Go Betty Go
Go Betty Go emphatically have established themselves as one of punk rock’s most exciting forces. A gloriously rough and tumble sound with melodic aggression. They bring a rich and engaging energy, loaded with lush atmosphere and, at times, an underlying sense of the foreboding.
Formed in 2000 when they were all attending high school in Glendale California, Go Betty Go driven by Betty Cisneros’ big, roaring guitar, singer Nicolette Vilar’s soulful, siren call and the momentous urgency of Michelle Rangel’s bass and Aixa Vilar’s tumultuous drumming. The Latina Punk Quartet swiftly ascended from local shows to a standing room only weeknight residency at Los Angeles dive Mr. T Bowl’s to a national reputation via reams of critical acclaim and non-stop gigging. Go Betty Go surged through two lengthy Warped tours, frequent cross-country tours, an attention getting invasion of South by Southwest and seemingly had it made. With the release of 2005’s Nothing is More, their first full length album on Side One Dummy Records, they set out to tour yet again. They never finished it—Nicolette, exhausted, unhappy and burned out, suddenly quit. She walked away and the bands remaining members found themselves at a crossroad.
The remaining members drafted singer Emily Wynne-Hughes and bassist Phil Buckman and continued gigging but the creative momentum eventually was gone, and at one point they quit performing for over two years. Miraculously, after a friend suggested a one off 2012 gig all four original members found themselves reunited on stage. As if the band had a life of its own, Go Betty Go was back as suddenly as they had split.
That renewal and excitement crackles through their last release “Reboot”, like a high voltage jolt of electricity, and Go Betty go are poised to reclaim their rightful prominence as some of the brightest, boldest women in punk rock.
