Salon Betty
Encyclopedia
Salon Betty is the raucous and sleazy dark cabaret art rock project formed by singer, songwriter and performance artist Betty X
during years of 1994 to 1997. Betty cites the idea as being born in Prague while she was living there during the winter of 1992, from a dream that she had about a lurid and crazy Czech hair salon — A den of decadence and art, ala John Waters and David Lynch.
The music is typically described as new wave or punk, but has been coined as "gothabilly
," "death lounge" and "deathabilly" by the band's frontwoman Betty X
.
Jamie Hook, a reviewer for the The Stranger
described the music as, "Neu-Wavo Ranchero" and referred to the fans as "Bettephiles." Salon Betty shows had a large cult following, where the fans would dress as Betty or other colorful characters from her songs such as "Courtney Hate" and bring food such as whipped cream, sausages and jello to throw during cues in songs. The shows were three quarter in the round and interactive. Live shows were often compared to My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
, Rocky Horror Picture Show meets GWAR
by reviewers and critics.
After meeting with collaborator Hate Xaylor, in 1995, Betty started to experiment with darker themes and experiment with vocalizations, industrialized noises and tribal drumming. The side-project turned into a full time pursuit. There were many musicians that rotated through the band during its time; Rob "Spike" MacKusick (Faith and Disease), Paul "Pablo Diablo" MacKusick, Brian Castillo
"aka pFrenz-C" (Jarboe
of the Swans
, In Gowan Ring), Erica "Raven Leigh" Butler, Ricky Ricardo (Faith and Disease), C. Barry Semple (Faith and Disease, The Swains) and Ty Pamfilof (Machina Candeo, Otto Pilate), among others.
Betty X
is noted in the underground Seattle art/music scene for her guerrilla art and outrageous on-stage antics since her Salon Betty days. She often mimicked and mocked the audience into full participation. Inciting impromptu performance art riots including whipped cream, large sausages, blood, tampons. Topics included sexual liberation and feminist commentary of women's roles in society- from desperate, crazed housewives that kill their own- Susan Smith to ones that runaway "Arizona" and leave it all behind them in a daze of amnesia to critical "Generation of Victimazation" referring to America's unhealthy addiction to soaps, reality TV shows and Jerry Springer. "Bettephile" was written for and about the crazed fans that followed the band on tour. Salon Betty shows were theatrical often "tongue-in-cheek" with dark humor. Typical shows included several changes of props and costumes throughout the set and encouraging fans otherwise known as Bettephiles to participate in antics and to sing along and throw objects and fun during key parts of the songs.
Disbanded in 1997, Betty X
went on to pursue a self-titled solo project. Reportedly one of the first bands to do a live show broadcast via the internet.
The Best of Salon Betty
A collection of the best tracks from Salon Betty (1994–1996). Includes two rare demo tracks of Last Cigarette and Party on Venus recorded in analog at Vagrant Studios, in Seattle with the original line-up (1994).
Betty X
Betty X, is an American musician, artist, and writer known for her controversial stage persona and image as the lead singer of the eponymous band Betty X. Her stage name was formed the combination of 1950's American icons, domestic goddess Betty Crocker, pin-up model Bettie Page with the human...
during years of 1994 to 1997. Betty cites the idea as being born in Prague while she was living there during the winter of 1992, from a dream that she had about a lurid and crazy Czech hair salon — A den of decadence and art, ala John Waters and David Lynch.
The music is typically described as new wave or punk, but has been coined as "gothabilly
Gothabilly
Gothabilly , is one of several music and cultural subgenres of rockabilly. The name is a portmanteau word that combines gothic and rockabilly. The earliest known use of the word gothabilly was by The Cramps in the late 1970s, to describe their blend of somber, rockabilly-influenced punk rock...
," "death lounge" and "deathabilly" by the band's frontwoman Betty X
Betty X
Betty X, is an American musician, artist, and writer known for her controversial stage persona and image as the lead singer of the eponymous band Betty X. Her stage name was formed the combination of 1950's American icons, domestic goddess Betty Crocker, pin-up model Bettie Page with the human...
.
Jamie Hook, a reviewer for the The Stranger
The Stranger (newspaper)
The Stranger is an alternative weekly newspaper in Seattle, Washington, USA. It runs a blog known as Slog.-History:The Stranger was founded by Tim Keck, who had previously co-founded the satirical newspaper The Onion, and cartoonist James Sturm. Its first issue came out on September 23, 1991...
described the music as, "Neu-Wavo Ranchero" and referred to the fans as "Bettephiles." Salon Betty shows had a large cult following, where the fans would dress as Betty or other colorful characters from her songs such as "Courtney Hate" and bring food such as whipped cream, sausages and jello to throw during cues in songs. The shows were three quarter in the round and interactive. Live shows were often compared to My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult is an American electronic industrial rock band originally based out of Chicago, Illinois.-History:...
, Rocky Horror Picture Show meets GWAR
GWAR
Gwar is a satirical heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, United States, in 1984. The band is best known for its elaborate science fiction/horror film inspired costumes, obscene lyrics and graphic stage performances, which feature humorous enactments of politically and morally taboo...
by reviewers and critics.
After meeting with collaborator Hate Xaylor, in 1995, Betty started to experiment with darker themes and experiment with vocalizations, industrialized noises and tribal drumming. The side-project turned into a full time pursuit. There were many musicians that rotated through the band during its time; Rob "Spike" MacKusick (Faith and Disease), Paul "Pablo Diablo" MacKusick, Brian Castillo
Brian Castillo
Brian Castillo is an American musician/producer, and photographer born in Tacoma, Washington. Best known for his work with The Living Jarboe and In Gowan Ring, sometimes in a musician role and sometimes as a producer/engineer...
"aka pFrenz-C" (Jarboe
Jarboe
Jarboe is an American singer, songwriter, and keyboardist.Jarboe is a solo artist who came to prominence in the mid-1980s with the New York City based group Swans. With founder Michael Gira, the duo was the core of Swans until the group broke up in 1998...
of the Swans
Swans (band)
Swans are an influential American post-punk band initially active from 1982 to 1997, led by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Gira. The band was one of the few groups to emerge from the early 1980s New York No Wave scene and stay intact into the next decade. Formed by Gira in...
, In Gowan Ring), Erica "Raven Leigh" Butler, Ricky Ricardo (Faith and Disease), C. Barry Semple (Faith and Disease, The Swains) and Ty Pamfilof (Machina Candeo, Otto Pilate), among others.
Betty X
Betty X
Betty X, is an American musician, artist, and writer known for her controversial stage persona and image as the lead singer of the eponymous band Betty X. Her stage name was formed the combination of 1950's American icons, domestic goddess Betty Crocker, pin-up model Bettie Page with the human...
is noted in the underground Seattle art/music scene for her guerrilla art and outrageous on-stage antics since her Salon Betty days. She often mimicked and mocked the audience into full participation. Inciting impromptu performance art riots including whipped cream, large sausages, blood, tampons. Topics included sexual liberation and feminist commentary of women's roles in society- from desperate, crazed housewives that kill their own- Susan Smith to ones that runaway "Arizona" and leave it all behind them in a daze of amnesia to critical "Generation of Victimazation" referring to America's unhealthy addiction to soaps, reality TV shows and Jerry Springer. "Bettephile" was written for and about the crazed fans that followed the band on tour. Salon Betty shows were theatrical often "tongue-in-cheek" with dark humor. Typical shows included several changes of props and costumes throughout the set and encouraging fans otherwise known as Bettephiles to participate in antics and to sing along and throw objects and fun during key parts of the songs.
Disbanded in 1997, Betty X
Betty X
Betty X, is an American musician, artist, and writer known for her controversial stage persona and image as the lead singer of the eponymous band Betty X. Her stage name was formed the combination of 1950's American icons, domestic goddess Betty Crocker, pin-up model Bettie Page with the human...
went on to pursue a self-titled solo project. Reportedly one of the first bands to do a live show broadcast via the internet.
The Best of Salon Betty
A collection of the best tracks from Salon Betty (1994–1996). Includes two rare demo tracks of Last Cigarette and Party on Venus recorded in analog at Vagrant Studios, in Seattle with the original line-up (1994).
Discography
- The Big Hair Sex Circus, 1996 (iMusic)
- Arizona, 1997 (self-released EP)
- Live! From Venus, 1997 (self-released EP)
- It Came from Planet X, 1997 (self-released EP)
- The Best of Salon Betty, 2010 (Anti-Social Records LP)