Sabbatha brings Ozzy tribute to Bonus Pints stage

Nov. 30—Headbangers rejoice. Bonus Pints will rock Friday night as it welcomes Sabbatha to Indiana for the first time ever.

Sabbatha, an all-women cover band out of Chicago who perform the songs of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio will take the stage at Bonus Pints, 422 E. Broadway, at 8 p.m. for a free all-ages concert. They follow the performance up with a Saturday night show in Kokomo at The Coterie.

During the '90s, Chicago helped fuel the alternative music scene with acts like the Smashing Pumpkins, Liz Phair and Veruca Salt. Three decades later and Sabbatha vocalist Elise McLearen said it's hard to land a gig in the Windy City without doing covers.

"The original intention was there aren't a lot of all-female bands let alone metal in the Chicagoland area," said McLearen.

They chose to base their band around the music of Black Sabbath as there weren't any all-women Black Sabbath cover bands.

"We didn't want it to be limited to Black Sabbath as there is so much music in the Ozzy catalog or in the Dio catalog that lends itself to all our different talents," she said. "For me, I love Ozzy but my vocal range lends itself more naturally to Dio."

Dio was a heavy metal band formed in the early '80s by former Black Sabbath members Ronnie James Dio and Vinny Appice. Dio took over vocals for Black Sabbath after Osbourne was fired in 1979 due to his substance abuse problems.

McLearen said the band got started playing Chicago metal dive bars with poor sound but soon found themselves moving up the music ranks and getting shows at nicer venues.

"I don't know if it's because we are all-female but it's been really great to represent that," she said. "When we have fans coming to our shows, especially people seeing us for the first time, women in particular are usually just inspired, excited. That feels fantastic. The hardcore Sabbath fans, Ozzy fans, Dio fans, their reaction is a completely different thing. It's been nice to hear some of these fans who have been following our work and having them react the way they do and come back for every show."

McLearen wished she and her bandmates had the time to write their own material because she felt like as a band they are been high caliber.

Her bandmates include Paula Jastper on guitar, bassist Liza Sanchez and drummer Lorena Vallejo.

"Unfortunately, especially in the Chicagoland area, original music is not followed or it's hard to gain a following and get bookings for shows," she said. "Other bands in the area have an original band and a tribute band and the tribute band basically pays for the original band. It's a sad fact."

But don't expect a lower level of energy this weekend just because they aren't playing their own songs. McLaren raved about her bandmates, calling guitarist Jastper phenomenal and describing her own performance on stage as theatrical.

"I like to get people involved," she said. "Usually, we will have someone sing a part of a song with me or we will go out in the crowd."

Sabbatha performs in Kokomo Saturday beginning at 9 p.m. at The Coterie, 109 W. Sycamore St. Doors open at 8 p.m. and there is $5 cover charge.