the group, Joey Rickman and Mason Spence, and as a subtle clue as to what to expect from any of their performances.
It is easy to get wrapped up in the mechanics that make up JAM’s physical stage setup. Busking is a long established art, a chance for the everyday musicians of the world to have their own stage. Novice or expert, one trumpet or an array of instruments played by different parts of the body; musicians worldwide take to a busy corner on a bustling street looking to provide their own noise into the mix. Joey and Mason may each hold a guitar in their hands, but venture your eyes south and you’ll notice that all the drumming is done by foot. Each taking half of the responsibilities, using the chemistry built over years, and forming the rhythm section of every song while still managing guitar parts and vocals.
I have heard JAM described as a nomadic musical circus of two, hauling their life’s work back and forth across the confines of North Carolina on a daily basis. They officially began playing shows in the Morehead area around 2018, but the connection—tangible and deeply felt between these two lifelong friends—leaves many thinking they’ve existed as a duo in many lives both present and past.
Song Description
Plastic Mannequin exists in two parts for me. The first half is a lullaby, a beginning stage of thought about one’s situation inevitably leading to a spiral. Harmonic melodies paired with the melancholic tone of Mason’s voice present imagery of a recently heartbroken soul.
“Wishing I was more than a plastic mannequin,” numbness rises after a heartbreak, a barrier we put up to protect from further hurt and allow a chance for grief before healing. The song serves as an exploration of the stages of grief and unravels as the song progresses.
The second verse dips itself into the maddening aspects of anger and denial. “ Startled by the fact that / You left it all for what.” The tension built in the song leads to guttural admittance of shame in the last line of the second verse. After a repeat of the chorus, the second act of the song kicks in. The residual energy leftover after rage and confusion have run their course, leaving one physically and mentally exhausted. The final lines of the song prompt a balance of acceptance and reflection, the beginning stages of healing. “I’m sorry for the cold truth /Trust me you wouldn’t want to /Love a plastic mannequin.”
Part storytelling, part therapeutic release of a journal entry; JAM finds a home and comfort in vulnerability.
What’s Next
Next in store for JAM
JAM seemingly plays a mind numbing amount of shows, playing 3 hour sets in downtown Wilmington on a Friday night and then traveling to cities several hours north to run it back. Even fresh off a Spring tour there are ample opportunities to see JAM live. Find them @joeyandmason.official on Instagram to stay in tune.
Ben “Danger” Matthews | PCE
Chief Word Person
The Port City Experiment 