BIO

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