Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Marin Independent Journal Thursday, December 23, 2004
Paul Libertore, Libertore at Large
In popular music, it’s hard to be an original. But a new female trio in West Marin has to be one of a kind. I mean, it would be so wrong if there was another sweet little girl group that covers Black Sabbath songs.
But that’s what Pink Sabbath does, with Andrews Sisters style harmonies over the gentle, acoustic sounds of guitar, accordion, violin and flute. Sometimes their renditions are so unrecognizable from the heavy-metal originals that they challenge the audience to name that tune.
The band also does original songs as well as covers of other ‘80’s bands like Billy Idol, Bad Company, Billy Squire, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Journey, Pink Floyd and Kansas, all the while wearing elaborate, matching pink outfits designed and sewn by the group’s violinist, Sharron Drake, an amateur seamstress who works for “a well-known Marin County film company in a galaxy far away.”
“We like to joke that we spend more time planning our outfits than we do rehearsing our songs,” says guitarist Adrienne Pfeiffer.
Drake, Pfeiffer and accordion player Diana Lerwick got together six months ago for a pre-school benefit, and have been doing turn away business ever since at their regular second-Monday-of-the-month gig at the Olema Inn, where a special Pink Sabbath show, with bassist Cece Dawn, is set for New Year’s Eve.
A Pink Sabbath CD is due in the spring and the trio plans to break out of their West Marin home turf in the new year.
“We’re spreading the pink,” Pfeiffer says.
- Gannett News Service
December 29, 2004-January 5, 2005
R.V. Scheide
What Pink Sabbath does cannot be printed in a family newspaper
Like hitchhiking in the nude, exploring the folksy, feminine side of seminal ‘70’s sludgelords Black Sabbath is not a project to be undertaken lightly. Yet that’s precisely what eclectic folk femme fatales Pink Sabbath plan to do the New Year’s Eve at the Olema Inn. “For those about to folk, we salute you,” is the chosen motto of the group, who also cover the occasionally Pink Floyd tune as well.
Interestingly, the group’s upcoming performance raises more questions that answers: Will Diana “Lady Pinkwick” Lerwick plat the basic lunkhead riff underlying “Symptom of the Universe” on accordion or will she assay it on flute? Can Sharron “Pink” Drake possibly pull off the droning intro to “Iron Man” on violin – or will that chore fall to Adrienne “Pinky Pfeiff-a-dero” Pfeiffer on the kazoo? Will standup bassist Cici “Pink” Dawn plunk the eerie outro to “Children of the Grace”? What will become of Ozzy’s dark lyricism (“People think I’m insane because I am frowning all the time”) when it’s delivered in four-part vocal harmony reminiscent of the Andrews Sisters?
To be totally honest, we just don’t know. What we do know is this: It’s difficult to beat the Olema Inn, established in 1876, for historical ambiance, and renowned chef Ed Vigil is cooking up an undoubtedly scrumptious small-plates menu for New Year’s Eve. In addition, there’s a party tent, contests, prizes and…special guests! Could Ozzy himself possibly be lurking about? Find out yourself Friday, Dec. 31, at the Olema Inn. 10000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Olema. 6pm to midnight. $3 for music; dinner and lodging separate.
- North Bay Bohemian
Discography
The Pink Sabbath
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
The Siren Folk Metal Quartet, The Pinks entertains with their signature Andrews Sisters-esque three part vocal harmonies over accordion, violin, electrack bass and Pinky's club fist factory Martin guitar. Coupling mild irreverence with unapologetic sentimentality (Is that a Journey ballad...not Faithfully, surely??!!!) the gals of The Pinks have been known to break into spontaneous tap dance routines and kazoo solos; no THE PINKS gig would be complete without a respectful nod to groups such as The Supremes or The Ronettes. Though they've been known to bring on the occasional self combusting drummer and miniature Stone Henge replica props, the core of The Pinks is:
Lady Pinkwick (Diana Lerwick on accordion, flute and vocals) and Pinky Pfeiff-a-dero (Adrienne Pfeiffer on guitar and vocals) and the ever properly pouting Magenta (Cindy Guiliani, on a cheap ass electric bass) and one Mystery Fiddle player:
Lady Pinkwick keeps things interesting by occasionally breaking out the flute during the group's Lynyrd Skynyrd covers. The band members met several years ago while performing in the cast of the West Coast premier of the Tony winning musical, Cowgirls, and playing various gigs in hard to find Bolinas taverns. Diana is their alto vocalist and accordion player . Magenta is still wondering what happened when she was recruited on the corner of 23rd and Valencia when Pinky first dragged her into their strange sphere. Three are residents of Marin County in Northern California and one is of the San Mateo region.
The PINKS: It's all part of your folk and roll fantasy. For Those about to Folk, we salute you.
The PINKS: Here I am; folk you like a hurricane.
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