Kyle Baarstad

Kyle can't quite pin down when it was he first started singing. However, he can tell you that he started drumming in the seventh grade. While in junior high band he discovered the the drum set. His only opportunity for practice was at the school. Ultimately, by the tenth grade, Kyle persuaded his parents to let him purchase a drum kit. In high school Kyle's musical interest blossomed as he participated in concert band, choir, jazz band and swing choir. He successfully competed in several vocal and percussion competitions. After graduating, Kyle received music scholarships and attended Minot State University (MSU) where he eventually earned a Minor in Music. During Kyle's senior year in high school he was asked to fill in for and eventually replace the drummer of the Herb Parker Band (HPB). Mr. Parker (Herb) was Kyle's high school choral director and mentor. Kyle would drum for Herb for the next nine years. It was while performing with the HPB that he befriended Herb's bassist Jason Kulland. Kyle and Jason wanted to perform more often than Herb was willing to so they put their own band together. While attending MSU Kyle and Jason started jamming with Dave Papineau a former classmate, guitar player, and friend who also was attending MSU. Together they formed a band and called it Blue Age. Eventually Tag Snyder, Steve Everson and Dean Vestal were added to the group. Kyle exclaims, "Blue Age was an awesome experience!" and he further states, "Blue Age had a good three year run, but like the Good Book says, '...all these things must come to pass...' " After Blue Age Kyle began shopping around for a new band. It wouldn't be until the end of 1993 that he would hook up with Mick Soiseth and Danny Haskin. They played their first gig together under the name "Smoke Stack Lightning"! Knowing that this name needed to be changed, Kyle came up with several alternatives and after a vote the name "Balderdash!" was chosen. Their first gig as "Balderdash!" came in February 1994 when they performed at the annual API chili cook-off held in Williston. After that and since they have been playing the night club, wedding dance, street dance and party circuit. Unfortunately in 2001, Balderdash's original guitar player Danny Haskin was forced to quit due to health reasons. With Danny's blessing Kyle and Mick decided to continue the Balderdash! journey because... "Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid." - Frank Zappa (1940–1993)