Starball is the brainchild of singer, songwriter and guitarist Tamar Berk. With her latest all star line-up which includes Mike Zelenko (Material Issue) on drums, Eric Hanna (The Pulsars) on lead guitar and Steve Denekas (Entertainment) on bass, Starball has emerged as one of the top pop-rock bands in Chicago. Their full length album Superfans, produced by Ken Sluiter and Tamar Berk, is a summery rock-pop feel-good album that makes you want to get in your car and drive across country for no reason at all.
Since 1996 Starball has been gaining a loyal following and critical acclaim in Chicago and the midwest. With Tamar's powerful voice, skillful songwriting and her most talented line-up to date, Starball is on it's way to becomming a household name. Starball's unique sound, blends pop rock with catchy choruses and graceful harmonies that energizes and inspires. Musically, Starball combines elements of The Who, Weezer, Blondie and Joan Jett, while lyrically Tamar has been compared to Liz Phair.
Starball has opened for The Cranberries, Local H, Kristen Hersh, The Gas Giants, Kelly Deal, Jonny Polonsky, Ike Reilly, The Donna's, and Uncle Kracker to name a few. They've performed on live television on Oprah's Oxygen Network and their video for the single "These Days" has been played on JBTV as well as Rollingstone.com. Starball has performed at CMJ, SXSW, MRMF, MOB FEST Chicago, New Music Festival in Chicago and this year, they were part of the Midwest International Pop Overthrow Festival held in Chicago, NY and LA. Most recently Starball's song "Two Car" was selected as one of the ten finalists to appear on the Maybelline/Jane Magazine Reader Produced CD Contest after winning Jane's online poll by a landslide.
Our review of Superfans' predecessor Holstein Park: "The Heart comparisons are valid, but there's also a large Veruca Salt influence and wee bit of punk anger thrown in as well. (Though how could any Chicago female-fronted power trio not end up influenced by Veruca Salt?) But Starball rocks a good bit harder than the Verucas ever did (even on Blow It Our Your Ass, It's Veruca Salt). "Up and Down Thing" is one of the more Veruca-like songs. It's a rocking pop gem complete with vocal harmonies - all in all, one of the more successful songs on the record. "Opinion" is another stand out track. It's got a nice melodic into that quickly segues into power chords and lightning fast vocals. 'Cement Dreams' is a nice, slower ballad-ish song with great harmonies. 'Come Closer' is a great closer for the record. It's smooth and slinky and Berk's vocals are particularly compelling. All in all, a good debut effort, though perhaps next time around they might wish to tone down the muddy guitars a bit. Berk has a great voice that is well showcased on this record."
Other bands Tamar has performed with or has appeared on their recordings include Ness, Caviar, Blue Nova, Bicycle Tricycle, Meringue, Murdered, Karen Barak, The Countdown (SX), and Adam Wyle.
At the present time, Tamar is currently writing and recording the follow-up to Superfans.
For more information, visit their website: http://www.starballmusic.com/
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