Biography
Short Version:
“A phenomenal live act” (Noisepop.com) with “infectious pop sensibility” (SF Weekly), Dizzy Balloon from Oakland, CA has been steadily on the rise since opening for The Killers and Death Cab For Cutie at Live 105’s (KITS 105.3 FM) annual “Not So Silent Night” arena show. Owners of Live 105's #1 most requested local track of 2008, Dizzy Balloon completed a very successful tour out to Austin, Texas last March to play showcases at the South By Southwest Music & Film Festival, in which Buzzbands.net said, “some bands can launch their careers at SXSW, and Dizzy Balloon just might have, considering the label honchos that stopped by their rooftop set...” After another round of California shows last Spring with two Berkeley based hip-hop/pop groups, The Cataracs and The Pack (in which Dizzy Balloon would back the groups during their set), Dizzy Balloon capped off the tour with a sold-out headlining show at Slim’s in San Francisco. This past summer, Dizzy Balloon played Live 105’s annual summer BFD concert at the Shoreline Amphitheater, which featured headliners such as, The Offspring, 311, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and more. They most recently were honored to play The Matches’ (Epitaph) last two shows ever as a band before they went on hiatus; playing main support to sold-out crowds at the Troubadour in Hollywood and Fillmore in San Francisco.
Long Version:
Dizzy Balloon is five childhood friends, bound by a passion for songwriting. The band's vision-quest to write the perfect pop song – one that makes you drop everything and go "whoa" – brought the group attention and distinction at a young age. As high school juniors—then performing under the group name "Panda"—the band regularly sold out Bottom Of The Hill, a legendary breeding ground for San Francisco Bay Area talent. The quintet brought a new energy to classic pop, a vibe audiences still can't get enough of.
"All our parents raised us on the Beatles, we all have that in our genes," says Jonny Flannes, Dizzy Balloon's guitarist. "The Beatles and Queen are our two biggest influences."
It's tough to argue with that. In fact, arguing is the last thing you think to do after hearing Dizzy Balloon. Listening to DB's music is immediately positive.
A testament to that immediacy came quickly, when the group's three-song demo—recorded in a single day—garnered steady airplay on KITS (Live105), KSAN (The Bone), and KALX (Berkeley). The media attention pushed the band onto larger stages (at Slim's and Great American Music Hall, to name a few). Live 105 music director Aaron Axelson affectionately called the band "the pride of Piedmont," name-checking the band's small northern California hometown. Not bad for a bunch of kids would could barely drive themselves to their own shows.
The buzz made one thing clear: it was time for an album, something that could bottle up the maturation of the band and the hysterics of its fans. A year-and-a-half in the making, that album would define—and redefine—all that Dizzy Balloon achieved.
The band has always been catchy, loud, and surprisingly honest, but with the album, Dizzy Balloon shows that they have started to mature. The 11-track record is buoyed by the smart lyrics and confident voice of Petros A.P., Flannes is joined by Raphael Peterson on bass, Joey Orton on keys and Louie Diller on drums. Everyone in the band sings, and the live show is like experiencing the energy of The Artic Monkeys with the harmonies of The Beach Boys.
"We try to make our live show as memorable and exciting as possible," Flannes adds. "We're not the type of band that plays our songs and stands around. We try to get the crowd moving and loving it. We have a ton of fun on stage. That's where we belong."
Now college-aged and armed with a new album of smart, buzzing pop, the five-piece is ready to pull you into their quest. You will turn. You will listen. You will drop everything and make a mess. It won't matter, because you'll only be thinking one thing: Whoa.
Instrumentation
Petros A.P. - vocals, guitar
Jonny Flannes - guitar, vocals
Joey Orton - piano, vocals
Louie Diller - drums, vocals
Raphael Peterson - bass, vocals
Discography
Dizzy Balloon S/T (2008)
1. Raindrop Residence
2. Raise A Glass (#1 Most Requested Local Track of 2008 on Live 105's 105.3 FM "Soundcheck" program)
3. What Can I Do
4. Chinatown
5. I'm Just Me
6. Crazy Jane
7. Carry On
8. Let It Out
9. A Little Note
10. Jasmine
11. Young Love
Dizzy Balloon EP
1. Crazy Jane
2. I'm Just Me
3. Chinatown
Panda EP (former name)
1. Carry On
2. Fake Tattoos
3. Alan Li
Links
| http://www.dizzyballoon.com |