Atomic Junkshot’s music has been labeled honky-tonk, rock 'n' roll, country, alt-country, southern rock, red dirt country, Americana and even “post-paisley underground.” The band is less interested in labels and more focused on telling stories largely centered around its Midwestern roots, using carefully crafted words to express a wide spectrum of emotions—anger, curiosity, jubilation, bitterness, humor, love and sadness. 

Atomic Junkshot’s gritty fusion of rock, country and blues comes to life during the band’s high-energy performances through offbeat storytelling that has led critics to describe the band as “twisted southern rockers" and “the honky-tonk love child of David Allan Coe and Blues Traveler.” Melody Maker Magazine noted Atomic Junkshot excels at, "Creating a sense of emotions as strong as regret, reflection, and raw vulnerability," and that, "this is a band that has a lot of emotional ground to cover, and they make a point of doing so with what feels like one of the most brooding melodic undertows."

Born in St. Louis by rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist Aaron Perlut, the band's lineup is comprised of an odd, yet tight-knit collection of players including lead guitarist Joey Mack, Clay Mudd on bass, percussionist Brian McCary, Markus Everblus on harmonica and guitar, and Perlut.

“We're kind of an island of misfit toys who take our love of rock, country, blues and jazz and pair it with a very personal lyrical edge,” said Perlut. “Our songs speak to our lives here in the Midwest—about things that interest us or piss us off, the experiences that have both damaged and raised us up, and the dysfunction we see every day.”
 

Perlut’s songwriting is admittedly wordy, taking cues from his musical heroes such as Ray Wylie Hubbard, Steve Earle, Tom Petty and Tony Joe White. The band’s straight forward, country- and rock-inspired rhythms blend seamlessly with more complex progressive rock, blues and jazz-derived leads drawn from generations of prog-rock pioneers ranging from Pink Floyd's David Gilmour to Rob Crow of Pinback.

Over the years, Atomic Junkshot has built a sturdy reputation across North America, largely due to the band’s authentic yet offbeat approach to Americana-centric storytelling. As one fan noted, the band's music is simple, pure and merely “perfect for family road trips and getaway cars alike.” 

Whatever the case might be, there's certainly a long, drawn-out and exceptionally wordy explanation for it. 

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Read reviews about the band here on GigSalad.