Great news from a local band that has been lovingly featured on TWIS in the past: (the) Umbrella Cult is about to release their debut record! The Cock & Bull Pub will host this momentous occasion within Sarasota’s music scene on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012.

Check out Zoe’s photos from Passerine‘s packed CD release party at Fogartyville last Saturday! The local band played for two hours, the fans drank every last drop of beer in the place — and there was even cake.  Come back and see me on Thursday for the scoop on all that’s happening over the weekend. Have a great week, Sarasota! – Photography by Zoe Rayor.

I was out soaking up some of the sunshine this afternoon, so pardon the breeze and other city sounds in this week’s video! So … how do Russian beer and lounge martinis sound to you? Maybe a day trip to the awesome Farmer’s Market or the museum? Or what about a local band’s CD release party? All this and more coming up this weekend, and you won’t want to miss any of it!  So watch the video and get the scoop on what’s going down. I hope to see you, [...]

Zoe and I were all about the music last weekend. Check out these shots from Friday night at The Venue 1927 — where Physical Plant, (the) Umbrella Cult and Villanova Junction rocked out until closing time — and from the Shindig II, not in Burns Square but visiting a new spot at Word of Mouth Café.  Check in with me after work on Thursday for This Weekend in Sarasota with yours truly, and get ready for another awesome weekend! – Photography by Zoe Rayor.

I would drink (the) Umbrella Cult’s kool-aid — by the gallon. This genre-defying outfit became a steadfast darling of the music scene seemingly overnight (which, in music scene years, equals about four months). Their secret? My best guess is: Make a band, lock yourself in a house, drink firewater, write songs and don’t come out until you’re damn well good and ready. I’ve had the stompin’ opening hook to their song “Blue and Green” stuck in my head all morning, but that does y’all no good if you can’t hear [...]

I have a problem when it comes to discovering an infectious new tune. I’ll play it over and over until I murder it, only to stop when family and friends intervene. If only I could allow the music to breathe, exhale and be savored for another day, I might find time to delve into the back catalogue of so many bands I’ve grown to love. Truthfully, I hadn’t put much thought into this serial song-killing pattern until the recent release of Bard and Mustache’s Bitter Painter EP. From my first [...]