Joe Bonamassa called Chris Cain his favourite Blues player on the scene today “with the voice of B.B. King and the chops of Albert King” – it’s a huge statement but one that has you nodding in agreement after a few spins of Cain’s ‘Raisin’ Cane’.
Did I mention that Robben Ford is also a big fan? Well you will be too when you dig into this one and hear that ‘tone’ and that voice. With a superb band featuring Steve Evans on bass, Greg Rahn on keyboards, Sky Garcia & D’Mar Martin on drums and a selection of sizzling songs that traverse not just Blues but also a little Funk, Soul and Jazz, it’s almost impossible to put a foot wrong. Indeed as someone who has delved into the back catalogue I have to say this may well be his greatest collection of songs so far.
Opening with the huge groove of ‘Hush Money’ which introduces you to that voice and that guitar you know you’re in for a great listen but it’s the following track ‘You Won’t Have A Problem’ that really nails it early. It’s a straight Blues number that has it all and when you add tracks like ‘Too Many Problems’ and the funkier ‘I Believe I Got Off Cheap’ you realise you’ve landed a gem.
The slow Blues of ‘Down on the Ground’ that gives us our first respite might even be the best track here – its a huge song! When you add to that the freshness of ‘I Believe I Got off Cheap’ (the first single) and the jazzier ‘I Don’t Know Exactly What’s Wrong with My Baby’; the autobiographical ‘Born to Play’ and the closing instrumental ‘Space Force’ you’ll be coming back again and again and nodding along with Bonamassa and Ford.