In the Bleak Midwinter, snow has fallen—snow on snow—and the sun hides behind the grey clouds for days at a time. The mind wanders to tropical coasts with warm sunshine and green vegetation, preferably with calm waves lapping on the shore. Bands have been putting on winter concerts in the sunnier climes for years, but what about the rest of us? We forlorn fans who do not possess the time or considerable funds to attend such a show—are we destined to trudge through the snow wanting for spring? And what of our favorite bands confined to cramped indoor venues till the sun returns to the sky? Enter Hotel Blotto.
Hotel Blotto is the brainchild of Paul Bolger, aka Mr. Blotto. I have attended the event several times and its “Dead”-inspired event in November at the same location. Friends, family, and fans come together for two nights of diverse music held at a refurbished ‘Holidome’ in LaPorte, IN.
Day one starts promptly at check-in. At 4 PM, the fans begin rolling in and getting their rooms set up. The Holidome concept has a majority of rooms facing into a center atrium. The rooms have patios that the fans dress up like the campsites at a summer festival: lights, tapestries, and camp chairs set out to invite passersby to stop and chat for a while. Merchants set out their wares in the common areas, completing the happy atmosphere.
The first band, O.P.E., kicks off at 6 PM. The venue is split into three separate areas to ensure smooth transitions from one show to the next. O.P.E. is starting us off in the bar. As they set up, one of the crowd shouts out, “What does O.P.E. stand for?” and the guitarist quips back, “What do you want it to stand for?” I can tell this is going to be a good show.
The four-piece band from Chicago performs a mixture of original and cover tunes. The crowd eats up the early set, especially a very cool cover of “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” The original tunes are bright and lively, getting the room bumping. The band has a definite humorous side, exemplified by them throwing in the JG Wentworth jingle in the middle of a song.
Next, we head to the ballroom and the host band Mr. Blotto. The majority of the revelers are here now and ready to party. Mr. Blotto knows how to set the room on fire, and the crowd is off and dancing. Covering perennial favorites like “Southern Woman” and “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More,” along with their own original tunes, the two sets slip by and it feels like we just got started.
Night one is always fast-paced, but I find a little time with Paul to discuss the festival’s roots. Paul and his brother Michael are from LaPorte and attended school at La Laume. For special occasions, their parents would bring them to the Holidome for a little R n R. Years later, as Paul tried to figure out how to have a festival during the winter, a chance encounter brought him back to LaPorte, where he discovered his childhood memories had been given a facelift. A little careful planning, and Hotel Blotto was born. As the years have progressed, the event has expanded to include stages in the bar and atrium, and this year included a fan-sponsored potluck. Paul acts like the proud father as he describes the event, which he and the hotel owners plan to keep going in perpetuity. The frolicking, fun time is just the kind of release people need on these cold winter nights.
The first night is far from over when the Lunar Ticks take the bar stage. All the bands invited to play are chosen for the contribution they can make to a diverse musical experience. The Lunar Ticks have been honing their skills, and every concert is better than the last. Faraz Chaudry (guitar/vocals) and Ryan Mannix (vocal/guitar) fill the front with guitar lines that are just right—not overly shredded and extremely precise. Likewise, the vocals say just what is needed to get the meaning across without undue complication.
Joel Masinter (bass) finishes up the front line, playing with a laid-back style that is locked tight to Carter Stritz on drums. Carter pounds out the rhythm with a smile and confidence. Josh Lavine, the band’s keyboardist, is surrounded by his instruments, looking more like a flight controller at NASA. His playing is spot-on, as is the whole band. The drums and keys, coupled with Joel’s bass lines, drive songs like “Pullin,” “Binge,” and the unabashed “Anesthesia.” The bar is packed with barely any room to stand still, so the whole room sways to the beat. We are in for a treat as the band has a new release, “Here Goes Something” (available on streaming services and at the band’s webpage), a great song that strikes gold with the fans.
It is 2 AM, and I am back fully awake after the Lunar Ticks set. Out in the atrium, Fresh Hops has come to life. Stephen Jude (violin), Ian “Big Dog” Gill (bass), Tommy Fell (drums), and Martin “Muffins” Gomez on guitar are no strangers to the jam band scene. They have developed a large following who are energized by the mere suggestion of a Fresh Hops show. Fans dig into the grooves and dance and sing with the band.
Day two starts off with a real gem in today’s technologically advanced world: a flatpicking troubadour by the name of Mace Hathaway. Mace has been around the music business all his life and has collected life stories that reflect a life on and off the road. His gregarious personality ingratiates him to the audience immediately. Witty tales and background stories about the songs he sings make his show more like an intimate conversation than a concert.
Mace has enlisted the help of Steve Ball (keyboard, Mr. Blotto), another flatpicking master. Together, they put on a show that brought the fans back to life after the long night. Playing his original music like “Looking at the Moon,” “Boxcar Blues,” and “Trouble County Line,” Mace weaves stories of life in simpler times. He also pitches the great contemporary storytellers such as Guy Clark (“Always Trust Your Cape”) and Chris Smither (“No Love Today,” “Train Home”). The show is rounded out with popular songs like “Ricky Racoon” and “Tree Top Flyer.”
Most bands have a merchandise table, but in Mace’s case, he actually put the CD cases together and tie-dyed his own T-shirts (talk about a one-of-a-kind keepsake). Of course, this is a festival, so formal attire is not required to visit the merch table—bathrobes are just fine.
A special treat awaits us in the bar this morning. Chief (Mike Bolger) has booked a brand-new band, and this will be their first live performance! But that is exactly what the Bolger brothers want: to get diverse and new bands in front of fans. When speaking with Mike, he says going forward he would like to see the event bring in more bands with a broader spectrum of talent.
So today’s new talent is a band called Street Pony, a five-man group from Chicago that knows how to rock. The band consists of Ilan Meged on guitar, Jordan Nettgen on keyboards, Chase Carlino on bass, Christian Rogala on drums, and Joey LoPresti on vocals and guitar. The high point of the show was when Paul Bolger joined the band to cover “Fearless” (Pink Floyd), spot on.
Next up in the atrium was another up-and-coming band, Covington Groove. Samuel Wyatt on keys, Ben Ballero on guitar, Colin Ryan on bass, and Mike D on drums. The band plays anything that feels right, like their own jams “What Funk” and “Elovate,” mixed with the Scooby Doo theme and “Gump.” Check out the new release on all streaming services.
Back to the bar now and constant favorites, Chester Brown. The band from Chesterton puts on 6–10 shows a month and never disappoints. The band consists of Tim Vanderlin (guitar), Nate Vanderlin (keyboard), Dominiect Puglisi (bass), Mike Kneeland (guitar), and Kevan Watson on drums. Driving rhythm and clean shredding give the band their distinctive sound. Fans dance and groove for almost two solid hours with never a slow moment. Check out their latest releases on their website or on streaming services.
The fans have put together a “pot luck” out in the atrium, and all are welcome. The food is typical outdoor gathering fare, and there is plenty of it. Also, an important fact: today is Mike Bolger’s birthday, and many cakes are on display wishing the Chief all our best. This get-together will last all night, and there never seems to be an end to the food.
The main show takes place in the ballroom again when Mr. Blotto blows the roof off the joint. Steve Ball (keyboards), Alan Baster (drums), Jason Litwin (percussion), and Mark Hague (electric guitar) form the heart of the band, while the Bolger brothers—Mike on bass and Paul with his amazing vocals on acoustic guitar—provide the soul. I want to skip right to night two’s second set. The theme this year was the movie Forrest Gump. This was done so Mr. Blotto could melt our minds with a tour-de-force of Vietnam-era rock from the movie. Interspersed between the jams, they inject lines from the film to bring the music and movie into sync. “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “Fortunate Son,” “Aquarius,” “People Are Strange,” “Get Down Tonight,” “Running on Empty,” and “Free Bird” just rocked the house to the foundation. Never miss a second set. Catch Mr. Blotto all summer long in the Windy City (see their website for details).
Oh, there is still more, with Janky Limo providing CPR (Critical Party Revival) to bring everyone back after the Blotto extravaganza. Back to life we are with new tunes from Janky like “Miranda,” fan favorite “Funky by the Lake,” and covers of “Bouncing Round the Room” and “Late in the Evening.” Ed Strudas, the band’s leader, calls up Ben Morrissey from Skirt to play sax on a few tunes, and play he does. He jumps right in and gives an extra dimension to the music. The hit of the night is a romping re-imagining of “All Along the Watchtower.” Words cannot express how changing meter and emphasis made one of rock’s iconic tunes sound brand new. Look for Janky Limo at the best festivals this summer.
Closing out the festival is Alabaster; the four-piece hard-rocking band from Chicago is a delight to watch in concert. Kyle Smith (lead guitar), Jackson Gibbons (drums), and Joe Floress on everything else support the vocalizations of Joey LoPresti. Yes, the same Joey who was singing with Street Pony at 2 PM is back on stage at 2 AM—a real trooper. Down-to-earth and wanting to play, the band is the perfect nightcap for the fest. Alabaster’s next show will be March 22nd in Lisle, IL, at BassCamp with EGI, Downers Grove, and others.
The next such event will be the Dead-themed Hotel Fest in November. Sign up with Mr. Blotto to keep up with the details. These shows are not to be missed.
