In Los Angeles, few bands keep energetic lengthy sufficient to have a good time a twenty fifth anniversary. For the ladies in Go Betty Go, this milestone got here as exhausting, quick and livid as one among their songs.
Think about a Latina model of the Ramones, with hints of Descendents and Blink-182 thrown in. Although the band hasn’t gained main notoriety, its sound has earned the group a cult following. With a newly infused burst of power and optimism, the band is on cloud 9 now that guitarist Betty Cisneros is formally in remission from most cancers, which was recognized over two years in the past.
“When I was first diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer, it was too personal to share,” Cisneros mentioned throughout a current studio session along with her band at Blue Seaside Studios in Redondo Seaside. “I didn’t even tell my family right away. I just told people it was Stage 4 cancer and left it at that.”
Ultimately, Cisneros started sharing her story, not along with her shut household or her band, however with the world, by posts on social media. “That vulnerability sparked something powerful. Now I’ve got to meet so many people who’ve reached out to me, other cancer survivors, people going through the same thing. We’ve shared our stories. It’s therapeutic for all of us.”
Because it seems, Go Betty Go had begun writing new music in 2018, however when COVID-19 hit, clearly, issues have been delayed. The band went again to the studio after the pandemic started to wind down, however all seen one thing was fallacious with Cisneros. “We knew something was going on with Betty,” bassist Michelle Rangel recalled. “But we all kept pushing forward. The music gave us something to hold onto, as she went through this.”
For a band like Go Betty Go, the music is significant, however so is the sense of sisterhood. “We consider this band [a] family. So, of course, we all were behind Betty, supporting her during that difficult time,” Rangel mentioned. “And when Betty had to step away to take care of her health, we held the torch for her while she recovered,” vocalist Nicolette Vilar mentioned. “But we knew she’d be back. She never gave up.”
The facility of the music helped Cisneros throughout her restoration, she says. “The music helped me focus on something else,” Cisneros mentioned. “If I stayed at home thinking about what I was going through, that’s how you can get into a hole, you know?”
As a band with 25 years of historical past and touring, together with excursions with bands like Flogging Molly, a number of appearances on Warped Tour within the early 2000s, and numerous Southern California reveals and nationwide excursions through the years, it’s noticeable how humble the musicians nonetheless are, sticking to their DIY work ethic.
“We book our shows. We design our merchandise. We don’t have a huge team at all,” mentioned drummer/band supervisor Aixa Vilar (who can be Nicolette’s sister). “Nicolette does our graphics, and Betty’s our tour manager. We’re running this ship ourselves, and we love it; we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Cisneros agreed and laughed when requested how she juggled all of it. “I’m kind of the mom of the group. I like being in charge. Even though life has a way of pulling the rug out from under you, planning makes me feel grounded.”
In a quarter-century taking part in music, the bandmates love the reminiscences they’ve made and the music they’ve gotten to share with their followers. They’ve had the expertise of watching followers develop up with them too. “We have seen parents with their kids coming to our shows, and we love that,” Rangel mentioned. “It’s amazing that fans can share our music with their kids and younger fans. We love that our music can inspire and influence people of all ages.”
Cisneros recalled a current present in Las Vegas and an encounter with a fan that moved her. “After the show, I had a fan approach me and say, ‘I have an ileostomy too.’ This created an instant bond between us, and it was moving,” she mentioned. “We talked like we knew each other; it was very special.”
“We do this because it’s still fun,” Cisneros mentioned. “We’re grateful people care. This all started from passion, and that’s still what drives us.”
