Heavens to Betsy, the feminist punk duo of drummer Tracy Sawyer and singer-guitarist Corin Tucker, performed their first concert in over three decades this summer at an intimate Portland, Oregon venue. The band announced the show through handmade photocopied flyers posted around the city, with Tucker personally creating the promotional materials. The reunion marked a significant moment for a band that had largely maintained minimal contact since their breakup in the mid-1990s, with both members now in their 50s and mothers of two.
The duo initially formed in the early 1990s and became a cornerstone of the riot grrrl movement alongside Bikini Kill and Bratmobile. Heavens to Betsy released one album during their active period and created influential music centered on feminist themes including body autonomy, sexual abuse, and worker exploitation. The band’s original material was recorded on a four-track cassette recorder in 1992, with only approximately 100 copies distributed. Their early career includes a notable appearance at the International Pop Underground Convention, where they performed a two-song set despite minimal practice and significant nervousness.
The reunion was catalyzed by their original label’s interest in releasing previously hard-to-find material. Last autumn, Kill Rock Stars approached the band members about making the demo widely available and suggested a performance. Though initially hesitant, Tucker and Sawyer grew more enthusiastic as they reconnected with their earlier songwriting and its uncompromising message. Recent shows have drawn younger audiences who learned music by listening to Heavens to Betsy recordings and actively engaged with the material.
An upcoming full-length release titled Baby’s Gone will compile the 1992 demo tape along with material from two 7-inch EPs. The band’s reunion tour will bring their original riot grrrl material to audiences across the United States. Tucker has noted that while her vocal approach has evolved with age, she remains committed to conveying the anger and conviction central to Heavens to Betsy’s original sound without dilution.
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