Draft:Aaron Perlut

Founded in 2018, Atomic Junkshot is an American alternative country band based in St. Louis, Missouri. The band's style blends rock’n’roll, blues and country music while lyrically leaning towards edgier honky-tonk style lyrics and narratives steeped in the Midwest, U.S..

Atomic Junkshot was founded by lead singer and rhythm guitarist Aaron Perlut, who at the time went by "Lon Magenta," and former lead guitarist Denzel Whitewell. Whitewell retired from music two years later and Atomic Junshot's present-day lineup includes Perlut, lead guitarist and harmonica player Mark Murdaugh, drummer Brian McCary, and bass guitar player Clay Mudd.

Melody Maker Magazine wrote of Atomic, “There is something pretty retro about the way they’re getting to the hook ... and yet I’m quite hesitant to call any part of their framework steeped in old-school cues. The approach is as classic as it gets … exclusive and original in every department.”

The band's songwriting is largely comprised by Perlut and often wordy, taking queues from his musical heroes such as Ray Wylie Hubbard, Steve Earle and Tom Petty. Atomic Junkshot's straight forward, country- and rock-inspired rhythms blend seamlessly with more complex, southern rock and country music leads.

Music blog Raised on Cassettes wrote of the Atomic Junkshot single Dirt Roads, the band lies, "Somewhere between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Lou Reed's Wildside, Atomic Junkshot brings out these winding guitars for an almost-twang sound but it's slow and plodding. The closest sound I can really compare this with is that classic Southern rock sound, though it is not completely that," rounding out with "this song hits home and just feels like an essential part of America we don't talk about enough."

Albums
Gun Show: In 2022, the band released its first record — the EP "Gun Show" — containing six songs written by Perlut.

Live From Luke's: In 2023, Atomic released the live recording "Live From Luke's," a 10-song collection of older and new material recorded live with producer and musician Lucas Jack.

Peacedale: On May 31, 2024, Atomic will release its first full studio album entitled "Peacedale," a 10-song collection of new material produced by Greg. D. Griffith.