Mr. Blotto was born in Chicago as an off-night vehicle for musicians who loved each others playing but were in different bands at the time. The only rule was that they would only play what they loved. That philosophy continues today and has led Mr. Blotto into unique musical situations.

Mr. Blotto takes the Jam band asthetic into areas unfamiliar to the standard Jam Scene. They have been known to cover entire albums by Led Zeppelin and the Who as well as perform entire shows of Country and Reggae. Artists as diverse as the Grateful Dead, the Flaming Lips, Willie Nelson and The Velvet Underground have seen their material interpreted by Mr. Blotto in the 2000+ shows the band has performed in the last 15 years, yet covers only pepper the bands hefty catalog of original material stemming from five studio albums and other unreleased crowd favorites.

“The Mississippi Stranglers hit the main vein of American Music. 

From folk to progressive rock they cover a spectrum that spans from front porch hoe-downs to traditional americana garage rock offering something for everyone. Each Mississippi Stranglers show is different with changing set lists and new songs, the band will sometimes go either full electric or full acoustic or even both at any given show or festival. The band is always writing and recording or playing out live and letting it all show with the way they live their music. The current line up of the Stranglers right now features Neal Ernst and long time friend Kurt Carlson with Garrett Pedersen, David Young and drummer Matt Ford. With their lo-fi till you die, garage rock, americana music for the people by the people approach, The Mississippi Stranglers truly are an original “American band.”