When asked about his first experience playing an instrument, Patrick Tape Fleming responded with a rather funny story.

“I used to play the plastic baseball bat as a kid,” said Fleming. At fifteen, he got a guitar as a gift from his grandmother, and while he only had two lessons, continued to learn and love music.

“I’ve always liked music. I’ve watched people play and I’ve picked things up,” said Fleming.

After receiving a baseball scholarship from DMACC, Fleming moved to Ames, befriended Aaron Hefley and formed the group Pookey Bleum. Using Fleming’s inheritance from his grandmother, they purchased studio equipment and formed BiFi Records, where they “put out other band’s music.”

Fleming joined the 13-piece band Poison Control Center on guitar and lead vocals, and the band was met with acclaim throughout the Ames music community. However, when the band started to move in different directions (geographically), Fleming felt that going solo was the way to go.

“We kinda stopped because everybody moved,” said Fleming, laughing a little. “I didn’t really have a choice, but when you write songs, you’re kind of by yourself.”

When faced with the prospect of going solo, Fleming had plenty of ideas for where he wanted to take his sound, but one stuck out in particular.

“I wanted to do something where I wasn’t playing loud rock n’ roll. I wanted to do something different, a new challenge,” said Fleming of his sound and image as Gloom Balloon. Gloom Balloon shows are high-energy, dance party type affairs, peppered with some of Fleming’s more stripped down songs.

“It’s what we’re capable of- it ends up sounding like us,” said Fleming, honestly and candidly of the project. “It’s the best that we can do with the talent and finances, or lack thereof.”

Gloom Balloon also just finished recording an album, and Fleming gave just enough insight until its release in the fall.

“It’s under forty minutes, there’s fourteen songs, there’s lots of different instruments, lots of different people, lots of Iowa all-stars,” said Fleming. “And it’s done!”

While there is no set release date, Drying the Eyes of the Goddess of Gloom Underneath the Stars and the Moon should be out in the fall.