heavens to betsy on their reunion grown-up style

heavens to betsy formed as the last of the three original riot grrrl bands out of Olympia, Washington, in the early 1990s. The duo’s music perforated the masculinist punk scene with hair-raising screams and pointed frowns with visceral lyrics typical of the riot grrrl milieu on subjects like sexual abuse and harassment. For the first time since 1994, the band will reunite in celebration of their new LP, Baby’s Gone, featuring never before heard songs and demos recorded by Molly Neuman of Bratmobile. Several years ago, heavens to betsy’s riot grrrl sisters, Bikini Kill and Bratmobile, began performing again to thrilled multi-generational crowds. Their Queercore cousins Team Dresch began kicking it with Third Sex in Portland, but where was heavens to betsy? Sleater-Kinney veteran Corin Tucker (guitar, vocals) always kept a reunion in her back pocket: “I have lived with feeling a little bit regretful of not giving the band its full due.” A heavens to betsy tour tickled DIY lifer and drummer Tracey Sawyer as much as donating a kidney might: “I thought, yeah, right, I’m not doing that. It was a lifetime ago.” The band’s decision to return came down to timing. The question why now? deepl...