During the last handful of years, few punk bands have ascended fairly like Model Pussy. After 2016’s Romantic put the Philadelphians on the map, 2019’s Persistence clearly primed Marisa “Missy” Dabice and her band to succeed in the subsequent stage.
However simply because the genre-bending group have been ramping issues up (they have been scheduled to play Coachella and a bunch of different main occasions), the pandemic floor all the pieces to a halt. That delay led Model Pussy to remodel right into a trio for the discharge of their Excellent EP in 2021 earlier than including not one however two guitarists into the lineup to tear up some post-pandemic reveals.
Learn extra: 32 bands on their greatest Riot Fest reminiscences—gallery
One such present got here in an inexplicably opening spot on a aspect stage at Riot Fest in Chicago, the place the now-quintet drew a much bigger and extra passionate crowd at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday than the primary stage noticed midway via the day. Early begin time apart, Model Pussy all the time would’ve been a must-see set for punk rock’s greatest weekend. Their efficiency was unforgettable, with unparalleled highlights like calling an unnamed critic “a little bit normie-ass bitch” for locating it “actually onerous to root for a band named Model Pussy,” the debut of a brand-new track, having the whole crowd scream again “I nonetheless love you, you silly fuck” throughout “Drunk II” and Dabice taking on Colins “Bear” Regisford’s bass so he may take the lead vocals on the set nearer “Pigs is Pigs.”
Various Press sat down with Dabice just some hours after the efficiency to talk about their latest previous, current and future.
You launched the Excellent EP final yr, and also you clearly have new music within the works. Is {that a} new album or just some songs for now?
I really feel very fortunate simply to be in a band that is nonetheless a band after the final couple of years. I do not know if we need to write 10 songs or 20 songs proper now, and I don’t know what we wish them to sound like simply but. We’ve actually been desirous to experiment extra and create extra lush instrumentations and actually push ourselves in new instructions, however on the identical time, we nonetheless have so lots of the identical emotions and feelings which are actually greatest expressed via punk and hardcore music. I feel our albums have all the time been a break up between these two issues, however I do not know what the subsequent one [sounds like]. We’re attempting so onerous to complete a file by the wintertime. That’s the last word objective, and it will be so cool if it occurs. We’ve been writing lots of songs, they usually’re everywhere, however they’ve been actually enjoyable to workshop and determine.
Model Pussy — and the world — have modified fairly a bit since Persistence was launched in 2019. How does it really feel to have the ability to choose up the place you left off earlier than the pandemic, albeit with some totally different members?
The final couple of years have positively taught us that change is commonly very troublesome, but it surely’s additionally usually very obligatory. Each change that has occurred in Model Pussy has not essentially been the best emotionally — like shedding a band member who you’ve got performed with to your entire life and written each track collectively. However, usually, you’ll be able to actually really feel your self coming into a brand new period and actuality — and generally, our new realities can nonetheless be simply as lovely as those earlier than.
Significantly at a giant competition like Coachella or Riot Fest the place you may have such all kinds of attendees, Model Pussy appear to attract a particularly numerous crowd in just about each demographic. Have you ever observed the band significantly bringing folks collectively from totally different scenes and backgrounds?
I feel that is actually lovely. How can we not really feel that sort of love, and the way can we not acknowledge that? We completely see that once we look out into the crowds at our reveals. All of those individuals are coming collectively as a result of they’re actually all feeling these feelings — they usually’re actually heavy feelings. It’s all about recognizing that we’re not so totally different. Generally once we open for bands, you positively see a sure kind of individual. The group is commonly some mixture of younger white guys and outdated white guys. However that crowd can also be very thrilling to me as a result of these guys like us, too, and it’s actually bringing folks collectively — together with the white guys.
There aren’t a ton of punk bands on the market that make the most of three guitars, so what was the reasoning for bringing in a 3rd guitarist?
Properly, most bands cannot afford it. [Laughs.] We couldn’t afford it for a very long time. However no, I need to play guitar much less. I simply need to deal with singing. I feel singing and taking part in guitar on the identical time is already onerous sufficient, and I don’t assume you’ll be able to actually do each of them nice. Actually, you may be good at each, however you’ll be able to’t be nice. But additionally, now we have all of these elements on our data. Once we’re training [for live shows], we’re reinterpreting the songs as they’re on our data. Our brains hear these different elements, and it does not really feel fairly proper with out them. While you understand that you simply’re using extra [parts] within the studio, why would not you need folks to expertise that reside? Once we have been nonetheless taking part in as a four-piece, I began to see folks singing the top-line melodies that could not exist reside as a result of they have been on keys or one other guitar or backing harmonies. If we need to proceed to be a band, we additionally have to broaden and develop. We’re all the time altering, and meaning increasing and rising. It simply appeared prefer it was the proper time to ask another person into Model Pussy.
Plus, it provides Bear the possibility to take heart stage and sing.
Precisely. When now we have the 2 guitars, I can go to bass and it nonetheless sounds full. We do not ever need to drop down in quantity there. It doesn’t matter what, there all the time must be two guitars, and we will solely do this with three guitars.
Each in your data and reside, Model Pussy have all the time blended some quieter, introspective songs alongside fairly in-your-face hardcore and punk. How do you discover that steadiness of not leaning too closely by some means?
[When playing live] it’s usually good to have the ability to take a breath. While you’re attempting to get via an extended set that’s very high-energy, you actually need your entire physique to have the ability to have these moments. However generally it feels prefer it’s tougher to steadiness as a result of I’m not attempting to solely lean into certainly one of them. That is why we have been doing issues like placing all of our “singing” songs on the high of the set as a result of if I will probably shred my voice a little bit bit on some yelling songs, I don’t need to yell a bunch first after which attempt to sing a fairly melody. And we get to finish with the angrier stuff, which is extra enjoyable. I feel it is so thrilling that children at this time are indignant.
