TACOMA, Wash. — Singer Cheryl Serrio isn't a spy but she definitely leads a double life.
Serrio is one-sixth of The ABBAgraphs, an ABBA tribute band that may dress down for rehearsals in Shoreline, but always show up in style for showtime.
The band made up of Serrio, singer Sari Breznau, keyboard player John Kranz, drummer Troy Lund, guitarist Dayton Allemann and bassist Larry Leggett play ABBA hits for audiences all across the Northwest.
"It is perfect pop music," Serrio said. "It has Euro pop and disco and it just brings joy to everybody. I think that's what we all agree."
Friday night and the lights are low at the Spanish Ballroom in Tacoma, where backstage the illusion begins to take shape. Serrio applies make-up and helps band members with their wigs.
"The most important thing about an ABBA band are the wigs," she laughed.
For 10 years they've been delighting audiences.
"Oh my gosh!" Serrio said. "We have a blast every time that we are up there because there is so much energy that we get from the crowd and everybody is dancing and singing along."
Originally a '60s cover band called the Spyrographs, they decided one night to surprise Seattle's Swedish Club with a full set of fully costumed ABBA covers.
"We kind of did it as a joke," Lund said. "Now all of a sudden that's the band everybody wants to hire because ... ABBA."
Universally loved, ABBA's music has inspired Broadway musicals, movies, even an entire museum in Stockholm.
Winning over a crowd has never been this easy.
"From song one everybody is there," Breznau said. "They're on board for a good time. It's just pure fun."
"It blows my mind!" said Leggett. "It's a huge dance party. Even in retirement communities. Everybody gets up and dances. It's amazing."
It's the amazing appeal of ABBA.
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