Meet the San Francisco band Tawdry Hepburn. Their sound may hint at Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson with its tendency toward melodic 60s psychedelia. Adan's tasty, velvety smooth electric piano and organ, layered with KC/DC's guitar and backed by steady bass and Adam Knievel's expert, jazz-flavored drums, provide the foundation for Freta Garbo's one-of-a-kind, powerful Annie Haslum-meets-Patti Smith-style vocals. Tawdry Hepburn's musical stylings seem to flow freely between lounge, cabaret, and pop, with ethereal touches of jazz and even opera. This melange is instantly recognizable and topped-off with a dry, tongue-in-cheek flair belongs only to Tawdry Hepburn.

The Hepburns' original numbers layer edgy, unique, poetic lyrics reminiscent of Patti Smith, on top of free jazz, rock and r&b riffs. Freta Garbo's unmistakeable and uniquely powerful vocals launch Tawdry Hepburn originals like "The Whole Chaotic Worlds a' Flyin' Through" and "Night Flowers" into an ethereal and stylish place that suggests a whole new 00 San Francisco psychedelia.

The Hepburns' latest 8-song CD on Tickertape Records, entitled "The Heavens Declare," was engineered by the widely known Victims Family, Hellworms and Freak Accident founder Ralph Spight.

Live, Tawdry Hepburn is typically five-piece, though they have at times played certain spaces as a trio or four-piece. Tawdry plays unique twists and entertaining mashups of popular songs of the 60's and 70's and beyond.

Included in their repertoire are traditional Tawdry numbers, as well as covers of hit pop, rock and folk songs from the 50s/60s/70s/80s. In addition, the Hepburns are masters of the art of mashup. The Hepburns have a penchant for flavoring well known classic rock and R&B numbers as they please.

The group consists of KC/DC on guitar, Adan Schwartz on electric piano and organ, Adam Knievel on drums, Theresa, formerly of the legendary SF grrl group Tribe 8, on bass, and the soprano chanteuse Freta Garbo (formerly singer for The Punk Rock Orchestra). Between them they have played at hundreds of venues all over the world and at dozens of clubs in the Bay Area, including The Herbst Theatre, Yerba Buena Gardens, the DNA Lounge, the Great American Music Hall, Bimbo's, Slim's, as well as The Eagle Tavern, Cafe DuNord, SomArts Gallery, San Francisco Civic Center, Berkeley City Hall, and many more.


Tawdry Hepburn guitarist KC/DC's work has been written about by Spin Magazine, The San Francisco Weekly, The SF Chronicle, The Village Voice, The New York Times, The New York Post, The New York Press, as well as by Maximum Rock N Roll and dozens of choice underground music 'zines.