Concert Schedule

GOLDEN STATE-LONE STAR Revue is a concept of a cross country meeting of the minds between California and Texas musicians. All have known each other for years. The rhythm section has played in bands since high school but all share a deep passion for REAL BLUES. MARK HUMMEL'S been steadily on the road since 1984 and released 17 albums and CDs since starting out. His latest is a Little Walter Tribute called REMEMBERING LITTLE WALTER on Blind Pig Records w/Charlie Musselwhite, Billy Boy Arnold, Sugar Ray & James Harman. Hummel has recorded for Flying Fish, Tone Cool and ElectroFi Record (his current) labels since the early 90s. Mark's been nominated for three years in a row for Best Harmonica by the BMA Awards. Hummel's has been performing and producing the BLUES HARMONICA BLOWOUTS in CA. since 1991 and has performed with these multi artists events with the top players in the genre all across the planet.

"Mark Hummel came of age in the early 70s, at the height of rock and roll, like many of his peers went and bought a harmonica and hasn't stopped playing since. A specialist in West Coast Blues he's a seasoned showman who knows more than a thing or two about how to please an audience." -THE NEW YORKER

LITTLE CHARLIE BATY - is the former leader and masterful guitarist from Alligator Records recording act Little Charlie & the Nightcats". Charlie and the Nightcats have recorded 12 albums on Alligator and have been one of the West Coast's most successful blues acts, touring the globe for over 25 years. They've played every major Festival you can think of and every blues joint from Maine to Spain.

"Baty's straight blues playing is eye-popping...he stretches solos to the breaking point, skittering on the edge, where one wrong note will bring the whole thing crashing down." "Little Charlie Baty plays as much guitar as Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy put together," raves The Village Voice. "He is one of the swiftest, most fluent guitarists working in any genre". -Guitar World

ANSON FUNDERBURGH - a native of Texas, he has spent the majority of his adult life playing the blues. Anson has earned the respect of artists like Delbert McClinton, Boz Scaggs, Jimmie & Stevie Ray Vaughan and Ronnie Earl. Over the years, these musicians have called on Anson to lend his tremendous guitar talents to their projects.

Funderburgh recorded with the Fabulous Thunderbirds on their Butt Rockin' album, and went solo in 1981, when the New Orleans-based BlackTop label released Talk to You by Hand, the label's first release. Funderburgh added Myers on harmonica and lead vocals in 1986. Myers had traveled for years on the chitlin circuit, where he had the chance to accompany people like Elmore James and Robert Junior Lockwood. Funderburgh continued his association in the '90s with Black Top releasing Tell Me What I Want to Hear (1991), Live at Grand Emporium (1995), and That's What They Want (1997). After releasing nine albums on Black Top, in 1999 Funderburgh changed record labels with the release of Change in my Pocket for Bullseye Blues, a cd which won several W.C. Handy Awards.

Since the passing of long time musical partner Sam Myers, Anson has concentrated on raising a family, working local gigs and performing at a smattering of festivals around the world. Now Anson has caught a renewed dose of the performing bug and will begin to perform more regularly with the distinct possibility of regular tours in the coming years.

"Funderburgh remains a musician's musician. He'll explode into a fiery and melodic solo, and then seamlessly recede into a song at just the right moment to propel the rhythm...he makes sure the songs both breathe and burn...a band that truly understands the essence of the genre." - Blues Revue

"None of the younger crop of blues guitarist come close as Anson does to achieving the classic Stratocaster tone defined by Otis Rush in the '50's and Magic Sam in the '60's. The Rockets have landed and Anson is at the bridge." -Guitar Player

Rounding out the GOLDEN STATE-LONE STAR Revue are RW GRIGSBY on bass & famed Texas drummer WES STARR (Anson and The Rockets. Between these two old Rome, GA cronies, they've played with a who's who of famed musicians - Omar & the Howlers, Jr. Brown, Jimmy Vaughn, Asleep At The Wheel, Gary Primich, Kim Wilson, Mike Morgan, Carlene Carter, Hal Ketchum, Earl King, James Cotton & many more!

HE FRONTS HIS OWN BAND!

Billy Watson and the International Silver String Submarine Band is an improvisational, all-star cast of musicians, hand-picked from the California music scene. Since each member also works with their own bands, the "Cast" has been known to change often, adding mysterious excitement and spontaneity to every performance, while NEVER losing the highest of musical standards and professionalism.

HE PLAYS THE HARMONICA!

Billy is an entertainer extraordinaire, capable of throwing down a blues show that can be infectiously hilarious and convincingly nasty. His energy as a frontman is relentless, his vocals inspiring, and his harp work musically outstanding. Billy's repertoire ranges from creepy grooves, grinding shuffles, to fast boogies and swings. Yet audiences do not flock to his shows simply for his mastery of the harmonica... they are drawn by his magnetic stage personality and the idea of never knowing what antic may be next!

Blues music was created by people looking for a way to forget their "blues" by telling their stories through song. Billy's show reminds modern audiences that blues music can be lowdown, but that in the end it's all about having some fun, dancing, and forgetting about your worries.