Personality is important and stage presence is key when it comes to a band's success. Luckily, Balloonatic has nothing to worry about. The three-piece ensemble dresses as they wish (it's all about long hair, bandanas and offbeat dress), says what they wish (case in point: "Warsaw Tea" calmly juxtaposes the idea of drinking tea on the day a lover has left - sweet enough - with shooting the same lover in the head) and plays what they wish, evident in the band's mix of cover songs and original tunes. Look Up, a four-track disc put out by the band in 1999, is a solid representation of the band's ability. The sound ranges from "Float," an electric-guitar-heavy instrumental jam, to "Cut The Grass," which has a driving, Hendrix-like feel.
Ballonatic also has a roster of cover songs an arm's length long. Mixing up old-school B.B. King with acts like Cream, Led Zepplin and Nirvana, Balloonatic guarantees fun while strengthening their original tracks because of their thorough knowledge of the rock that came before them.
Balloonatic has played a mix of indoor and outdoor venues ranging from The Chicago Blues Fest to The Taste Of Chicago to Morseland.
Ballonatic is: Frank Conway (electric, acoustic, bass, vocals), Kevin Karpa (percussion, vocals) and Mo (Mariusz Owczarczak) (electric, acoustic, bass, harmonica, vocals).
(Kate Schwartz)
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