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 achieve the following stage.
However simply because the genre-bending group had been ramping issues up (they had been scheduled to play Coachella and a bunch of different main occasions), the pandemic floor every thing to a halt. That delay led Model Pussy to remodel right into a trio for the discharge of their Good 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 an even bigger and extra passionate crowd at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday than the principle stage noticed midway by the day. Early begin time apart, Model Pussy at all times would’ve been a must-see set for punk rock’s largest weekend. Their efficiency was unforgettable, with unparalleled highlights like calling an unnamed critic “somewhat normie-ass bitch” for locating it “actually arduous to root for a band named Model Pussy,” the debut of a brand-new tune, having all the 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.”
Different Press sat down with Dabice just some hours after the efficiency to talk about their latest previous, current and future.
You launched the Good 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 wish 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 similar time, we nonetheless have so lots of the similar emotions and feelings which might be actually greatest expressed by punk and hardcore music. I feel our albums have at all times been a break up between these two issues, however I do not know what the following one [sounds like]. We’re attempting so arduous to complete a file by the wintertime. That’s the last word aim, and it will be so cool if it occurs. We’ve been writing quite a lot of songs, they usually’re far and wide, however they’ve been actually enjoyable to workshop and work out.
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 completely different members?
The final couple of years have undoubtedly taught us that change is usually very tough, nevertheless it’s additionally usually very crucial. Each change that has occurred in Model Pussy has not essentially been the simplest emotionally — like dropping a band member who you’ve got performed with on your entire life and written each tune collectively. However, usually, you may actually really feel your self coming into a brand new period and actuality — and typically, our new realities can nonetheless be simply as lovely as those earlier than.
Significantly at an enormous competition like Coachella or Riot Fest the place you’ve gotten such all kinds of attendees, Model Pussy appear to attract a particularly various crowd in just about each demographic. Have you ever observed the band significantly bringing folks collectively from completely different scenes and backgrounds?
I feel that is actually lovely. How can we not really feel that type 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 persons 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 completely different. Typically once we open for bands, you undoubtedly see a sure sort of individual. The group is usually some mixture of younger white guys and outdated white guys. However that crowd can 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?
Effectively, most bands cannot afford it. [Laughs.] We couldn’t afford it for a very long time. However no, I wish to play guitar much less. I simply wish to deal with singing. I feel singing and taking part in guitar on the similar time is already arduous sufficient, and I don’t suppose you may actually do each of them nice. Truthfully, you might be good at each, however you may’t be nice. But additionally, we now have all of these components 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 components, and it does not really feel fairly proper with out them. While you understand that you just’re using extra [parts] within the studio, why would not you need folks to expertise that stay? Once we had been nonetheless taking part in as a four-piece, I began to see folks singing the top-line melodies that could not exist stay as a result of they had been on keys or one other guitar or backing harmonies. If we wish to proceed to be a band, we additionally must increase and develop. We’re at all times altering, and meaning increasing and rising. It simply appeared prefer it was the fitting time to ask another person into Model Pussy.
Plus, it offers Bear the prospect to take heart stage and sing.
Precisely. When we now have the 2 guitars, I can go to bass and it nonetheless sounds full. We do not ever wish to drop down in quantity there. It doesn’t matter what, there at all times must be two guitars, and we will solely do this with three guitars.
Each in your data and stay, Model Pussy have at all times blended some quieter, introspective songs alongside fairly in-your-face hardcore and punk. How do you discover that stability of not leaning too closely come what may?
[When playing live] it’s usually good to have the ability to take a breath. While you’re attempting to get by an extended set that’s very high-energy, you actually need your entire physique to have the ability to have these moments. However typically it feels prefer it’s more durable to stability as a result of I’m not attempting to solely lean into one in all them. That is why we have been doing issues like placing all of our “singing” songs on the prime of the set as a result of if I’ll probably shred my voice somewhat bit on some yelling songs, I don’t wish 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 youngsters in the present day are offended.
