The Reboot of Go Betty Go: An Exhilarating Return to Pop-Punk Form

Jonny Whiteside

Gaining respect has never been easy for any female rockers, but early 2000’s-era Latina pop-punks Go Betty Go not only established themselves as one of the most popular local bands in Los Angeles, they achieved national recognition in 4 action-packed years.  Led by Glendale siblings Nicolette and Aixa Vilar, their hard-hitting, bilingual music had limitless appeal. The group landed high profile spots on the coast-to-coast Warped tour, placed songs on video games soundtracks, shook up South by Southwest and seemed poised to achieve major commercial and artistic success.  The release of 2005’s Nothing is More, their first full length album, coincided with a lengthy tour supporting MxPx, but it was at that very moment when lead singer Nicolette Vilar abruptly quit the band and the entire Go Betty Go phenom imploded.

“It went from being fun to not fun at all,” Nicolette said. “I hated touring. It’s really stressful and I was really unhappy.” Aixa moved to Argentina and Go Betty Go went on extended hiatus. It was an ignominious end for a sensational punk rock force that had first formed circa 2000 when the girls were still in high school. With Nicolette’s vocals, Aixa’s intense drumming, the supple bass of Michelle Rangel and explosive guitarist Betty Cisneros, they rehearsed in the family garage and took their name from the habitual exhortation they’d shout at Betty. In short order, they landed a weeknight residency at legendary Highland Park dive Mr. T’s Bowl and packed it every time they appeared.

Their debut recording, Worst Enemy, came out in 2004.The EP’s bilingual mix of punk ferocity and pop melodicism was an impressive calling card that got them all the gigs they could handle and reams of enthusiastic press. However, after Nicolette split in February 2006, the band eventually reformed with a new singer, gigging sporadically but it was never the same. Following an unexpected offer from a promoter friend of Aixa’s, the band reformed for a purported one-time only gig in 2012.

“I didn’t realize how much I’d missed it.” Nicolette said. “I look at photos of myself from that night and I look so happy, and I realized that I couldn’t wait to start again.” From that point on, Go Betty Go was back, big time, and they’ve finally made a new record, the fantastic six song Reboot EP (funded entirely by the band’s fans via Pledgemusic.com) which becomes available on January 27.

It’s vintage GBG, hard rocking, a bit moodier, darker, more nuanced, but as passionate, exciting and fast moving as ever. Reboot definitely signals a welcome return by one of Southern California’s most perpetually intriguing and highest quality bands and promises plenty more musical action to come. “All our fans have had to wait a long time, and it does make a lot of people happy.” Nicolette said. “I’m really excited.”

Go Betty Go will have their first show at Cafe NELA on Dec. 28. Their record release is at the Roxy Theatre with The Dollyrots and a Pretty Mess on Jan.25.