Justin Kalk Orchestra

Bio:

Check out www.justinkalk.com

FOR BOOKING INQUIRIES PLEASE EMAIL: BOOKING@JUSTINKALK.COM

New Album "Blue Sky Traffic" available now!

"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!

Influences:

Birds, Bees, Electric Eels,Taradactyls, Ghosts, Geese, Radiowaves, Hot Air Balloons, Regular Balloons, Water Balloons, Flying Government Machines of Death, Flying Squirrels, Flying Fish, Pawn Shop Snare Drums, Private Jets, Baseballs, Mothra, Butterflies, Clouds, Comets, Old Music, Spitballs, Paperplanes...And You! Sounds Like:.. Doom Jazz BeeHop Turtle's Back Gospel This is a Nasa Slingshot Spacecar Hustle

Record Label:

FONQ RECORDS: justin@justinkalk.com