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 Velvet Jimis, an Oak Park band, was born at the Friendly Tap (www.friendlytap.net) in Berwyn, Illinois. Jimmy Darley (vox, harmonica and percussion), Randy Hess(vox and bass), Loren Middleton (vox and lead guitar), Rick Renner (vox and rhythm guitar), Jason Edwards (vox and drums), Christopher Styles (vox and percussion) and Emile Williams (vox and percussion), produce colorful and diverse original compositions and a raging party at every show. The Velvet Jimis perform regularly in the West Suburbs(Fitzgerald’s Night Club, The Friendly Tap) and Chicago( Lincoln Hall, Double Door, Elbo Room, Reggies Music Joint, Go to velvetjimis.com for info on gigs and to hear VJ music tune into the velvet jimis at Lojazz Radio at www.lojazzradio.com daily (9-10:30, 12:1:30, and 5-7p). Their Debut album is available through itunes “The Distance Between Us”