By Alyce Wilson
(Standard-Journal,
Sept. 14, 2000)

BLOOMSBURG -- What is a Poptart Monkey, anyway?

Come to the free stage at the Bloomsburg Fair at 2 and 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26 and find out.

Kellogg's doesn't care what a Poptart Monkey is, they just want the band to stop using the name. The group has refused, which led to press coverage around the country and calls from media outlets in Battle Creek, Mich. (the home of Kellogg's), the Boston Globe, New York radio stations, Howard Stern, even the BBC. The news made 147 countries, Balogach said.

In other words, thanks, Kellogg's.

The controversy began one week after Balogach joined the band, along with rhythm guitarist Bill Talanca. Kellogg's had become aware of the band nine months previously, when the group sent them a press kit asking for official sponsorship.

At first Kellogg's just said, "No, thanks." But then they wrote and told the band they had 15 days to stop using the name.

"We pretty much said no," Balogach said. "Yeah, they're a multi-million dollar company, and yeah, they'll squish us. ... but pop and tart were already words" before the company created the product.

The attention boosted the band's popularity, as people came to concerts out of curiosity. People stayed, Balogach said, because of the band's stage energy.

"As far as I know, we're definitely one of the most energetic bands anywhere," he said. "The crowd goes nuts; the more the crowd goes nuts, the more we go nuts."

Though the group's black-and-white outfits in their publicity shots suggest a ska sound, they're really more influenced by 1980s rock and heavy metal, as well as by heavier current bands, like Limp Bizkit and Godsmack.

The group features Paul Reddon on lead vocals; Dave Danishefsky plays guitar.

Their show on Tuesday will feature mainly covers, but fans can look for an upcoming full-length album, tentatively called "Dancing with My Lunatic." The band has been in the studio for four months.

Those hoping to cash in on future success will want to keep the previously released five-song EP, discontinued at the band's request. Balogach explained they weren't happy with the songs and would rather have an album that better represents their music.

Release parties are planned for the second or third week of October, including an Oct. 19 show at the Stadium in Pottsville.

With a full schedule of three to four shows a week, the band writes songs quickly, often recording them the day after they're written. The engineer, Balogach said, has been a valuable source of feedback.

Their first single from the upcoming album, "Dancefloor Collision," is a heavier track, while the next one to be released will probably be "Doorway Home," a ballad.

In addition to airplay on college radio stations and commercial stations in the Susquehanna Valley, The Poptart Monkeys performed during MTV's 1999 Spring Break broadcast at Club Lavela in Panama City Beach, Fla. They've even been dubbed MTV's official Spring Break party band.

That party energy is what they do best.

"Why be 100 percent serious? I was always the kid in school who, when a teacher was yelling at me, I'd stare him in the eye trying to understand what he was saying, and I was still smiling. He'd say, 'I'm yelling at you, why are you smiling?' I was always happy. Why shouldn't the music be fun, happy, different?"