Streaming "Frown, Frown, Frown"
With his Nashville based Orchestra, Justin Kalk pens and performs a fresh brand of Rock & Roll, Hip Hop, Bluegrass and Jazz influenced Pop sounds. The songs are monster packed with catchy vocals, Olympic solos, swampy organ and a radical evolution of bass and beat madness.
Wiry front man, Justin Kalk, is a triple threat: A urgent soulful singer and a clever stripped down composer. Where's his true grit? Justin speaks such fluent Stratocaster he is kicking off a previously uncharted golden age of sexy electric guitar.
Justin is supported by the equally impressive musical exchanges of piano/organ donor Brent Burgee, Steo Britton on the Fender Bass, the drums of Michael Green & a all-star cast of touring musicians. Engineered by Jase Bass and Adam Crawford at Nashville’s beautiful Dark Horse Studio. Mixed / Mastered by Leland Elliot at Blackbird Studios. These new recordings are unstoppable.
Warning: Catch Justin Kalk Orchestra before you need binoculars!!!
"Blue Sky Traffic" is a wolly mammoth of a debut from U.S.A's Justin Kalk Orchestra. Featuring 16 original songs and album art by gonzo painter Ralph Steadman (Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, Rolling Stone, Flying Dog Beer) the album was recorded from 2007 - 2009 at the legendary Blackbird and Dark Horse recording studios in Nashville, Tennessee.
Opening with the arena-shaking "I've Changed Too" the record is sure to quickly resonate with just about any animal. After Michael Green's triplet-based half time shuffle and the bands unbelievably simple groove carries the song to the second chorus, Justin's guitar solo pushes his own vocal out of the way as if erupting from the bowels of a monster.
The JKO's signature brand of FONQ Rock continues through "Cold Blooded Killer' and the Obama tinged, politically-oblivious hip hop of "1983" before settling down with Nashville's top session players for the bluegrass pop song "Frown, Frown, Frown". The ghost like Pedal steel and train hopping Banjo are the perfect compliment to Justin's Lennon-esque tale of woe and want.
Justin's story continues on the most soulful song of the album "Pancakes & Syrup". The stirring guitar lines and vocals slowly build before a string quartet led by violinist - Luke Bulla (Jerry Douglas Band, Bela Fleck, Lyle Lovett) introduces what may be a perfect stratocaster solo.
After a 4 song mini symphony seemingly about sleeping in late, we find out why Mr. Ralph Steadman chose to paint a Giraffe on the cover. The dream-like Gershwin influenced "Aurora Bora Palace" opens with a french horn (Vanessa Barbee) as Kalk croons "Kelienne, far off the Giraffes neck, up, up away...".
The FONQ continues with more Insect / Super Nintendo hip hop featuring bassist SteO Britton. After breaking down to the dark blues harmonics of "Painting a Wall" (written by Kalk at age 19), Brent Burgee wraps up the nearly 60 minute roller-coaster by taking us to the gospel tent with his overwhelming B-3 Organ chops on "Back In Love". The rotating speaker by itself makes it impossible to listen to the JKO's "Blue Sky Traffic" without leaving their world in a joyful mood. Watch out for your ears!