Ottomatic Slim

Artist Information

Biography

A TRUE ELECTRIC BLUES-ROCK BAND

Front-man/Harmonica Ace Otto Lenz for years has been lighting up the Northeast and Canadian Blues scene with explosive performances! Otto is teamed up with a blues master in his own right, the Chicago Blues Guitarist Mike Patterson. The Band is backed by a rock-ste IIIady Rhythm Section provided by Matt McManamon on Bass and Rich Blake on Drums!

The Maine Blues Society sums it up pretty good!!!
In the Mar/April 2007 edition of the Maine Blues Society Newsletter, their President Phil Whipple wrote:
"Frontman Otto Lenz is a world-class harp blower."

Son Henry--who was just awarded Blues Instrumentalist of the Year for the United Kingdom--also puts it simply: "Otto's the best harmonica player I know, period."

Blues Matters, the most widely distributed blues magazine in the United Kingdom, wrote: "Otto's tracks should be used as a harmonica clinic for anyone serious about the instrument."

Otto’s playing has been described as "tongue twisting" by Dirty Linen, as "top notch" by Blues Revue, and his wild dance floor antics and powerful stage performance have been described as "masterful" by Blues Audience.

After putting in years studying traditional approaches to playing the blues, front-man Otto Lenz went on to train extensively with the harmonica jazz legend Howard Levy (of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones). During his youth, on any given night Otto could be spotted sitting in with blues giants such as Kenny Neal, Sherman Robertson, Phillip Walker, and many others. Otto has since gone on to forge his own cutting edge style with Ottomatic Slim, a band that has been met with wide critical acclaim playing festivals and night clubs throughout the Northeastern U.S., Alaska, and Canada. With it's own unique blend of masterful harmonica and guitar, Ottomatic Slim has a double barrel - one two punch - whammer jammer show that will leave you speechless !!

Ottomatic Slim has opened for numerous national shows, including John Lee Hooker, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Lonnie Brooks, Son Seal, and Joanna Conner. Ottomatic Slim has also played overseas at various venues including the London Jazz Festival. Ottomatic Slim Headlined at the Carleton International Maximum Blues Festival in Quebec--sharing the stage with Eddie Shaw and The Wolfgang and other legendary acts.

Their album titled "Ottomatic Slim" has enjoyed national airplay on commercial radio and National Public Radio, as well as college radio.

Alex Henderson writing for the All Music Guide gave high praise to the Ottomatic Slim album: "Ottomatic's work is far from a carbon copy of the amplified Chicago blues. . . This is a noteworthy effort that illustrates Ottomatic's ability to combine blues, rock, soul and funk."

Instrumentation

Otto Lenz - Lead Vocals, FRONTMAN, Harmonicas
Matt McManamon - Bass Guitar, Back-up Vocals
Mike Patterson - Guitar, Back-up Vocals
Rich Blake - Drums
Nash Lenz - Back Up Vocals

Discography

Farren & Butcher Incorporated
Album: FBI
(F Man Music, 2012)
Otto provides harmonica tracks for Jon Butcher (of Jon Butcher Axis) and Charlie Farren (of the Joe Perry Project).
Jon and Charlie are both Grammy Nominees who have sold literally millions of recordings.

Band: Ottomatic Slim
Album: “Ottomatic Slim”
(95 North, 2005)

Band: Ottomatic Slim
Album: "Fins, Chrome And The Open Road-A Tribute to The Cadillac" (a licensed GM product with original material by Ottomatic Slim, as well as Maria Muldaur, Charlie Musselwhite, Little Milton, Rory Block, and many more!)
(95 North, 2005)

Band: Ottomatic Slim
EP: "Hey Swingin’ Santa!"
(Fry Pan, 2002)

Band: Son Henry
Album: "Heartache & Trouble" (Otto's guest appearances on this release won a RAVE Review from the U.K.'s biggest Blues publication, "Blues Matters" (the album was awarded the top 5 star category!))
(Front Porch Records, 2006)

Band: The King Bees
EP: "Five for Five"
(Fry Pan, 2001)

Band: The Wildcat O’Halloran Band
Album: “Slow Learner”
(Dove's Nest, 1999)

Band: The Wildcat O’Halloran Band
Album: “Legend in My Spare Time”
(Dove's Nest, 1992)

Band: Blues du Jour
EP: "Blues du Jour"
(Charleston, 1990)

Band: Sour Mash
EP: "Sour Mash"
(Loft, 1982)

Band: Bill Clark
EP: "Glamour Puss"
(Loft, 1981)

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Last.fm

Audio

• The Dangerous Kind
  Listen  
• Phi Beta Mama (Lenz/Monette)
  Listen  
• I Got Hip (Lenz/Wood)
  Listen  
• Playin' On Me (A. King)
  Listen  
• I Wants To Be Loved (W. Dixon)
  Listen  
• Makin' Time (O. Lenz)
  Listen  
• Brick (A. Collins)
  Listen  
• High School Hero (B. Halloran)
  Listen  

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Media Comments [+ Show ]
  

  "Otto Lenz's OTTOMATIC SLIM persona is straightforward: Play real blues and blow serious harp. . . S..."Otto Lenz's OTTOMATIC SLIM persona is straightforward: Play real blues and blow serious harp. . . Slim's vocal performances are above average, his harp tone is good and greasy, and his playing is top-notch."
  BLUES REVUE
  
  The playing of front man and harmonica ace Otto Lenz has been described as "tongue twisting" by DIRTY LINEN.
  
  Otto's wild dance floor antics have been described as "masterful" by BLUES AUDIENCE.
  
  About the album titled "Ottomatic Slim" - "This is a noteworthy effort that illustrates Ottomatic's ability to combine blues, rock, soul and funk. . . "
  Alex Henderson
  AMG
  
  "Fluid runs of sweet harmonica syrup!"
  Katie Wright
  Katie's Rhythym & Blues Revue
  WMUA FM
  
  "Solid, perceptive work on the harp."
  Lisa Danforth
  LUCILLE'S BLUESLETTER
  
  
  
  
  
  "Otto could get the wooden Indian at the cigar store to tap his toes."
  Brad Diller
  CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL
  
  "Elegant harp playing."
  WUMB FM
  
  "Fast becoming a force to be reckoned with."
  ANCHORAGE WEEKLY PRESS
  
  "Harp players should buy this record just for Otto Lenz’s harmonica clinic" -- from Eric Scott's 5 star review of Son Henry's 2006 release, "Heartache and Trouble"
  BLUES MATTERS
  
  ". . . fantastic harmonica laiden blues. . . "
  WWW.FUNKYJUDGE.NET

• Guest appearance RAVE Reviews [+ Show ]
  

  Band: Son Henry Album: "Heartache & Trouble" (Otto's guest appearances on this release won a RAVE R...Band: Son Henry
  Album: "Heartache & Trouble" (Otto's guest appearances on this release won a RAVE Review from the U.K.'s biggest Blues publication, "Blues Matters" (the album was awarded the top 5 star category!))
  (Front Porch Records, 2006)
  

• Alex Henderson Review [+ Show ]
  

  The New Englander brings a strong Chess/electric Chicago blues influence to the table. And this self...The New Englander brings a strong Chess/electric Chicago blues influence to the table. And this self-titled album does, in fact, contain some Chess Records influence. But Ottomatic's work is far from a carbon copy of the amplified Chicago blues that Little Walter, Muddy Waters and others provided during Chess' glory years -- Chess Records is an influence, but Ottomatic also gets a lot of inspiration from blues-rock, '70s funk and blue-eyed soul. What transpires on this 2005 release could be described as Chess and Chicago blues by way of Rare Earth by way of Robben Ford (minus Ford's jazz explorations and his ultra-eclectic outlook). It's an appealing combination of influences, and one that serves Ottomatic reasonably well on original material as well as on Dixon's "I Want to Be Loved." This illustrates Ottomatic's ability to combine blues, rock, soul and funk with decent and satisfying, if derivative, results.

Setlist

OUR SET LIST SAMPLE-There's Always more...
1. TOO TIRED
2. I WANT TO BE LOVED
3. PLAYIN’ ON ME
4. MAKIN’ TIME
5. HOMEWORK
6. CADILLAC FOREVER
7. I’M READY
8. MAMA & PAPA
9. WALK RITE IN
10. TALK 2 ME
11. I GOT HIP
12. EVERYTHING GONNA B ALRITE
13. TALKIN’ AIN’T DOIN’
14. HS HERO
15. EVERY NIGHT & EVERY DAY
16. FINE, FINE, FINE
17. PHI BETA MAMA
18. MY BABE
19. MISS ANN
10. PACK FAIR & SQUARE
20. GREAT BALLS O’ FIRE
21. FAMILY JEWELS
22. I GO CRAZY
23. DON’T TOUCH ME BABY
24. WALKIN’ THRU THE PARK
25. CALEDONIA
26. CAN’T SAY NO
27. PRIDE & JOY
28. MESSIN’ WITH THE KID
29. PHONE BOOTH
30. ONE WAY OUT
31. CELL BLOCK #9
32. I’M SORRY
33. WALKIN’ TO MY BABY
34. EARLY IN THE MORNIN’
35. WAIT ON TIME
36. MOTOR HEAD
37. JUKE
38. TI NA NI NA NU
39. TEENY WEENY BIT
40. IT HURT SO BAD
41. STRAIGHT SHOT
42. HELP ME
43. FIRE
44. COLD SHOT
45. PRIDE AND JOY
46. I HEAR YOU KNOCKIN’
47. MELLO DOWN EZ
48. CHICKEN SHACK
49. BORN IN CHICAGO
50. AIN’T GOT YOU

Basic Requirements

Calendar