MR. BLOTTO
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.
GALEN WESTON BAND
Plugged In: Contemporary guitar music in the tradition of excellence
Guitarist and composer Galen Weston unleashes a lifetime of music on his ambitious debut album, Plugged In. After laying down his guitar for more than a decade, Weston breathes life into 10 original tracks and two covers with fine craftsmanship and intense focus, while showcasing an unwavering dedication to tonal quality and nuance.
Fueled by jazz and rock guitarists such as Pat Metheny, Mike Stern, Wes Montgomery, Mark Knopfler, Eric Johnson and Steve Vai, the record showcases his formidable guitar talents in the company of some of finest cross-genre musicians in Canada: David Woodhead (fretless bass), Al Cross (drums), Matt Horner (piano & keyboards), Richard Underhill (alto sax) and Rick Shadrach Lazar (percussion); as well as a guest appearance by Prague-born vocalist Lenka Lichtenberg. It was produced in Weston’s own Rose Room Recording Studio by Jim Zolis.
“Plugged In represents a two-year journey of writing and recording across a vast musical territory. It’s a sonic and personal exploration with my Yellow Stratocaster, ES-335 and other instruments. The album is the culmination of many hours spent taming the howling of vintage Big Muffs, cleaning tape heads on old echo machines, and tweaking the tone knobs on classic Marshall and Fender amps in the simple yet enduring search of great tones,” says Weston.
Galen’s story: A coda of success
Galen’s guitar story began in his hometown of Freelton, Ontario (pop. 500), clandestinely listening to and playing rock guitar at home, and at backyard parties. His musical journey turned toward jazz when an older musician friend introduced him to the art form, gifting him with two boxes of records by Mike Stern, Weather Report, and Pat Metheny as well as other great musicians. The newly-minted jazz enthusiast attended Humber College’s prestigious jazz education program, where his musical tastes and abilities matured. After four years in school, completely on his own and needing to earn a living, Galen laid down his guitars to pursue more typical jobs.
This 15-year coda to his music career came full circle in 2011 when Galen was on a trip to Greece with his wife and their newborn daughter, Rose, and his wife made a passing remark to a musician in a local bar. The musician, despite Galen’s protests, compelled Galen to join him around the table and play with him. Hours passed, and Galen knew his guitarist fire had been rekindled. When he returned to Toronto, he entrusted his thriving online marketing business to his partner and wife and began building The Rose Room Recording Studio. It’s been three years since that serendipitous night in a beachfront bar. And, just as he did when he was 13 years old, he’s once again spending 10 hours a day making music with his beloved collection of guitars and vintage gear; and putting his head for business into bringing those creations to connoisseurs who appreciate the visceral experience of instrumental guitar music.