By Troy Moon
News Journal Staff Writer
    
Before Tori, before Alanis, be fore Jewel, before the Lilith Fair, there was Ultraviolet, one of Pensacola's most respected and durable rock bands, proving that girls and guitars mix as smoothly as, well, girls and drums. There are no guys in Ultraviolet, making it the best-known all-female band in Northwest Florida.
    
But don't think that the band, which has been performing in Pensacola since the early '90s, is a novelty Because the band rocks. Hard.
    
Ultraviolet performs at 9 p.m. today and Saturday at Sandy's Retreat, 3703 Gulf Beach Highway.

The band is Deborah Barnes, vocals, keyboards and guitar; Cindy Symington, bass; Lisa Hornbrook, lead guitar; and Diana Bailey, drums. The band performs classic rock tunes as well as harder modern rock. So don't expect to hear any sappy Indigo Girls songs.

Barnes, in a past News Journal article, said she wanted to ensure that the band was a "rock" band when she joined. was reluctant to join at first," she said. "I pictured playing stuff like Madonna and the Go-Gos. I didn't want to play real wimpy material."
    
Ultraviolet has played at clubs across Northwest Florida and South Alabama, as well at the Pensacola SpringFest music festival and various fund-raisers. Details: 455-9310.