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The late 1960s and early 1970s was the golden era of the political protest song in America. It seemed that almost every big rock band—from The Beatles to Buffalo Springfield—and every popular singer/songwriter—Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Marvin Gaye, and Nina Simone, to name a few—were writing songs commenting on the major social issues of the day. More than a half century later, when America is again experiencing political and social turmoil, contemporary musicians and songwriters haven’t seemed as committed to making political statements through their music. California-based singer/songwriter Michele Bettencourt has recently released the album VAMPIRE TIME, which includes tracks filled with political and social commentary. Last fall, the album’s title song and the cut “Everybody Loves a Circus” were the first singles from the album to get radio airplay. MICHELE BETTENCOURT & VAMPIRE TIME also recently received 2025 Independent Music Network Award nominations for: “Favorite Mainstream Single” and “Mainstream Breakout Single” (“Everybody Loves a Circus”); “Favorite Group or Duo”; and “New Discovery Artist.” Now, in what will be their first New York City club performance, Bettencourt and her band (featuring accomplished veteran musicians Hendrik Helmer, Guitar, Vocals; Tommy Mandel, Keyboards; Mike Visceglia, Bass; Russ McKinnon, Drums; and Sari Greenberg, Vocals) are presenting an album release show at New York City’s THE CUTTING ROOM (44 East 32nd Street, NY, 10016) on Monday, January 26 at 7 pm (doors open at 6 pm). Tickets are $20 and there is a $25 food and drink minimum per person.
For tickets, go to: https://wl.eventim.us/event/vampire-time/674629?afflky=TheCuttingRoom
Throughout Vampire Time, Michele Bettencourt’s lyrics speak honestly about the division and cruelty perpetrated by the current U.S. administration, and she urges awareness, activism, and resistance. “Our music is a reflection of our concern about the times in which we live,” she says. Here are three examples:
Gilded Age: “. . . It’s the new gilded age . . . Don’t make a sound, better keep looking down, because the top one percent keep the bottom 95 in a cage . . .”
Taking Out the Trash: “. . . Spinless politicians marching closely behind . . . It’s worse than 1969 . . . But there’s resistance in the distance . . .”
Jesus In a Red Hat: “. . . They say an AR with a bump stock . . . How it can sure silence a crowd . . . Why don’t you K*ll a queer for God . . . And make your dumb ass President proud . . .”
Even Bettencourt’s Vampire Time physical album is retro, harkening back to the classic pop/rock record designs of the 1960s and ‘70s. Designed and illustrated by Brooklyn-based storyteller, cartoonist, and designer Ronald Wimberly, the album features a gatefold sleeve, die-cut cover, surrealistic images, and a lyric booklet. The album can be purchased through Licorice Pizza Records, 12230 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604, www.licoricepizzarecords.com
Michele Bettencourt Bio: Michele Bettencourt’s journey from Silicon Valley tech CEO to singer/songwriter and front woman of a rock band has been a long, winding, and often painful road. During childhood, as Anthony Bettencourt, he knew he was different, an outsider, and he always felt uncomfortable in his own skin. His mother’s on-going mental health problems only made Anthony’s gender confusion worse, pushing his secret deeper. He was a SHE on the inside. But the persistent feeling of “being less than” became the fuel for ambition.
Anthony taught himself how to play drums at age 13, but never felt skilled enough as a musician. He dreamt of being a writer, but was a college dropout and married at age 21, so began setting his sights on a tech career in California’s Silicon Valley. A father of triplet daughters by age 27, Anthony was divorced in 1990 at age 31, and remarried in 1993, becoming a father to a fourth daughter. But his career trajectory seemed ever upward. He was a Vice President of a public company at 35, president by 40, and as a CEO at 43, he opened the NASDAQ on Wall Street.
But Anthony’s love of music was a constant. In 2005, he helped form a band as the drummer, recorded an album at The Plant recording studio in Sausalito, CA, and became a regional opening band for Journey, Def Leppard, Foreigner, and UFO.
Just as his tech career success was reaching new heights, in 2016 Anthony left his second wife and moved to New York, thus beginning an emotionally jarring and publicly visible gender transition. Now Michele Bettencourt, she stepped down from her CEO and Chairperson role, became estranged from her family and friends, and many work colleagues abandoned her.
But over the past several years, Michele Bettencourt has found her voice, the grace of “her own redemption,” and the courage to share her truth. In 2019, she self-funded an autobiographical documentary called Beautiful Lie that won an award at the New Hope Film festival. She then joined forces with Hendrik Helmer, an accomplished guitarist in New York City, and her dreams of becoming a songwriter re-emerged. The passage of time has made her voice stronger and has cemented her identity. Michele Bettencourt is no longer uncomfortable in her own skin.
Six years ago, Michele returned to California and reconciled with her wife of 31 years and her four grown daughters. While she identifies herself using the pronouns “she and her,” she also refers to herself as a husband, father, grandfather, and uncle. Michele is a director for two tech-industry public companies and has become one of the few transgender chairwomen in America. She is also a minority partner with Kerry Brown in Licorice Pizza Record Pressing and a proud member of the company’s advisory board.
Michele Bettencourt and Vampire Time can be heard on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify.
For More Information Contact: Stephen Hanks, Publicity & Promotion Representative, [email protected]
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Cutting Room, 44 E 32nd St, New York, NY 10016-5505, United States
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