While being on Anna Maria Island, you get a feeling of having traveled into an area untouched by time. I was taking some time off from my regular routine one evening and looking for an alibi for my escape. Well, I found myself sitting at the Freckled Fin Restaurant and Public House in Bradenton Beach. To my surprise I found Ari and the Alibis. I have to say this act brought me to another place in time. Arielleh McManus is a tall visually striking singer. She has a powerhouse voice and can navigate through a variety of genres and languages.

She is supported by a pressure cooker of a rhythm section that makes you realize the world has more to offer than Southern rock and blues. The current line up for this amazing act is McManus, vocals; Nicolaas Kraster, guitar; David Whittaker, bass; James Dabone, trombone; and Princess on drums. I absolutely loved their original songs and unique sound. I felt like I was listening to a cabaret act from Europe at one point and then a down and dirty funk band during another part of their show. Their song "Dirty Little Secret" took me to another place altogether. Ari and the Alibis are currently finishing production on their new album and are seeking funding through www.gofundme.com. They move all over the state doing shows and can be found on line at www.ariandthealibis.com and on Facebook. They will performing again at the Freckled Fin at 101 Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach on Nov. 7. Now that I found this act, I plan to reveal my whereabouts. If I'm not doing my show I'll be checking them out.