Press kit, The Kings of Mongrel Folk · Press kit, official use
The Kings of Mongrel Folk™ proudly present their new compact disc entitled Bitter Truth. Composed of the usual mixture of humor, storytelling, mythology, religious blasphemy, guitar, social criticism, harmonica,dramatic tension, dobro, death, birth, and old-time music. The Kings hope to see you and many other loyal subjects at one of their shows! The Kings of Mongrel Folk™ rule a musical kingdom known far and wide as Mongrolia.... Why would two of the most talented, zany and widely-respected roots musicians in the United States - both of whom have appeared on Garrison Keilor's Prairie Home Companion - choose to go on the road as a duo? Simple: Mark Graham and Orville Johnson love the magic when they play together as much as their audiences do. "People comment on that all the time," says Orville. "They can tell we're having a good time up there. We play on a lot of different emotions."Wry humor, virtuoso harmonica, soulful blues, hot pickin' and sweet country vocals - that's what you get when Orville and Mark combine forces as the Kings of Mongrel Folk™.Graham's harmonica virtuosity on Irish and American fiddle tunes and his rich, woody sound on clarinet are well-known to fans of Kevin Burke's Open House. Graham's sardonic skewering of contemporary life, in such songs as "I Can See Your Aura and It's Ugly" and "Zen Gospel Singing" have been cult classics for years. His songs have been recorded by many, including the Austin Lounge Lizards, Bryan Bowers, and the Limelighters.Orville Johnson, an instrumental gunslinger whom the Seattle Times describes as "player's player," has a gift of finding the "secret ingredient" that makes a song sound letter-perfect, whether it's an R & B tune from New Orleans, a country blues or a jazzy ballad. Orville's guitar, dobro, and quavering, honeyed vocals have seasoned more than two hundred recordings, soundtracks and countless TV and radio commercials.
