Mannequin Pussy on adding a third guitarist and making new music

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 Endurance clearly primed Marisa “Missy” Dabice and her band to succeed in the subsequent degree.

However simply because the genre-bending group had been ramping issues up (they had been scheduled to play Coachella and a number of different main occasions), the pandemic floor all the pieces to a halt. That delay led Model Pussy to rework 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 finest Riot Fest recollections—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 primary stage noticed midway by means of 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 “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 music, having all the crowd scream again “I nonetheless love you, you silly fuck” throughout “Drunk II” and Dabice taking up 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 only a few hours after the efficiency to speak about their current 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 only a few 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 eager 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 finest expressed by means of punk and hardcore music. I believe our albums have at all times been a break up between these two issues, however I do not know what the subsequent one [sounds like]. We’re making an attempt so onerous to complete a file by the wintertime. That’s the final word objective, and it will be so cool if it occurs. We’ve been writing lots of songs, and so they’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 Endurance was launched in 2019. How does it really feel to have the ability to decide up the place you left off earlier than the pandemic, albeit with some totally different members?

The final couple of years have undoubtedly taught us that change is commonly very troublesome, however it’s additionally usually very needed. 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 music collectively. However, typically, you may actually really feel your self getting into a brand new period and actuality — and typically, our new realities can nonetheless be simply as stunning as those earlier than.

Notably at an enormous competition like Coachella or Riot Fest the place you have got such all kinds of attendees, Model Pussy appear to attract an especially various crowd in just about each demographic. Have you ever observed the band significantly bringing folks collectively from totally different scenes and backgrounds?

I believe that is actually stunning. 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 individuals are coming collectively as a result of they’re actually all feeling these feelings — and so they’re actually heavy feelings. It’s all about recognizing that we’re not so totally different. Generally once we open for bands, you undoubtedly see a sure kind of particular person. 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 believe singing and taking part in guitar on the similar time is already onerous sufficient, and I don’t suppose you may actually do each of them nice. Actually, you might be good at each, however you may’t be nice. But in addition, we now 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 notice that you just’re using extra [parts] within the studio, why would not you need folks to expertise that dwell? 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 dwell as a result of they had been on keys or one other guitar or backing harmonies. If we need to proceed to be a band, we additionally have to develop and develop. We’re at all times altering, and meaning increasing and rising. It simply appeared prefer it was the appropriate 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 need to drop down in quantity there. It doesn’t matter what, there at all times must be two guitars, and we are able to solely do this with three guitars.

Each in your data and dwell, 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 somehow?

[When playing live] it’s usually good to have the ability to take a breath. While you’re making an attempt to get by means of an extended set that’s very high-energy, you really want your entire physique to have the ability to have these moments. However typically it feels prefer it’s tougher to stability as a result of I’m not making an attempt 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 believe it is so thrilling that youngsters at this time are indignant.