Portland, OR-based Balto is back with more fresh material - the gospel-tinged "Born Astray" is now streaming exclusively via Consequence of Sound. Following the bouncier previous single "CA LUV", "Born Astray" sees the band featuring a new vocalist, and incorporating rootsy-Americana sounds and immersive-style storytelling. Balto continues raising the stakes and increasing expectations for what's to come. Stream + Share "Born Astray"
The gritty vocals perfectly complement the nostalgic, repentant tone of the lyrics - "I was born a gambler, I was born astray, and I been playing hands Lord, that I can't sustain." A female gospel choir adds an exciting and expansive flourish to an already strong track, shattering expectations one may have of a typical "folk-Americana" band. This is indeed a project that refuses to be pigeonholed.
Balto plays unbridled American rock'n'roll - steeped in the mythology of the legendary songwriters and Motown's almighty groove. Biting cynicism, instant classics, rip-your-heart-out live energy, and a willingness to swagger rip hard and live behind the beat. This is a band formed the old fashioned way - chance meetings through friends of friends - four life-long musicians from around the country, playing at the intersection of so many strands of indigenous American music - that tradition that runs from Son House to Sun Ra, from Mississippi John Hurt to the
Alabama Shakes.
Balto came into being when frontman Daniel Sheron abandoned his life in Moscow and went alone into
Siberia and recorded the band's debut album. This year, for the first time since the writing of the debut, Sheron will be taking Balto back to Russia for a string of shows, including an appearance at Moscow Music Week. Balto (as a full band) also has a few more shows in the US this year. Stay tuned for more.
Balto Live Dates:
9/9 - San Francisco, CA @ Neck of the Woods
9/10 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hotel Café
9/17 - Moscow @ Moscow Music Week *
9/19 - St. Petersburg @ Zoccolo 2.0 *
9/21 - Rybinsk @ Bratya Lumiere *
9/22 - Yaroslavl @ Kitaisky Lyotchik *
9/23 - Samara @ Cloud Café *
9/24 - Yokshar-Ola @ ??????? *
9/25 - Nizhny Novgorod @ Record *
9/26 - Moscow @ Kitaisky Lyotchik *
* = Daniel Sheron solo
