Mr. Blotto was formed in 1991 as an off-night musical vehicle for its members, who were then playing in different projects.  After a brief run as an opening act, the word about Mr. Blotto began to spread.  The members left their other bands and found themselves in the enviable position of playing the music that they most enjoyed to packed houses. In response to repeated fan requests for tapes of shows and the surprise popularity of a series of bootlegs, Mr. Blotto released its debut CD, Parking Karma in August of 1992.

Parking Karma draws upon Mr. Blotto’s Blues and Country influences.  It was popular to a degree that even shocked the band.  Clubs began filling to capacity earlier in the night, and more owners and promoters called for bookings.  The band began to play more and bigger venues.  A fifth member was added to play keyboards, specifically the Hammond B-3 Organ.

This busy playing schedule and added sonic dimension led to the release in July of 1994 of the second CD, Bad Hair Day.  Propelled by constant jukebox and radio play the CD propelled the band to new heights.  The band could now headline large clubs and theaters on consecutive nights.  Moreover, they could do it without repeating a song.  This led to legendary weekend-long engagements.  It also introduced the band to  “tapers”.

Early on, Mr. Blotto began archiving their performances by taping each show from their soundboard.  Tapers heard these tapes, and began to copy them and make their own recordings of the group for themselves.  Before long, Mr. Blotto tapes were crossing the nation. 

In July of 1998 came the release of the third CD, Ancient Face.  This album continued the musical development of the band.  Its 13 songs retain the original Blues and Folk influences and take the instrumental solos even further. 

Response was wildly positive.  Fans were pleased by the song selection and impressed by the performances.  With over 20,000 CDs sold, the biggest unsigned band in America continued on its musical journey.

1999 brought the first major lineup change to the band.  Mark Hague stepped in to play his provocative Lead Guitar.  With this alteration, a number of changes began to take place.

The most immediate change was that the band began to spend more time on the Road.  Mr. Blotto tore through the South and began to hit Colorado on a regular basis, building up a loyal fan base in each area.  The band spent more time playing Colleges as well, cultivating the next generation of the Faithful.

More significant, however, was the experimental nature that Hague inspired.  While the band retained its tightness, predictability went out the window.  Longtime fans were impressed, and newbies flocked.  Requests for a Live release swelled.

The band responded by instituting the "Bootleg" and "Just Did It" Series of CD's.  The "Bootleg Series" is a collection of interesting versions of songs unique in some way.  This might be anything from an exceptional solo passage to the addition of a horn section or guest musician.  The "Just Did It" series deals with recent shows released in their entirety.

October of 2001 brought the release of Cabbages and Kings, the first Studio CD with the new lineup.  Paul Emmett wrote that...

"...'Cabbages' itself is a delectable collection of the band's latest song writing efforts that ranges from the funktafied, groovin" shuffle of "Keepin it Up", to the rollicking-fun country twang of "Nebraska". Throw in the stretched out jams of songs like "1977", and the Monday morning anthem "Workin for the Man", and you have yourself an album that can stand up to, if not blow away, most efforts put out by similar bands on a national level." 

from "Rock Show Review: Mr. Blotto @ the Vic Theatre"  Publicity Whore Magazine

Clocking in at a hearty 73:57, it is full of the music that Blotto fans have come to crave. Its release was heralded on WXRT's Local Anesthetic with host Richard Milne remarking that it was the Band's best release yet and that anyone who had not yet seen the Band needed to make a point to do so.

2004 saw the band release Bad Hair Decade, described by the band as "LIVE versions of the songs from the Bad Hair Day CD and a few studio remakes as well. See what 10 years can bring".

Nick Hutchinson wrote about Bad Hair Decade:
"While relatively unknown outside of the Windy City, the blokes from Mr. Blotto have been playing rootsy good-times music for quite some time now. This release (a follow up to the band's 1994 Bad Hair Day) features more recently recorded live versions of a heap of longstanding originals by these venerable Chicago jamsters. Let it be noted that Blotto can play your favorite Phish, Widepread Panic, Dead, Traffic (et at.) covers with scads of soul and proficiency. But in addition to being able to rock the time-tested jukebox stuff the Blotto kitchen serves up its own tasty fare, and that's precisely what's on the Bad Hair Day menu. From the groove-heavy shuffling of "Dirty Woman" to the almost radio-friendly and hooky "Kiss Me in the Morning", the group evokes the gravelly vocal stylings of Widespread Panic, the bluesy southern guitar strains of the Allman Brothers, the clear as crystal licks of Captain Trips Garcia and mucho more, all the while bearing the unique stamp of pure clean Blotto. Add rollicking gospel-inflected numbers like "Rock Me in Your Arms" and "Standing in the House", and you've got one hell of a well-rounded outfit more than capable of putting down the appropriate soundtrack for a fun night out."      Nick Hutchinson - Associated Content.

In 2005 the lineup of the band changed when during the year the band introduced a new drummer, Tony Dellumo. The year saw the band continue it's hectic regional schedule whilst expanding it's horizons with shows in Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota and more. All this, while continuing to work on the material that would form the basis of their next CD.

The last show of the year (New Years' Eve) saw the final full-time performance by David "B3" Allen with the band. Much to the delight of the fans, David continues to make cameo appearances with the band from time to time.

2006 saw the introduction of Steve Ball on B3, vocals and keys. It also saw the band continue it's busy regional schedule while continuing to expand it's horizons with "Carpet Bomb Tours" to Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa and more. All the while, still continuing to work on their next CD.

October of 2006 saw the much awaited "Official Release Party" of the bands 5th studio CD. This CD was written in collaboration with John Perry Barlow (lyricist for the Grateful Dead) and received much critical acclaim.

"Performing in neighborhood bars can be a thankless job, but for the past 16 years, Mr. Blotto consistently has won over audiences throughout the greater Chicago area by mixing original tunes with an astoundingly lengthy list of cover songs in order to create a sterling soundtrack for a night on the town. Had it opted to tour the country, the ensemble likely would be better known outside the region, particularly within the circles that typically are frequented by jam band addicts. By its own choice, the group humbly has opted to balance family life with career aspirations, thus remaining firmly planted within the Windy City. Its latest effort Barlow Shanghai, however, just might be the thing that forces the band’s members to leave the cozy confines of their homes. Simply put, with the help of former Grateful Dead lyricist John Barlow, Mr. Blotto has made its biggest statement to date, one which ought to inject a bit of perspective into the improvisational rock scene.

Throughout Barlow Shanghai, Mr. Blotto effectively uses the many touchstones of its repertoire as a foundation for seamlessly blurring the line between past and present, and the result is that it brings together multiple generations via its journey across the vast landscape of rock ’n‘ roll’s rich heritage. Evangeline, for example, may be deeply indebted to both Ray Charles and Billy Joel, but it also is touched by the southern blues of the Allman Brothers Band as well as by the sort of spiraling, space-born gleams of light that Jerry Garcia once shot across the heavens. Elsewhere, Mr. Blotto fuels That’s What I Said by slamming Phish’s Down with Disease into the heady, guitar-driven blissfulness of moe., while Organ Grinder laces Blues Traveler’s driving funk with the spiritual essence of the Grateful Dead. Granted, Barlow Shanghai isn’t a groundbreaking affair, nor is it the type of outing that will send a series of seismic shockwaves rolling through the blogosphere. Nevertheless, the maturity of Mr. Blotto’s approach has produced a smartly conceived endeavor that succeeds in ways that most of the efforts concocted by those currently working the jam band and indie rock oeuvres don’t."     John Metzger - The Music Box

The Journey

I am winding up the same place I began
And now it seems at last I understand
So when I die at least I'll know the way
The water rose, the water fell
And in the end it's just as well
Since everything that happens is a wave...

                  J.P. Barlow, P. Bolger

 

2007 saw the release of the band's first Official DVD. This DVD was "shot" in a 5 camera shoot at Blottopia VII, the bands annual festival held in July of each year. Reaction to this DVD was overwhelming as it showed one the bands "strengths" in performing in an outdoor concert environment.

Also during May of 2007, the band was chosen as Jambands.com's (Relix Magazine) New Groove of the Month and was featured on their website during May and June of 2007.

The band continued it's hectic regional schedule while doing "Carpet Bomb Tours" to 10000 Lakes in Minnesota, Nelson Ledges Quarry Park in Ohio, Colorado, Iowa and more.

What is in store for 2008?

More travelling?
A second Official DVD?
Maybe the release of one of those two "yet to be released" CD's!

Only time will tell...............................................................