Vassy Courtes

Vassy Courtes — Official Biography

Vassy Courtes is an overall rock band defined by creating original music with a distinct retro sound that evokes the artistic and cultural atmosphere of the 1950s through the 1970s. Every aspect of their creative process is crafted with the aesthetic standards of those three pivotal decades in mind.

Their setup mirrors the classic lineup of late-'60s and '70s pre-progressive rock groups—guitars, keyboards, bass, and drums—offering a rich, versatile sound, driven in part by a keyboardist who also doubles on piano and rhythm guitar.

The band was founded in 2012 by guitarist-keyboardist-lyricist Oly Betancourt and guitarist-vocalist-composer Messy Blues. Originally conceived as a studio project tailored for video releases on major video-sharing platforms, they developed a unique concept: capturing the finest elements—symbols, cultural icons, and vibes—from 20th-century music eras and forging their original sound around them.

To date, Vassy Courtes has released two singles and one full-length album:

• "The First Time" & "(I'll See You in the) Moonlight" — Singles released in 2012

• Rooted Time — Full-length album released in 2017

Technical Sheet

• Band Name: Vassy Courtes

• Formation Year: 2008 (studio project officially launched in 2012)

• Genre/Style: Retro Rock / Overall Rock / AOR

• Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico

Trivia & Facts

• Prior to founding Vassy Courtes, Oly Betancourt and Messy Blues performed together in other musical projects between 2005 and 2012, including The Messy Blues Band and Tono 5.

• Messy Blues was an active performer in the Mexico City underground rock scene during the 1980s before restarting his musical path in Celaya, Guanajuato, where he built strong relationships with local musicians. In the mid-1990s, he founded Crash Fuego Blanco, leading the band from 1996 through 2005.

• Oly Betancourt writes most of the group's lyrics, while Messy Blues composes the music.

• Despite singing and writing in English, many of their songs carry subtle thematic elements deeply rooted in Mexican culture and history.

• Messy Blues is well known for his stage antics, most notably his homage to Jimi Hendrix by "playing guitar with his teeth." In reality, he deftly hides his guitar pick between his teeth to pull off the trick.

• Oly Betancourt herself poses in a classic 1960s mini dress in one of the band’s iconic promotional posters.