Artist description More songs about guilding and foo.

Music Style Guitar-driven pop.

Musical Influences Big Star, dB's, Verlaines, Chills, Soft Boys, Woody Guthrie, Uncle Tupelo, The Replacements, Guided By Voices

Similar Artists Pagans 4 Choice, Moe Savage and the Salesmen, Hips McGuinness and the Killer Lampshade

Artist History Formed in 1985 with Marc on drums, Joe on bass & vocals, and Citizen K. on guitars and vocals, Balloon Squad played throughout the NY/NJ area, from some of the more well-known clubs such as Maxwells and CBGBs to countless cover bars and Chinese restaurants. Two collections of songs were independently released on cassette: Another Senseless Breakfast (1986) and Insurmountable Opportunities (1987). Citizen K. left the group in 1990, but remains a songwriting presence. The band reformed in 1992 with Joe switching to guitar and the addition of Cindi on bass and Sarah Gleason on guitars and vocals. Sarah left the band after a few performances, and Balloon Squad has continued as a three-piece. In 1994 they independently released the 4-song 7-inch vinyl EP "May Pangs & June Forays" and followed that up with the EP "I Wake Up Screaming" in 1996. After an extended hiatus, the band is now working on new material.

Group Members Joe Merklee - guitars and vocals, Cindi Merklee - bass and guitars, Marc Garella - drums and percussion

Instruments Guitars, bass, drums, and whatever's handy.

Albums Another Senseless Breakfast (cassette, 1986); Insurmountable Opportunities (cassette, 1987); May Pangs & June Forays (vinyl EP, 1994); I Wake Up Screaming (vinyl EP, 1996)

Press Reviews "A lot of people mistakenly compare Balloon Squad's rapturous pop to the old Hoboken scene, but these guys sound nothing like the Bongos or dB's. Where they belong, actually, is in Olympia, Washington; if they got to play on a level playing field with Lois, Heavenly, Tiger Trap and all those cute K Records bands, they'd wipe the floor with them... Joe Merklee's gee-whiz vocals...the delicate melodies and the light, friendly touch the band brings to every song walk a very tricky tightrope of emotions... A very major talent resides behind the goofy grin and those big wire-rimmed glasses of this Joe Merklee fella. You really oughta check him out." -- Jersey Beat. * * * * * "...Balloon Squad's witty, eminently hummable pop tunes are squarely in the tradition of Hoboken's dB's... 'Crack of the Whip' and 'Still Mad at That Lenny Bruce' bristle with a peevish sense of humor that recalls John Prine at his prickliest. 'Axe to Grind' is a pure pop bon-bon guaranteed to melt in your mouth." -- The Jersey Journal. * * * * * "Fueled by folky passionate vocals that shuttle back and forth between Bob Dylan riddled angst and sparkling Squeeze stylings, each track on this four song EP proves to be a bonafide treasure." -- Optional Art Newsletter. * * * * * "I admire Balloon Squad to no end. In a world screaming for underground authenticity, it's great to see a band unafraid of putting out flat-out pop songs (in the Beatles mode) which also has a superb enough sense of humor to come up with a title like this. . . .This four-song EP starts out strong with bouncy 'Crack of the Whip' and holds steady until the end. The acoustic-based sound is somewhat reminiscent of Uncle Green, but Balloon Squad provide better songs and more bite. 'Still Mad At That Lenny Bruce' and 'Bloated Drunken Bastard' come out better because of it. . . .Any band that is unafraid of 12-string electric guitar is fine by me. Balloon Squad go one better by using it right. More impressive is the rhythm section, which drives the songs with a touch more imagination than merely keeping the beat. -- Public News. * * * * * "I Wake Up Screaming (Gravity Dog) - God, I'd forgotten about this sharp little pop trio. They put out a 7-inch EP a couple of years ago that I loved. Finally, here's another one. They could use better production, but the cheap recording quality doesn't obscure the hooks and heart embedded in the short rockers on side A and the pretty instrumental ballad and rocked-up Everly Brothers cover on side B. Somebody sign these guys and put out an album, please." -- 42singles.

Additional Info New stuff is on the way.

Location Dumont, NJ - USA

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