The trio will be bringing hell bent solos, dual vocals and syncopated rhythms to Castlemaine this weekend.
It’s been a red hot minute since we last heard from MON CON.
Based in Melbourne, the three-piece post-punk trio made up of Erica Dunn (guitar, vox), Sara Retallick (bass, vox), and Raquel Solier (drums), have been making waves since their inception back in 2017. Originally playing together under the moniker Palm Springs, the trio released their debut album Modern Convenience to critical acclaim back in 2018.
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Emerging from Victoria’s length lockdowns, the band began drip-feeding us singles ‘Ammo’, ‘Learner in an Alpha’ and ‘X-Ray’ before dropping their highly-anticipated second album, Modern Condition, in October last year. Full of anxiety, gutsy riffs, screeches and tempered rhythms, the record was a fresh slice of poignant, political punk that showcased the three-piece’s growth since 2018’s Modern Convenience.
With the wiry post-punk trio’s highly anticipated second studio release out in the world, the last 12 months have been some of the busiest yet for the band members, who all keep themselves busy with various solo and collaborative projects.
Dunn splits her time with art-punk outfit Tropical Fuck Storm, the solo project Palm Springs and the Tom Lyngcoln-fronted Harmony. Retallick has the solo project Golden Syrup and lectures at Melbourne Polytechnic, while Solier creates music under Various Asses and is also a facilitator in a youth music program and mother to a young daughter.
“We come out lockdown in a mad whirlwind with a lot of stuff, not MOD CON related,” Erica Dunn explains.
“Raq has been playing a lot in her solo mode as Various Asses, released a new incredible album and has been nominated best producer in the Music Victoria Awards, Sara has taken up a master’s at UNSW and is always working on music, currently doing a residency as MESS, lots of amazing shit, I’m allowed to gush over those two, they amaze me. I’ve pretty much been on tour in EU and US with Tropical Fuck Storm since May. So any time we get to do MOD CON stuff it’s precious and exciting!”
Arriving back in Melbourne this week, Dunn will reunite with her MOD CON bandmates for a special festival slot at Backyard Fest, the newest music and arts festival heading to regional Victoria this weekend. Becoming one of the most anticipated festivals on the regional Victorian circuit, music festival Backyard Fest (BYF) will be making its debut in Castlemaine this November, channelling some serious house party energy into a weekend of fun, camaraderie and ease.
New music and arts festival Backyard Fest brings Babe Rainbow, Alice Skye and more to Castlemaine
Taking over Lot 19, Castlemaine’s most loved outdoor arts precinct, from Friday, November 11 until Saturday, November 12, MOD CON joins an impressive festival debut lineup including the likes of Byron Bay’s psychedelic rockers Babe Rainbow and Melbourne indie rockers Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird, plus The Stroppies, Andras, WHARVES, The Maes, Ausecuma Beats and Bones and Jones, among others. For Dunn, this gig has been a long time coming, with the festival originally scheduled to go ahead in November 2021.
“I will be bringing jetlag, I think I get off the plane the day before,” she laughs. “No, really we are charged! We’ve been talking and thinking about this gig for a long time, it’s overcome a lot of covid related cancellations and setbacks so I think everyone involved is really ready to celebrate!”
Backyard Fest originally began in suburban backyards in 2017 in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne by three Camberwell housemates, with a vision to bring in bands and DJs for house parties worth remembering. Now wanting to bring the good times to more friends and new faces, the little backyard festival is coming to life with its first large-scale public event.
With a limited capacity and the best bits of backyard shenanigans, Dunn reflects on the significance of earning a spot on the intimate festival lineup.
“It’s special to be a part of someone’s vision for how an event can flow,” she says. “Everyone brings a different energy to these things and it’s fun to play for people who are settling in for a few days of listening to music and having positive experiences.”
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With the band embracing their onward trajectory thanks to the impressive bond between bandmates and friends, Dunn confirms that a third MOD CON album is already in the works.
“When it gets down to it, we love each other’s company! There’s nothing else in our mad lives that ticks the special boxes that hanging out and playing music together does!
“The rumours are true but we’re not in a rush,” she adds, regarding a third album. “We’ve had some studio time n been sharing some demos but it’s very early days.
“[The album] will always be something new but the sounds we make together have always been based on challenging each other musically, finding new ways to make each other tick. That same premise is always going to be the foundation of what we do.”
Stay tuned. In the meantime Dunn has one last piece of advice for those heading to Backyard Fest this weekend: “La Niña! Chuck your gumboots in the car baby!”
Backyard Fest hits Lot 19 at McShanag Rd in Castlemaine from Friday, November 11 until Saturday, November 12. More info here. Keep up to date with the Facebook event here.
