Husband and wife duo Mike and Kathy Williams, also known as Bawl 'n' Chain, have been performing their own style of blues music since the mid-90's, performing sometimes as a duo and sometimes in their band, Second Hand Smoke.
Mike and Kathy play guitar and bass respectively and both sing lead vocals. Since their first gig in 1995, Second Hand Smoke has been engaging audiences with an eclectic repertoire encompassing many musical styles including guitar-driven rock, rockin' blues, soul, rockabilly, jazz, swing, country, rock & roll, oldies and novelties.
Mike Williams' love affair with the electric guitar is evident in the taste, tone, and touch of his powerful and inventive guitar playing. He's been playing & singing blues & gospel all his life, and it shows, in the power of his heartfelt and impassioned vocals. His influences were Scotty Moore, Chet Atkins, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, all the early British invasion bands, (Stones , Beatles, Yardbirds, Who, etc), T-Bone Walker, Brian Setzer, John Hammond, Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy, George Thorogood, Roy Buchanan, Elvin Bishop, and Dr. John. Mike’s strong voice and stage presence reaches out and touches the audience.
Kathy (Sassy) Williams holds down the bottom end with the relentless pulse of her bass. Her singing style is reminiscent of delta blues singers. Her influences when starting out on the bass about 15 years ago were Tommy Shannon, (bass player for Stevie Ray Vaughn) and Buddy Guy's bass player, Greg Rzab. From an early age, Kathy also has enjoyed a life-long love of music, growing up singing in the church choir for many years and playing her grandmother's piano. She had also taken accordion lessons for five years as a child, and found the bass an easy transition.
Through the years, Mike and Kathy have had the pleasure of playing with many talented musicians in their band. Second Hand Smoke alumni include Randy Ahlswede, on guitar & vocals, Eric Raymond on guitar, Bobby Delgado on guitar, Jeff Horsley on guitar, Bill Struve on drums, Glenn Burns on drums, Jeff Forehan on drums, Jimmy Barnes on drums, Ed McDonald on drums, Franco Bastion on percussion, Jimmy Flint piano/organ, John Warner piano/organ, Britt Smith piano, Rebekah Snow on blues violin and mandolin, Will Fowler on saxophone, Eric Weber on saxophone.and Vera Laure, vocalist.
The current lineup includes Meigs Meier, on lead and rhythm guitar, Jon Warner on keyboard and Guy Niosi on drums.
Second Hand Smoke's stockpile of songs includes tunes by Santana, the Rolling Stones, Ten Years After, Link Wray, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Reed, Cream, Junior Wells, Elvis Presley, Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughn, the Mavericks, George Thorogood, Jimmy Buffett, Taj Mahal, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Dr. John, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Buddy Guy, Willie Dixon, T-Bone Walker, and many other artists as well as some original tunes.
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For Booking Information: (530) 345-1941 (Chico, CA)
