Occasionally, BettySoo plays solo.
Usually, Dave is on the drums.
Sometimes, when things are right in the world,
Todd plays the keyboard,
Dave is on the drums,
Paul is on the bass, and Will Sexton or Jeff Plankenhorn is on lead!
I like the last scenario, because those guys rock my socks.
Influences
my family, ella fitzgerald, lyle lovett, jack white, jeff tweedy, willie nelson, mark knopfler, ...and so many more
Sometimes, you just need a little shake-up to get things how they always ought to have been. With Heat Sin Water Skin, BettySoo adds welcome edge and grit to the heartbreaker ballads and bell-pure vocals she’s come to be known for.
Teamed with seasoned producer Gurf Morlix (Lucinda Williams, Mary Gauthier, Slaid Cleaves...), BettySoo has made a record worth sitting up and paying attention to. Her vocals are striking, the players are strong, the sound is compelling, and her writing captivating.
Her first two studio albums (Let Me Love You, 2005; Little Tiny Secrets, 2007) and EP (Never the Pretty Girl, 2007 – sold for charity) were well received by critics, earning praise locally and nationally – even securing her some performance opportunities overseas. And she’s not slowing down any time soon.
Since their release, she has earned multiple songwriting awards (including Kerrville New Folk, Wildflower! Festival, & Big Top Chautauqua Songwriter of the Year). She has proven herself a strong performer as well, invited back to perform at all three aforementioned festivals the following year, in addition to being billed at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival and Old Settler's Music Festival.
Joining her on Heat Sin Water Skin are Todd Wilson on organ, Gene Elders on fiddle, and Dave Terry on drums. BettySoo and Gurf handled the guitar and vocal parts themselves. As for genre, she’s still nestled in the folk-rock world, but she is bringing something new to her listeners. “There’s a little gospel, some straight-ahead folk, and maybe even a familiar oldie with a new twist. Be ready for a surprise.”
Then again, not much about BettySoo isn’t surprising. People are surprised just to see her take the stage. Plain-faced, petite (she’s five foot exactly), and freckly, people don’t have any idea what to expect – they certainly don’t expect such a large voice and moving songs. “I guess Asian-American singer-songwriters aren’t all that common,” she comments, “at least, not in Texas.” In fact, she regularly gets greeted after her shows with praise comparing her music and vocals to everyone from Ruthie Foster to Sheryl Crow to Joan Baez.
Then, of course, there’s the whole issue of her name. How did a second-generation Korean end up with such a classic southern name? Is it a stage name? “No,” she answers, laughing, “I guess I’m just lucky that way. It’s right there on my birth certificate. Soo is my dad’s middle name, too. Yep, he’s a boy named Soo.”
Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, bettysoo, You know I love you, I really doo-oo-oo-ahooo-ah--oo I need you darling, and I want you bettysoo
[MAJ Tom attempting to channel Buddy Holly ..... hopefully, not the wrong channel].
But seriously, nice work, there, Betty!
And a reminder of our recent tour of Ireland---the place indeed that created whiskey in the jar--the Cork and Kerry Mountains, almost 9:30 p.m., and an hour of light left, Ireland. Rumor has it that the Irish are referred to as the Koreans of Europe.
Yours, MAJ Tom, Comrade Ivanka, Harajuku Yuki, Boris on drums, and our mascot and seer, Suki the Psychic Akita--The Band of Deserters.
Hey you are all over the map this summer I see (you go go go!!!!!!) and I am l-o-v-i-n-g this cute cover photo of you, which i just had to click on to see how you were doing. Hope all's well all around Ms. Betty, congratulations on the acclaim and awards. Well-deserved. :) xo, Terri
WOW, you really liked them!!!! I thought they were special and that they captured your stage presence as I see it, while you perform! I'm honored that you used them on facebook, too.
It's great to be home and wonderful to hear you at the Saxon. I got a feeling that it will be harder and harder to find you performing in a place like the Saxon, because before you know it you'll be filling halls instead of clubs!!! Congratulations on a great CD and all the erll deserved success that is coming your way!
Amazing music! Going to take your newest CD to Scotland for radio show/interview in Stonehaven, about 15 miles SE of Aberdeen. Community radio .. August 5th From Austin to Aberdeen!
Hey Betty just stopped by for a listen and to borrow some of your fantastic work to enliven our page. Thanks for the great sound, I really need to go to the record store. Cheers,Cathy and Shon
Selling out the Cactus Cafe and now a COVER GIRL all in five days! Yaaay to you and we all knew cuz it's the one, the only BETTY SOO... and we're all so proud of YOU!
Hey ya, Thanks for the comment. I listened to your old records these days. Revival is my favorite. HOPE I'll be back to Austin in the fall. See ya then. I'd like to interview you for my video. Until then hope you can sleep well. Zapato-
