Local band SoulRcoaster closes out Savor the Sounds

By Petra Rivera
| 9:30 a.m. April 1, 2024

Bill Grieder, Keth Grieder, Beth and Jim Daday

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Local band SoulRcoaster wrapped up the Savor the Sounds concert series by setting off a dancing spree.

“This is the most people that have gotten up to dance out of the whole series,” said Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce President Kim Verreault.

The chamber hosted the event on March 30. This event was rescheduled to that day from the original March 16 date due to inclement weather. The Sarasota/Manatee branch of Bank of America was the presenting sponsor for the series.

Mike Sales opened for SoulRcoaster as people arrived at the venue. Many guests bought a table of 10 from the chamber to have space for food and drinks and to be able to accommodate more people. Verreault said that people found it the most convenient way to enjoy Savor the Sounds. A lot of attendees went to all three concerts of the series.

"We are so excited to play for Longboat Key,” said Tony Rizzo, lead guitarist and founding member of SoulRcoaster. “We feel like this is a chance for us to showcase all the different things that we love to play because we have a really wide diverse repertoire. Today, we'll do some songs from the 70s, mostly up-tempo things and just iconic songs. We just want to entertain people.”

SoulRCoaster has been together as a band for 15 years. Rizzo is a founding member and the lead guitarist. Sheri Nadelman is the lead singer and plays acoustic rhythm guitar. Jim Klein plays bass guitar, Mike Poncelet plays the keyboard, Joe Hornberger plays the electronic drums and Art Nadelman is their sound and stage technician.

Rizzo said that they started as a smooth jazz band that came together gradually. They now play a variety of music from classic rock to Motown, ballads, disco, country and today’s top hits.

SoulRcoaster got everyone up and dancing including the dynamic trio leading the chamber now: Verreault, Connie Darrah and Felicia McDermott.

Verreault said that this was the perfect way to end the concert series. She loved seeing everyone come back each time to mingle, dance and enjoy themselves.