Chapter 45 (cont.)

 

Paul Voshell of

Love Seed Mama Jump

 

Well, actually before we get to Paul’s commentary, we’ve got this vintage Stone Balloon and Love Seed segment, from 1994…

 

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Paul: Four of us attended UD (Brian, Will, Rick and me). Rick and Will were in an acoustic band together and Pete and Will were in a punk band together. Soon Brian joined and started jamming with the guys in Rehoboth Beach. Dave and I then joined and LSMJ was created in 1991. Our first gigs on campus were Pi Kappa Alpha in Fall '91, Sigma Nu in Spring '92, then the Down Under and Deer Park. First show at the Balloon was Fall '92. Hyperactive had cancelled their Saturday night show, and we got the call to fill in. Then from '93 to '96, we sort of lived at the Balloon. Dave is still missing a toothbrush and other paraphernalia.

 

During a show on Brian’s birthday one year, we had a cake fight with each other and the crowd…there was still cake in the rafters when they tore the place down. Many nights when we weren’t playing there, we’d hang out, drink for free and fall down the stairs. It didn’t matter if we were riding tricycles across the stage or dressing up in disco outfits, we always seemed to have a good time at the Balloon.

 

Most popular songs we did at the Balloon, including covers and originals: “She Likes the Dead,” “Country Roads,” “In Your Eyes,” “Free,” and “Walking on the Moon.” It was our manager Elvin’s (then owner of the Balloon) idea to record the Drunk at the Stone Balloon CD. It was recorded in November 1993. I remember the vibe being insane, real positive energy from the crowd. We still wish we had a videotape of that night…crazy!

 

Elvin: Working with LSMJ has been one of the highlights of my life. A great bunch of guys and very talented. Love Seed received three record contracts and recorded five CDs. All were very, very good but we did not fit the image of what the record companies were looking for. Shortsighted on their part. Love Seed compiled the most loyal fans I have ever seen. We decided to make Drunk at the Stone Balloon on a whim. Neither myself nor the band members had any idea as to how to go about making a CD, but we learned and turned out one of the most popular cover CDs ever. The band and the CD were so popular, that other cover bands thought that some of our classic original songs (“She Likes the Dead” and “Free”) were cover songs, and they started to cover our originals.

 

Paul: In 2003 we did a ten-year anniversary show of Drunk, which was a lot of fun. We still managed to stay very busy, even though we didn’t play Newark much anymore. People have followed us all over. We still meet people at our shows with Balloon memories; NYC, Jersey Shore, the Delaware beaches, Ocean City, MD even DC. We saw the Balloon’s demise coming, with all the changes on Main Street. The UD times really helped launch the band’s career. It’s hard to say where we’d be without the Stone Balloon…great times. We miss the place a lot.

​Front cover of you-know-what, recorded in November 1993. Courtesy of Paul Voshell of LSMJ, and photo by John Hagan. And Christa, UD '96 added, "It was the first CD I bought at Rainbow Records."

​Back cover of you-know-what, with the band being "bounced" out of the Balloon. Courtesy of Paul Voshell of LSMJ, and photo by John Hagan. And Erik, UD '94 added, "I remember the night Love Seed recorded it. I was pissed because of instead of being there, I had to keep driving past it,as I delivered orders for Patio Pizza."