Hendersonville – Skies of Avalon blends the best of East Henderson alumnus Christian Justus’ musical worlds, by injecting his new intricate and edgy progressive rock originals into classic rock covers of the Seventies and Eighties.
The band first played all of its completed original songs April 15 before a packed crowd in the band’s main venue – Dry Falls Brewery in Hendersonville. “We’re getting good feedback on all originals,” Justus said of crowd comments. All four band members sounded amazingly in synch.
Currently, Skies of Avalon is accepting advance $15 orders for its upcoming debut CD, to help towards studio recording sessions in Nashville June 20-22. The $15 advance deal is for a CD signed by the band, stickers, wristbands, and a “surprise mystery merch item.”
The CD will have six original songs, and a unique take on a surprise classic cover. Its producers are Grammy-nominated Kent Wells and bassist Dave Fowler.
Skies of Avalon is comprised of: bassist Justus, keyboardist-vocalist Steven Posey, lead guitarist Johnny Thorn and drummer Jacob Whiteside.
Upcoming Gig
Fans can hear them close a four-band gala Friday, May 13 in the DFR Room at 36 E. Main St. in Brevard. This is the band’s last scheduled area gig for many months. Skies of Avalon plays in Greenville, S.C. Sept. 30, after touring across the state and into Virginia. DFR is an emerging music hall where 28 Pages publicly debuted on June 2017. The $15 per person admission includes a “gourmet pizza bar” dinner there.
Two of the other acts that night are based in Asheville. They are rockers Appalachian Renegades, and Miami Gold with “panavision” rock. The other act is Skies of Avalon’s touring partner, metal band The Plan from Virginia.
When playing on New Year’s Eve, the band was billed as 28 Pages but “we brought in the new year as Skies of Avalon,” Justus said. The band now has a “heavier musical direction,” playing many more originals and, eventually, more covers.
Progressive Blends
Skies of Avalon originals are intricate heavy metal-tinged progressive rock compositions, varying in tempo and mood. Justus calls it “semi-progressive rock with an edge, featuring elements of metal. Posey terms it “dreamy, melodic rock with string and organ sounds and catchy lyrics.”
Several originals start with metal low-toned rumblings, then get smoother as if Ozzy meets Rush. Most notably, “Tides” reaches a sizzling Yes-like keyboard frenzy Posey wrote and crisply plays.
Skies of Avalon covers Queensrÿche’s ”Bridge,” sounding very much like that other progressive metal pioneer in Dream Theater. Justus also likes bands Yes, Asia, Deep Purple and Alice in Chains.
Creative Originals
Justus wrote more than 20 originals in recent months. “Brother to Brother” suddenly struck his imagination last Thursday morning.
“Tides,” the band’s first single, came out last October. It evolved in three segments as the most intricate original. “I wrote the first part with two verses and a chorus,” Justus said, then a “middle section with a totally different mood setting. Johnny and Steven laid down killer guitar and keyboard.” In the last section, Justus smooths the melody to “bring it back to a positive message.”
The theme is reflected by “All of your life, you’ve had to put up a fight” emotionally, Justus said. “Every person can relate.”
”Tides” is not on the CD. Its six originals are instead “Skies of Avalon,” “Real This Time,” “Tides II: Platinum Skies,” “The Day,” “Ten Degree Difference,” and “There May be a Time.”
Before becoming the band’s namesake, Skies of Avalon was first a song title. Its lyrical story is inspired by the Legend of King Arthur Pendragon, fantasy adventure fan Justus said. Avalon symbolizes paradise, as the supposed burial site of Arthur of Camelot lore. Justus wrote, “A kingdom once revered, Camelot, is long gone. Pendragon fell, but Avalon lives on.”
“Tides II: Platinum Skies” has Posey singing lead. The sequel to ”Tides” is how “You can’t keep letting people manipulate you,” Justus explained. “You have to fight back. Look up to the platinum skies, for a new and better way of living.”
Going further, the medium-tempo rocker “Ten Degree Difference” is a “straight-up revenge song,” Justus said. “It’s an anthem for people who’ve been wronged. You can ‘win’ over your enemy by a narrow margin. That’s the ten degree difference.” He will add a spoken word section, when recording.
Sentimental
Justus said, “my patriotism comes out in music” as with “The Day.” It looks at the modern soldier — “dispatched on your own, as a power of one.” That can mean getting isolated behind enemy lines on a night mission, or uniting with one’s unit, Justus theorizes. A line is ”Just protect the asset, and make it out alive” before sunrise.
Justus and Kenny Stephenson wrote “For Real This Time” when in hard rock band Awaken the Dream, in the Nineties. Skies of Avalon is “nurturing it” into the likely CD closer.
Another retro song is the ballad “There May be a Time.” Christian’s late father Terry Justus started it long ago, as a tribute to his wife and bandmate Theresa. Christian’s mother, Theresa helped me finish that song” by recalling its lyrics, Christian recollects. He added lyrics, and expanded it from two to 12 chords.
This song examplifies his searcch for “positive message, but staying true to what people are experiencing.” The song is about “going through life, and sharing it with the one you love,” Christian said. His wife Marie helps him write songs and set lists. She handles merchandise sales.
Band Members
Justus, a 1989 East grad, sings lead vocals on most originals and several covers. Posey sings lead on most covers. They were the foundation of 28 Pages for the past six years. People might also recall Justus from popular rock band Senatobia in the early 2000s.
Guitarist Thorn brings “that edgy playing we need for this music,” Justus said. “He’s innovative. He’s got great chops, equipment and attitude.”
Thorn calls Justus a “great songwriter.” Thorn most enjoys covering Prince’s “Purple Rain,” Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” with its guitar solo, and Ozzy Osbourne’s “Mama I’m Coming Home.” He and Posey like and Gerry Rafferty’s jazzy “Baker Street.” It opens with Posey’s keyboard simulating intense sax and flute.
Other covers they played April 15 include Eddie Money’s “Two Tickets to Paradise,” REO’s “Roll with the Changes,” “Bang a Gong” by T. Rex, and “Long Train Running” by the Doobie Bros.
Those covers suit Whiteside, 26, having heard such songs from his parents. He filled in with 28 Pages and Justus’ progressive side act Palenium two years ago. Justus said “Yes, I want that drummer!” upon seeing Whiteside drum like Neil Pert on Rush’s “Spirit of Radio,” in an Astro Sauce video.
Whiteside reslishes the challenge of drumming to complex originals. He keeps up quite well with “sudden tempo and time signature changes” for seamless beat transitions, Posey said. Justus agrees, also calling the drummer “versatile.”
Whiteside and Thorn were in 28 Pages last year. They helped record “Tides.”
To hear the single “Tides,” go online to https://skiesofavalon.bandcamp.com/releases. To pre-order Skies of Avalon’s CD for $15, go to: https://gofund.me/722dbd70