San Luis Obispo Blues Society Upcoming Events Saturday, January 22, 2005 Mark Hummel & the Blues Survivors with Demolition Blues SLO Vets Hall 801 Grand Avenue 8PM  Members $15 / General Admission $17 March 5: Michael Burks April 9: Little Charlie & the Nightcats

BLUES REVIEW
The San Luis Obispo Blues Society welcomes Mark Hummel and the Blues Survivors on Saturday, January 22, 2005.  Demolition Blues will be opening the show.  The show starts at 8:00 pm at the San Luis Obispo Vets Hall, 801 Grand Avenue.  Tickets are $15 for Blues Society members and $17 for the general public.  All tickets are sold at the door.  21 and over please.  Buy a membership for $10 at the door and get $2 off admission for a year of shows.  For more information, call 805/541-7930.

MARK HUMMEL & THE BLUES SURVIVORS
Oakland-based blues harmonica player and vocalist Mark Hummel has long been a major force in shaping and defining West Coast Blues – a style of music that draws its inspiration from Chicago but adds elements of jump blues and rock 'n' roll into the mix.  Born in New Haven and raised in Los Angeles, Mark absorbed the music of Chicago based harp blowers such as Little Walter, James Cotton, and Sonny Boy Williamson, before settling in Berkeley in 1972.  There he played with local bluesmen until 1980, when he took the lead of the popular Blues Survivors Band.

In 1985, the Blues Survivors released Playing in Your Town and immediately went out on the road.  Earning their name, they have toured virtually non-stop throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.  During the next two decades, Mark and the Blues Survivors have released seven more CDs, including last year’s live recording Blowin’ My Horn.  They have performed at numerous festivals across the country, including the San Francisco Blues Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, King Biscuit Blues Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, and the Hohner Harmonica World Championship in Germany.  Since 1991, Mark has been both producing and performing at his annual Blues Harmonica Blowout series, whose participants are a who's who of Blues harp history.

"Mark Hummel is a harmonica virtuoso. Quite simply, he is one of a handful of the best players ever on the instrument, and he gets better with each new release."   - Blues Revue

Hummel’s recent release, Blowin' My Horn (Electro-Fi Records, October 2004), is the first live recording produced by Mark Hummel & The Blues Survivors; and it does a wonderful job capturing the sound and feel of a live blues performance.  Over the years, many great musicians have been members of the Blues Survivors, but the current version is one of the best.  The current members include Charles Wheal (guitar), Steve Wolf (bass), and Marty Dodson (drums).  The Blues Survivors’ individual skills are showcased on Johnny Otis’ classic “Willie and the Hand Jive”.  Mark’s harmonica is featured throughout the CD, from his tribute to James Cotton on “The Creeper” to his understated version of “100 Years”.  This CD demonstrates that Mark is still growing as a musician, bandleader, and songwriter, and he is one of the best harmonica players working today.

DEMOLITION BLUES
Demolition Blues will be opening the show with their high energy, danceable Chicago-style Blues, R&B, and Motown.  The band has been playing together for five years.  They have performed at a variety of local events and have opened for many great blues performers, such as John Lee Hooker Jr, Paul deLay, Roy Rodgers & the Delta Rhythm Kings, and Elvin Bishop.  Band members include Ed Frawley (guitar and vocals), Jim Holder (bass guitar, vocals, and harmonica), Matthew Holder (guitar), Tracey Morgan (drums), and Bobby Oz (tenor and alto sax).  Their musical influences range from Etta James and Koko Taylor, to Eric Clapton, Junior Walker, and Albert King.

VOLUNTEER
Your Blues Society is run entirely by volunteers. Besides a sense of accomplishment, volunteers get into the shows for free and receive a couple free drink tickets.  We could use your help, so call 541-7930 (our voice mail number) or e-mail the volunteer coordinator at sloblues@slonet.org and volunteer to work a shift at the show.
 
 

CATALOG OF SHOWS	LOCAL BLUES PERFORMERS	CD REVIEWS	LINKS
December 2004 October 2004 September 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 January 2004 December 2003 October 2003 September 2003 May 2003 March 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 September 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002 January 2002 December 2001 October 2001 September 2001 July 2001 May 2001 April 2001 March 2001 January 2001 December 2000 November 2000 September 2000 July 2000 May 2000 April 2000 February 2000 January 2000 December 1999 October 1999 1998 Shows	Guy Budd Band Demolition Blues Valerie Johnson Life at the Top Gary Mendoza Band Mighty Croon Dogs Texicali Divas Karen Tyler	Mark Hummel Janiva Magness Guitar Shorty Smokin' Joe Kubeck & Bnois King Jody Williams Chris Thomas King Charles Brown Tommy Castro Deborah Coleman Ernie Hawkins Guy Davis LJ Evans Hot Blues May 02 Omar & the Howlers Popa Chubby Michelle Wilson Blind Pig 25 Anniversary Any Woman's Blues Eric Bibb Ernie Hawkins	The Blues Foundation Cambria Hoot

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