Chris Cain

2271 S. Vasco,Livermore CA 94550

19 March, 2022

Description

Renowned blues guitarist and his band offer up a soulful stew of Memphis style electric blues, drawing comparisons to B.B. King. 21+ Doors at 6PM. Main act starts at 7pm. If there is a listed opener, they will start at 6:15pm. Proof of COVID19 vaccination or a negative test within 48 hours of the event required upon entry. Renowned blues guitarist Chris Cain and his band offer up a soulful stew of Memphis style electric blues. The Washington Post writes, “Chris Cain is a hot-shot guitarist and a singer with the maturity of blues masters like Bobby Bland and B.B. King." Featuring Greg Rahn on keyboards (Ray Obiedo, Pete Escovedo, Roger Glenn, Ronnie Montrose), Steve Evans on bass (Etta James, Bo Diddley, Big Mama Thornton), and Sky Garcia on Drums (Mic Gillette, Daniel Castro, Charlie Musselwhite). See him live at Almost Famous Wine Lounge, an award-winning new tasting room and venue located on Vasco Road in the heart of Livermore's wine, spirits and brewery district. Almost Famous Wine makes fifteen wines in diverse styles, and earned 26 top industry awards since its debut last year. Almost Famous Wine Lounge is currently requiring COVID-19 vaccination proof, or proof of a negative Covid-19 test result, taken within 48 hours prior to entry. Please wear a mask inside when not actively drinking. Festival seating so please arrive early unless you don’t mind standing. Outside food is welcome, but only AFW wine can be consumed on premise. ABOUT CHRIS CAIN & HIS BAND Cain's debut recording, Late Night City Blues (Blue Rock'it Records-1987) garnered four W.C. Handy Blues Award nominations, including Guitarist of the Year. Dan Forte of Guitar Player wrote, "An impressive debut album by a top notch guitarist." Chris Cain offers up a soulful stew of Memphis style electric blues. His powerfully deep vocals and jazz inspired, blues guitar riffs are unforgettable; uniquely his own, while reminiscent of the legendary BB King and Albert King. As a child, Chris Cain attended concerts with his dad to hear many of the great blues artists of the time. When Cain burst onto the blues scene in 1987 with his award winning debut album, he soon found himself sharing the stage and trading licks with a few of those legends, including Albert King and Albert Collins. Chris Cain has released a dozen albums, each filled with soul-stirring songs pulled from his own blues drenched heart. His brand of blues is unforgettable. Cain was raised on stories of his father's childhood upbringing on Memphis' Historic Beale Street and attended his first B.B King concert at the tender age of three. Blues music played continuously on the home stereo and family outings were often trips to concerts. Cain recalls, "I remember when I was a kid, my Dad would be mowing the lawn with the stereo blasting Muddy Waters. When I look back, that was pretty cool! There was always music playing at our house, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Freddie King, Albert King, all the greats." At the age of eight, Cain taught himself to play guitar and began playing professionally before he was eighteen. Chris studied music at San Jose City College, and was soon teaching jazz improvisation on campus. Over the next twenty years, Cain would also master piano, bass guitar, clarinet, alto and tenor saxophone. The combination of his blues upbringing and his jazz studies melded to form the searing guitar style that sets Chris Cain apart and has moved him to the top ranks of the blues music scene. B.B. King, Cain’s childhood hero, took notice and famously said, ““Chris Cain? Now that boy can PLAY the guitar!” Joe Bonamassa, renowned blues guitarist, remarked, “"Hands down my favorite blues player on the scene today. He’s an absolute blinder of a guitarist, with the voice of B.B. King and the chops of Albert King." The Washington Post writes, “"Chris Cain is a hot-shot guitarist and a singer with the maturity of blues masters like Bobby Bland and B.B. King." About the Band: Greg Rahn has played keyboards with a diverse range of artists from latin jazz greats Ray Obiedo, Pete Escovedo, Juan Escovedo and Roger Glenn to rock guitar legend Ronnie Montrose and blues guitar hero Chris Cain. A passionate composer and audio engineer, Greg's work can be heard on albums by Cake, The VW Brothers, Jim Chappel, C3 Fuzzion, and Pride & Joy, as well as over 165 video games such as Guitar Hero, Rugrats and Sponge Bob. He has also played on national TV ads for Hershey's, Huggies and Rice a Roni. His soundtracks have been honored with various industry awards. San Francisco Bay Area musician Steve Evans is one of the most sought after bassists because of his ability to adapt his playing technique across a wide spectrum of musical genres. He has backed numerous icons of R&B including Etta James, Bo Diddley, Mary Wells, Charlie Musselwhite, Big Mama Thornton, Tracy Nelson, Lee Dorsey. Pee Wee Ellis, The Drifters, and rock artists Bob Weir & Kingfish, keyboardist Brian Auger, Joan Baez, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Maria Muldaur, Swiss pop star Phil Carmen (featuring Dire straits drummer Pick Withers) and more. He has earned the respect of peers, not only because of his talent, but with his infectious personality and humorous demeanor. Don’t let that fool you for whether in the studio or on stage Steve and his axe are no nonsense! In the last decade and a half, Steve has recorded and/or toured nationally and internationally with numerous guitar greats including slide guitar virtuoso Roy Rogers, Pat Travers, Harvey Mandel, Coco Montoya and more. Sky Garcia toured extensively with The MOFO Party Band from 2004-2009 and with AC Myles (John Nemeth Band) from 2013-2018. He comes from a musical family; his father was a local rock guitarist in the Central Valley of California and his daughter is learning her father’s craft on the drums. He has an infectiously positive attitude and is an enthusiastic performer. Sky has toured internationally as well as nationally. Sky has shared the stage with Mic Gillette, Daniel Castro, Ron Thompson, Mike Schermer, Fillmore Slim, Nate Ginsberg, John and Bill Clifton, Charlie Musselwhite Rod Piazza, Tim Barnes, Ron E. Beck and many other performers. Learn more. PLEASE NOTE - The show time is listed for the main act. Doors open at 6pm. If an opener is scheduled, their set will begin at 6:45PM, unless noted in the event description. Festival seating so please arrive early unless you don’t mind standing. Outside food welcome, but only AFW wine can be consumed on premise.