Independent Arts News Reporting Cult-Favorite Rockers Blotto Return in New Documentary at Susquehanna Film Festival
Reported Thursday, September 4, 2025.
Pictured Above: Blotto. Photo Credit: Contributed.
NEWSROOM POST: MUNCY, PA
The legendary story of one of upstate New York’s most unlikely rock heroes comes to life at the Susquehanna Film Festival on September 20th
Muncy, PA – The legendary story of one of upstate New York’s most unlikely rock heroes comes to life in a brand-new documentary, Hello! My Name Is Blotto: The Movie, directed by multimedia artist and longtime band friend Rob Lichter. The film screens at the Susquehanna Film Festival at the District Theater in Muncy, PA on Saturday, September 20, at 1:10 PM.
This entertaining and heartfelt documentary chronicles the rise, fall, and enduring spirit of Blotto, the quirky Albany-based rock band that won over national audiences in the 1980s. Known for their tongue-in-cheek performances and genre-bending parodies, Blotto first captured America’s attention with their surprise radio hit “I Wanna Be a Lifeguard” in 1980. Their video for the song went on to make MTV history—becoming the 36th music video ever aired on the channel’s launch day, August 1, 1981, and receiving heavy rotation.
Pictured Above: Director, Rob Lichter. Photo Credit: Contributed.
From their beginnings as the Star Spangled Washboard Band in the 1970s, to their heyday as Blotto with sold-out tours and MTV fame, and even through their decades-long afterlife as cult icons, the film captures it all. With archival footage spanning more than 50 years, Hello! My Name Is Blotto is a witty, joyous look at the timeless struggle—and occasional triumph—of “making it” in show business.
“Blotto was never just a band,” says director Rob Lichter (also known as Bert Blotto). “They were performance artists, comedians, and musicians all rolled into one. I wanted to capture not just their music, but their unique chemistry, their joy, and their refusal to be boxed in.”
The film features unforgettable live clips of the band’s alter-ego personas—Bowtie, Broadway, Sarge, Cheese, and Lee Harvey—skewering every genre from surf rock to punk, metal to yacht rock, while always delivering catchy melodies and a wink of satire.
Pictured Above: Blotto. Photo Credit: Contributed.
Hello! My Name Is Blotto has already built buzz, selling out its world premiere at Cohoes Music Hall, enjoying an extended three-week run at Albany’s Spectrum Theater, and earning recognition at festivals including the East Village Film Festival and the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame, where it won an award.
Now heading to the Susquehanna Film Festival in Muncy, PA, audiences will have another chance to experience the improbable, hilarious, and heartfelt story of Blotto on the big screen. Find tickets HERE.
For more information, to view the trailer, or to learn about upcoming screenings, visit www.blotto.net.
