Chris Cain – SPACE, Evanston, August 20, 2025
- chicagoblueseditor
- Sep 8
- 4 min read
Review & Photos: Jim Summaria
Chris Cain at SPACE in Evanston, IL,
August 20, 2025
Review & Photos: By Jim Summaria
At an early age, Northern California native Chris Cain was exposed to the music of his father’s diverse record collection. But popular San Francisco bands like the Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead didn't intrigue him as much as the sounds emanating from Albert King, B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown and Johnny Winter.
Having received his first guitar at the age of eight, Chris played along with the records of his newly discovered heroes. He furthered his education by studying jazz at San Jose City College where learned to play keyboards and saxophone.
By 1976 he was playing professionally. His 1986 debut album Late Night City Blues was well received and his career was off and running. He's since released fifteen albums with his latest being Good Intentions Gone Bad on Alligator Records. He is a legend among fellow blues artists. Joe Bonamassa has said, "Hands down Chris Cain is my favorite blues player on the scene today."
Chris Cain and his band stopped by SPACE in Evanston on Wednesday, August 20 and put on a brilliant show with plenty of blues and a splash of jazz. He was backed by an amazing group of musicians; Greg Rahn on keyboard and B-3. Constantine Bogios on bass and Ronnie Smith on drums. They skillfully worked together to make each song special. Each player was allowed to stretch out and display their chops on most songs.
Cain's voice is reminiscent of B.B. King’s, and his guitar playing is a mix of B.B. King, Albert King and Wes Montgomery. Each note Chris played had passion and purpose that soothed our souls. The packed house appreciated every song with well-deserved applause and shouts.
He opened his set with "You Won't Have a Problem When I'm Gone" from his 2021 Alligator Records release, Raisin' Cain. During Cain's solo on his beloved Gibson ES 335 guitar named Melba, he broke a string and played the rest of the evening with the remaining five. Chris masterfully overcame instrumental adversity.
Undeterred, he launched into "As Long As You Get What You Want," a rendition so special that if you closed your eyes you would think B.B. King and Wes Montgomery were on stage. Keyboardist Greg Rahn delivered a tasty jazzed-up piano solo.
Keeping with the B.B. King mood, Cain thanked the bluesman for his inspiration and played an ethereal version of "Darling You Know I Love You." Rahn added gospel-like organ fills while Cain made his guitar gently weep. The crowd erupted with awed reverence.
Rahn led off "Down at Dino's" with an old-time piano intro and later added a spirited solo. Cain joined in with some Santana style fretwork. After placing his beloved Melba aside, the guitarist sat down at the piano where he talked about his love of Ray Charles. Rahn moved to the organ and kicked off the Cain song "Sittin' and Wonderin'" with inspired playing while Cain demonstrated his own enviable piano skills.
Both musicians stayed seated at their respective keyboards and dueled on a spirited and funky version of Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City." Drummer Ronnie Smith and bassist Constatine Bogios demonstrated their chops with compelling solos. (Note: Constatine’s brother Jim is the drummer for the rock band Counting Crows).
Cain proclaimed his admiration for Albert King and proceeded to honor the man with "You're Gonna Need Me." He then welcomed bluesman and SPACE co-owner Dave Specter to the stage to join on "Cross Cut Saw." The song was originally recorded by Tommy McClennan in 1941 but made famous by Albert King.
The two so enjoyed trading licks that Specter was asked to remain and join in on the Chris Cain original "Drinking Straight Tequila."
Chris Cain, Dave Specter, Constantine Bogios
The band then entered funk territory with "Helping Hand." With mouth agape, Cain let loose with his head nodding up and down at a frantic pace. The band added instrumental interludes with their respective instruments. It was one of those set-closing songs that would typically send concertgoers home, but not tonight.
In 2021, keyboardist Greg Rahn released his debut LP Rent Party. The album includes the boogie-woogie piano song “Boogie Flambeau,” and that is what the quartet tore into next. The song’s energy kept building as the band took the SPACE crowd on a frantic ride as Rahn reached feverish heights on keys. All that was missing was the bench-kicking antics of Jerry Lee Lewis!
Cain thanked everyone for coming out as the band left the stage. But the blues enthusiasts in the audience demanded more. And what they got was the Bobby "Blue" Bland song "You Got Me (Where You Want Me)." The blues hungry crowd was now satiated. Cain and his band delivered the sustenance they craved. And then some.
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Jim Summaria began professionally photographing rock concerts in 1973 at the age of 19 when he became the staff photographer for the Chicago rock concert promoter Flip Side Productions. Jim's photos have been published in numerous books, magazines and CDs. His rock ‘n’ roll photos have been viewed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum and Hall of Fame on Rt.66 and the Grammy Awards. Jim and writer Mark Plotnick co-authored the books Classic Rock: Photographs From Yesterday & Today and the October 2024 release ‘70s Chicagoland Rock Concerts. Jim and Mark also co-host the radio podcast That Rock Show on the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum platform.
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