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Shine on,‘crazy train’ diamond Pink is the new Black for classical-progressive-metal band... by G r e g Cahill
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t’s life imitating art imitating life. Pink Sabbath began after local singer, songwriter and guitarist Adrienne Pfeiffer and violinist and soprano Sharron Drake, now of the West Marin band El Radio Fantastique, met in the 1999 Marin Theatre Company production of Cowgirls, a short-lived musical that explored the culture clash between classical and country musicians in a small town. The musical had a short run. But it spun off a band—teaming the classically trained Drake with the selftaught Pfeiffer, who is passionate about all kinds of popular music—that has proved to have real legs. “We had a great rapport,” says Pfeiffer of her ex-bandmate. “We were both living in West Marin and vowed to get together to play music. She had a classical background and was unfamiliar with a lot of pop music, so we’d get together to play rock or pop. She brought a new ear to the proceedings. I would play songs [from] Ozzy Osbourne’s heavy metal classic Bliz-
zard of Ozz and she’d interpret them in a eponymous debut, an album of mostly cover tunes. really great new way. Since then, the personnel has changed. “Also, she has a great ear for harmony, Drake left to raise a family and violinist so our flagship became our vocal harmoMarisa Martinez, of the alt-rock band Liar, nies.” joined the group. The The addition of Diana focus shifted from cover Lerwick, an alto singer COMING SOON tunes and pop parody and accordionist, roundto original songwriting Pink Sabbath performs ed out the band’s lineup. Friday, June 18, from 5:30grounded in alt-folk. “We’d all sit around 8:30pm (with the Cosmic Those changes are my living room and play Shenanigans), at the Marin refl ected in the recent tunes while my son was Country Mart at Larkspur World Below, a CD that sleeping,” Pfeiffer recalls. Landing; and Sunday, June features seven originals by In 2005, Pink Sabbath 20, from 5-8pm, at the StaPfeiffer and two more by (the name is a tonguetion House Cafe in Pt. Reyes Lerwick. Covers of Bob in-cheek homage to Station. There is no cover Dylan’s “Valley Below” charge for either show. Pink Floyd and Black and the Grateful Dead Sabbath) started playing staple “Morning Dew,” around the Bay Area, along with a version of the including the kitschy traditional Celtic folk song “BlackwaterLucas-palooza in San Rafael. “Our shtick side,” complete the playlist. back then,” Pfeiffer says, “was unexpected The album features Pfeiffer (vocals and covers of hard-rock tunes: Billy Squire, guitar), Lerwick (vocals, accordion, flute), Bad Company, AC/DC, Ted Nugent and, Martinez (violin, mandolin, sitar), Cindy of course, Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath.” Giuliani (bass) and Alexis Razon of Vinyl That same year, the band released its If they ever tour under a different band name, we vote for Black Floyd.
and Calmodee (drums and percussion). “I’m really proud of this album and the way it turned out,” says Pfeiffer, who recently left a position as development director and a morning DJ at KWMR-FM to help book acts at the Woods music venue in Mill Valley. “World Below is the culmination of a lot of years of songwriting and figuring it out and fleshing it out.” On stage, Pink Sabbath features a rotating cast, including Razon, Adam Berkowitz of Aram Danesh and the Super Human Crew and Dana Miller of Chrome Johnson. Tapping into the creativity of fellow musicians is one of the things that’s kept Pink Sabbath fresh and vibrant. “We’ve brought in a lot of special guests and made a lot of friends at gigs,” Pfeiffer says. “Harmonica players, trumpet players, pedal steel players. My friend Danny Cao, who also plays in Vinyl, sits in a lot. “Over the years,” she adds, “people have had babies, gone away and come back. At this point, I’m probably the only constant, but it’s really a pleasure to collaborate with all of these people who have come together to make up this band.” ✹ Whistle a few bars for Greg at gcahill51@gmail.com. Tune up to the Marin music scene at
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JUNE 18 - JUNE 24, 2010 PACIFIC SUN 21