CHRIS WALKER VS. BANDS AND BOOZE, ROUND THREE: UMBRELLAS

The name, Umbrellas, may sound unfamiliar but chances are you’ve heard this band. Their music has been featured twice on Grey’s Anatomy; their lead singer is Scott Windsor, formerly of Dashboard Era-emo standouts: The Lyndsay Diaries; and I’m sure their music has been played in Hollister more than a few times.

The Umbrellas sound like summertime: brunettes and beach bon-fires, dusk and fleeting romance. Imagine the band Placebo infused with sunshine – more heartache and less drugs. It makes me long for California. Girls love this music; in fact, it was a girl who turned me onto Umbrellas. It was one of the few times a girl has introduced me to a band and I haven’t said, “That shit is horrible,” and therefore; I dedicate today’s interview to the ladies.

The Umbrellas are Scott Windsor (vocals, guitars, percussion), James McAlister (drums, percussion, programming), Chad Copelin (producer, keys, guitar, bass), Eric Arndt (bass), Ryan Lindsey (piano, background vocals), and Nathan Price (drums, percussion). Today, on Bands and Booze, Windsor was nice enough to take a moment out of his California vacation (coincidence?) to talk about Umbrellas’ current success, his love of whiskey, and the remarkable navigation skills of a shit-faced bass player.

Alright, you are Scott Windsor, formerly of The Lyndsay Diaries and now front-man for the atmospheric rock band Umbrellas. How does it feel to be who you are, where you are, with such a great band, and two albums under your belt, now?

Scott Windsor: I think it feels pretty good to be who I am and where I’m at. I’m kind of at a point in my life and my career where I’m looking back on things. I guess I feel like I’ve accomplished a little with 5 records and around 500 shows under my belt. With that being said, I don’t usually have time to rest. I’m always focusing on what’s coming up next and how we can further things with the band.

Speaking of coming up, you’ve had two songs featured on Grey’s Anatomy, an extensive tour running through March, and you’re playing SXSW; what other plans do Umbrellas have for 2007?

SW: Yeah, as of right now things are good with the band. Our plans now are to tour as much as we can and support this record until the end of the year. Excellent. Now into the drinking questions: what is your favorite alcoholic beverage?

SW: Whiskey and diet coke. I’m not really sure why or when I started drinking it, but that is usually what I’m drinking. I just never get tired of whiskey...never.

Is there any alcohol that’s ravaged you in the past and you absolutely refuse to touch now?

SW: I would have to go with gin. I went to go visit a friend in college six years ago and drank a whole bottle (don’t know why, I guess ‘cause it was college) and I spent the entire night on the tile floor of a gross dorm bathroom with my head in a toilet. My brain hasn't let me forget the smell of gin and the consequences it brings with it.

Gin seems to ruin everyone, that’s funny. So, what’s the best drinking related story you can think of as a band.

SW: I guess let me preface all these questions with the statement that Umbrellas isn’t really a “party” band or drink a ton. Me, personally, I don't drink much on tour at all. I feel I always have to be responsible and get things done or drive. I do most of my drinking at home when I’m bored. So, we don't really have a whole lot of crazy drunken tour stories. That said, I remember a night on our last tour where we played in LA and our bass player had one too many of the free drinks they gave us and ended befriending a girl. She wanted to go next door, the Rainbow Room. He had already given all his money to the bartender at our show and wanted ten bucks to get into the Rainbow Room. We were staying about 45 minutes away with friends we hadn’t seen in a while and were anxious to get there. We told him we would leave him if he went next door. He said he didn’t care. So, we loaned him ten bucks for the door cover and took off. It turns out he couldn’t find the girl and ended up talking to some other people. We still don’t know the full story but, he ended up starting a big bar fight, dodged the cops, and somehow ended up at LAX airport 20 minutes away. He slept there for a while and ended up at some girl’s apartment the next morning. And then somehow ended up at our friend’s house the next afternoon before we left. We still aren’t very sure of the logistics of this story.

Talk about navigation ability – the magic of alcohol, I tell you. If there was an alcoholic drink called Umbrellas how would you make one; what would the ingredients be?

SW: Funny you ask that. Last winter my friend played solo at this bar every Tuesday and they ended up naming a drink after me. Since I would always have it and then somehow by the end of the night end up on stage singing a song or two. It consists of a whiskey sized glass 3/4 full of Southern Comfort, a splash of coke, and a splash of cranberry. It sounds weird but this guy could do it just right and it was delicious. It also would have you well on your way to stumbling around all night.

Are you able to write songs while touring?

SW: I don’t usually write songs on tour. There just isn’t time. If we had a bus that might be a different story. I will write words here and there but that is about it. With writing songs I’m always writing words and stuff. When we have time off I just mess around with guitar ideas and when I find one I like I put lyrics to it. Pretty simple.

Okay, almost done. Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions?

SW: Not really. I did join the YMCA. I'm trying to get a little more in shape before we start touring again. I'm also trying to eat a little better since on tour we stuff our body full of fast food for months at a time.

What was your favorite album – or at least one of your favorite albums – of 2006?

SW: I would say my favorite album of 2006 was Meds by Placebo.

Okay, that about does it. Are there any other more fun stories, tales, words of wisdom, imparting gifts you’d like to share before we conclude?

SW: Not really. I’m actually on vacation with my girlfriend right now and she is telling me I need to wrap it up. I would say that people need to be nicer to each other in 2007. That is my amazing words of wisdom for the year.

Picture: Austintolin.com

And finally, which are better: Vikings, pirates, or ninjas?

SW: Personally, I would like to meet someone that embodied all three. That would be bad ass.

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For more on Umbrellas, including tour dates, music, videos, pictures, and more check out the links below.

[Official Site] Umbrellas

[MySpace] Umbrellas