The Kallikak Family

The Kallikak Family is the nom de plume of Andrew Peterson, who, while based in Chicago, recorded the band's first CD, The Vineland Social Maturity Scale, released by On Purpose Records, described in a press biography as "an experimental psych-folk/noise album revolving around a sociological text about feeble-mindedness." The band played shows in the Chicago area and around the country that displayed its interest in ambient sounds and performance art. Peterson then moved to Portland, OR, and between 2003 and 2005 assembled the material for the Kallikak Family's second album, May 23rd 2007, said to explore "the meaning of specific days and locations in the life of one person, all leading up to May 23rd 2007, the date on which a fortune teller predicted the artist's death." It was released August 23, 2005, by Tell-All Records. The Kallikak Family launched a tour in the summer of 2005, after which Peterson planned to settle in Berkeley, CA.