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.

Jessie Torrisi played drums in a dozen New York rock bands before finding her true calling — performing feel-good heartbreak songs, singin’ at the top of her lungs, and evoking the kind of mayhem the Please, Please Me is known for.

With cello, lots of drums, hip swiveling, and YOU the audience on kazoo, their show is not to be missed.

Indie pop at its best, their debut album was awarded “Best Americana Album” (Amplifier, Village Voice), year’s most exciting debut (Swamp Record) & continues to be featured all over the place.

The Imperial Rooster play an out there mix of folk, blues, country, & rock and roll that can only be described as GONZO ROOTS MUSIC. Influenced by Beer, Sterno, Johnny Cash, Nick Cave, Beer, Screamin Jay Hawkins, Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart.