Ballpark! brings "progressive pop" sound to new EP "Songs From the Blue Shed"

Members of Ballpark! include Jason Kaplan (drums), Kai Urbany (lead guitarist), Max Frost (rhythm bassist), Eli Schulz (Bass), Sydney Ambrosia (Vocals). Photo by Maximus Vogt

By Maximus Vogt
The Ramspondents

Backgrounded by a U-Haul freshly unloaded of stage equipment and the sputtering of a failing generator, Fort Collins band Ballpark! reminisced on finding their sound and considered their legacy before their homecoming at a Colorado State University show last Saturday.

Formed in August 2022, the band was first dreamed up in freshman year dorms. Through much deliberation, the band agreed on their musical style, what they are calling “progressive pop.”

“Our first album, ‘See What Sticks’ was basically made of songs from a bunch of different genres, just to see what would work,” vocalist Sydney Ambrosia said.

Lead guitarist Kai Urbany chimed in “Yeah, see what we liked, see what people liked. We had a sort of jazz direction, metal song, indie songs, pop songs. We went with that poppier sound but with some of a heaviness to it, a complicated foggy aspect.”

The band prides themselves on this genre bend.

"I've had people compare us to so many different things, but it’s always different,” said rhythm bassist Max Frost.

Their new EP, “Songs From the Blue Shed,” alluding to their studio in a band member’s backyard, was a turning point for the band as they were able to solidify their sonic identity.

“That was the first thing we put out where we were like, ‘okay, this is Ballpark!”

Their popular single “Loose Screw” first came out on Spotify in March and appears on their recent EP. The song opened their homecoming show. Already, fans swayed and mouthed the lyrics back to Ambrosia as she sang.

Their song “Oh Well” – also on the recent EP – balances somewhat melancholic lyrics with Ambrosia's warm vocals backed by strong, upbeat rhythms that progresses throughout the song. Without close attention, the lyrics melt into the sunshine instrumental.

“Sunlight peaks through blinds
As the morning sun does rise
Might as well be the moon
Without you
Tears well up my eyes
And, as this tune implies
Cant help feeling blue
Without you”

Fans enjoy a recent Ballpark! performance at CSU. Photo by Maximus Vogt.

When making music the band balances independence and collaboration.

“Usually, we come up with the music part first and everyone writes their own part and then it’ll take me like five billion weeks to write lyrics and a mouth for it,” Ambrosia said.

Although Ambrosia said it takes more time, the band finds their sound better when they work on lyrics together.

“It used to be, I just wrote the whole song and everybody learned it,” Ambrosia said. “But not anymore, it's not as fun. It takes some time for us to figure out what we each like creatively.”

Beyond their music, the band fosters a local music community in their makeshift venue in their backyard, “the outfield” formed from an auto garage. Frost said they try to host a show there every other month.

“We have a ton of people show up, usually it’s where we have our best and most engaged crowds,” Frost said. “Our backyard was full to the point where we were closing the doors.

The band erupted in laughter as they remembered someone breathing fire at a previous show and their crowd even becoming so rowdy a foot was broken and an internal hearing aid was lost.

Despite the awesomeness, they also have a sentimental take.

“That space is not just for us, it's for a community,” Frost said. “There are a couple bands who played their first show there and got great crowds.”

“I want people to remember us by the scene we were creating too,” Frost said.

Ballpark! will be performing at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at their venue “the outfield” along with hosting a costume contest. For details, contact the band on Instagram @ballparkband.

Maximus Vogt is an art history major and journalism minor at CSU, active in fine art happenings on campus. He is interested in the intersection of art, community and news.

What’s Happening in Fort Collins This Week | October 27-November 2

Weekly Event Highlight | It’s A 2000s Party: Halloween Edition

Compiled by Kaileen Gruber and Isabella Hemness

Photo provided by Aggie Theater

Friday, Oct. 31

It's a 2000s Party: Halloween Edition, presented by the Music Business Collective.
Doors at 9 p.m. at the Aggie Theater, 204 S. College Ave.

Join the Aggie Theater and the Music Business Collective for a night of y2k-themed music and dancing. This event is great for fans of Brittney Spears, Black Eyed Peas, Avril Lavigne and more. Come in costume and bring friends.

Click here for tickets

Monday, Oct. 27