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The Stereo Society Newsletter
March 2014

As New York shivers on in temperatures that seem to have been below freezing for months, we remember a warm and cozy place from an increasing number of years ago: CBGB. New York during the club’s existence (1973-2006) was a place of open possibilities, where the living was far cheaper than now. It attracted many people. And they grew.

One was Charlie Martin, who fulfilled various roles, most prominently as sound man, before moving on to be involved with other clubs such as Bond’s and the Ritz. Another couple, the sisters Tish and Snooky (Bellomo), founded their Manic Panic boutique a few blocks away in the East Village. They went on to many musical moments, some of them even for Stereo Society artists. Manic Panic is now their international hair products line – you could consider them moguls now. But still with very different hair colors….

We interviewed all three people towards the end of last year, and it’s hard not to get sentimental. Conversely, Tish and Snooky’s interview was conducted in a raging thunderstorm, maybe a sign from the gods up there not approving of behavior back then or of too much retro-speak.

Still in reminiscence mode, we realize that Soft Cell’s version of Tainted Love is now a third of a century old. The newest cover version utilizes equipment that wasn’t available at that time: computer hard drives. Hard to beat, massive credit to whoever is responsible. The world needs people like this.

BETTY, freshly back from their US State Department-sponsored visit to India, have been active again in the studio, this time with Thorne producing. The artist Darren Waterston is constructing a warped and destroyed version of Whistler’s Peacock Room, the same size, and he asked the band to contribute music and sounds to be played from what will be around eight sources scattered around the space.

The Peacock Room installation by Darren Waterston

The full piece is about 11 minutes long, and excerpts from it are being stitched into place. As yet, we don’t know where or when a release of the complete version might happen. The opening will be at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adam on March 29.

BETTY will perform At MassMOCA, 87 Marshall St, North Adams, MA 01247
Club B-10, tel: 413.MoCA.111
Saturday March 22 at 8pm.
Get tickets
There will be a special presentation with Darren Waterston before the show.