During the sausage making process that is this magazine, I sometimes focus too much on the reeling in the big national act fish and lose focus on the best of our rich local music scene.  However, recently, I was fortunate enough to cover emerging Tampa band, Petrograd in Transit for next month's local scene feature.  Their music is what can best be described as anthemic; larger than life sound with space expanding synth, glimmering guitars, and the deftest touch on percussion.  Here is what I wrote back in February after their debut show at New World:

"After last night's show at New World, I want St. Petersburg's Petrograd In Transit to be my personal theme band.  Epic and sweeping, every daily activity--no matter how mundane--would be life affirming with Petrograd behind me.  I could solve life's mysterious while walking the dog, mature beyond my years washing dishes, and remember where I left my walled that one summer in 1996.  Powerful shit.  Influenced by Explosions in the Sky and (a personal favorite) electronic shoe gaze impressario, Ulrich Schnauss, its amazing to believe this was Petrograd's first gig, especially when you consider the genre calls for tight cues.  Twenty minutes became way too short of a set.  Welcome to the scene, boys."

Listening to them live, within the confines of their shoebox rehearsal space (Audio Laboratory for those local musicians familar with the converted storage facility), I was blown away how much they have grown even since February.  The material to their EP, Lifesize Animal Balloons, is based on songs written by lead guitarist Brian Steele.  However, from what I saw, the music is now a complete collaborative effort with rhythm guitarist Ted Flynn (of stpetersblog fame), bassist Doug Nelson, keyboardist Josh Harrington, and drummer Josh Perrotta. 

It took some time to secure their second show, at Summer Jam on June 21, back at New World, but it will be worth it.  Do yourself a favor and download a FREE copy of their EP at Wise Owl Records.  (With $4/gallon gas, FREE is everybody's favorite word!)  

Petrograd in Transit at New World: