By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
The Decatur Chamber of Commerce’s idea of allowing local young bands and singers some time to perform during the Thursday night concerts on the Madison St. Plaza proved to be hugely popular on opening night.
Lola Spank and the Pinkeyes, a group of three Bellmont High School girls, was a big hit as they played while main attraction Hubie Ashcraft took a break. The girls launched into “Crazy Train” by Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, delighting a large crowd on hand for opening night.
The trio is comprised of Vivian (Lola Spanks) Garcia-Mendez, Lucy (Lukky Sevven) Lichtle, and Addi (Lady Bang) Johnson. Vivian is the lead singer while Lucy is on bass guitar and Addi bangs the drums.
Garcia-Mendez and Lichtle will be freshmen at Purdue Fort Wayne this fall, the former to study early childhood education and the latter to major in electrical engineering.
Johnson will be starting her senior year at Bellmont and expects to continue her drumming.
The girls said they began playing together last February and are hoping to continue to play at venues and private parties – and “hopefully opening up for more bigger bands,” they said.
Lucy, who started playing guitar when she was 8 years old, is currently in two other bands as well as The Pinkeyes. Vivian says she started singing when she was 5 years old “and hasn’t quit since.”
Addi began drumming in 6th grade in the school band and it remains her “favorite thing to do.”
Okay, fine. But what about that name – Lola Spanks? Pinkeyes?
“We decided it would be fun to have stage names, so we just started with that,” the girls explained. “Then we thought the name of the non-frontwomen should include the word “pink.” We landed on The Pinkeyes because it came with a cool catch phrase … “So good, we’re contagious”
Ah, yes!
NEXT? The Chamber and city have invited youth bands and/or singers to perform during intermissions at this year’s concerts. Those interested should contact Community Coordinator Jamie Gephart, 724-7171, or jgephart@decaturin.org