Mike Watson Band
Bowdon, Georgia, United States | Established. Jan 01, 1985 | SELF
Music
Press
This guy’s the closest thing you will get to seeing SRV Live,” slurred a man that probably had paid for the band with his bar tab last Saturday night as The Mike Watson Band ripped in to “Pride and Joy” by the late Stevie Ray Vaughn. Drunk as he may have been, the guy had one thing right, these guys can play.
I will say that most bands that play predominately blues falter into boring as the night goes on and I think that most people would agree, but this power three-piece is an exception.
Watson has been performing full time since 1980 and currently fronts the three piece ensemble, dubbed MWB. The band, made up of three veteran musicians, includes Mike Watson (lead guitar, vocals), Art McNaughton (drums, vocals) and Paul Arredondo (bass guitar, vocals).
McNaughton originally hails from Chicago and worked with blues legend Buddy Guy and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Dave Mason (We Just Disagree), and many other local and regional acts before moving to Georgia. He has been with the MWB for two years and lays down a powerful foundation and groove with his trademark percussion abilities, as well as lending the perfect vocal harmonies to Watson’s powerful vocals. It is rare to see a drummer that will make your jaw drop; McNaughton does just that.
Arrendondo comes from Houston and worked the circuit for many years with a variety of successful regional and local acts before making the move to Georgia. Arrendo has been with the MWB for a year and provides a unique sound to the group with his hard driving style and deep groove bass lines, as well as great vocal harmony contributions.
Watson has performed country, blues, southern rock, jazz and R&B for a number of years. He combines these many influences to make a musical genre all his own. Although leaning more towards blues and R&B, Watson can still pull songs out of the hat that please crowds of all age groups regardless of their musical preference. Go spend an evening listening to some great music, the Mike Watson Band’s calendar can be found at www.MikeWatson.net.
The Mike Watson Band
By Weston Faulkner • outeredge@thecherokeepost.com
Not your oridinary blues gig
- The Cherokee Post - Weston Faulkner
Discography
Hot Atlanta Nights
Biscuit On My Mind
Down To The River
Photos
Bio
2011 & 2012 Blues Band of the Year
2012 Runner Up Band of the Year
Mike was selected as 2012 Runner Up Entertainer of the Year
~Atlanta Society of Entertainers~
1999 Peoples Choice Award
~Slab Music~
The Mike Watson Band, collectively, have more than 80 years of performing and recording experience and they see no chance of slowing down anytime soon. Their travels, separately and as a group, have taken them all across the United States, performing concert halls to coffee shops and everything in between. The Mike Watson Band, having many different styles of music between them, have charted a new course of music they like to refer to as rhythm, country, southern rock and blues or rcsb. MWB has been a hit in many venues, performing numerous repeat performances in Athens, Helen, Lexington, and Marietta, Georgia as well as their yearly headline performance at The Chunnenuggee Fair in Union Springs, Alabama. Mike's soulful vocals and blazing guitar work, along with the incredible contributions from bassist Paul Arredondo, and drummer George Calhoon, amazes crowds wherever they play.
“I have worked with Mike Watson for many years, both in the studio and on the stage. I consider him to be one of the most talented performers that I have ever known and he certainly gives the "Blues" a freshness that more people need to be aware of.”
Doyle Grisham - Member of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band
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