Kaptain Karl has been surprising and delighting audiences for over thirty years. Armed with unusual humor and a rich baritone voice, Karl draws inspiration from his love of rural Wisconsin, his appreciation of the absurd, and a passion for stories and storytelling.
His influences range from Dvorak and Vaughn Williams, to Johnny Cash and Paul Simon, from Tin Pan Alley to They Might Be Giants. His music has singular roots in both Americana and Intelligentsia. A prolific writer and accomplished multi-instrumentalist, he has released four albums of his own music and collaborated on numerous others.
In live performance, he often appears solo, and has been in front of audiences from New York to Montana to Denver. He has spent more than twenty years as half of the eclectic acoustic duo Great Uncle Helmer, playing in a variety of venues in Western Wisconsin and the Twin Cities. In 2006, he founded Shotgun Johnson & the Mississippi 7, a folk-rock band with two accordions and a flute. He also sings with and directs the Indianhead Barbershop Chorus.
His favorite audience complaint: “I hated it – I never knew what he was going to play next.”
His favorite audience compliment: “I loved it - I never knew what he was going to play next.”
For demos and more, visit www.kaptiankarl.com.
Kaptain Karl
defender of the poor
champion of the oppressed
advocate of the innocent
www.kaptainkarl.com
