Blotto Documentary Set to Premiere at Cohoes Music Hall

Fans of ’80s rock and Capital Region history are in for a treat this weekend as a new documentary about Albany-based band Blotto is set to premiere at Cohoes Music Hall on Saturday.

Titled “Hello! My Name Is Blotto — The Movie!” the film chronicles the journey of the quirky, genre-blending rock group that rose to national recognition in the early 1980s. The documentary is produced by Rob Lichter, also known as Bert Blotto, and features footage, interviews, and photographs spanning over five decades.

Blotto’s roots trace back to the 1970s in Saratoga Springs, where they performed as The Star Spangled Washboard Band at colleges and clubs. The group found national fame with their hit single “I Wanna Be A Lifeguard,” whose music video — created in collaboration with SUNY Albany students — was broadcast on MTV’s very first day, August 1, 1981.

The band followed up with other crowd-pleasers like “Metalhead” and “You Can’t Fire Me, I Quit,” becoming a beloved part of the upstate New York rock scene.

The film premiere event will begin with doors opening at 6 p.m., followed by the screening at 7 p.m. Attendees can also look forward to an intermission and a live Q&A session with those involved in the film’s production.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer curious about local music history, this documentary offers an entertaining and nostalgic glimpse into one of Albany’s most iconic bands.