OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. — Squaw Valley had a baby in 2009 and it was called Bluesdays.As it enters its fourth season this week, Bluesdays has become a free Tuesday night tradition. There are outdoor shows every week in July and August.Tinsley Ellis drew a record Bluesday crowd in 2010, but that mark was topped last summer by Ana Popovic, and that figure was surpassed by Roy Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings at the last show of 2011.Chris Cain opens Tuesday with a show from 6-8:30 p.m.Cain dresses like Elvin Bishop, plays a Gibson guitar that sounds similar to Albert King's and he sings with a booming voice like B.B. King's. A music writer one criticized Cain for “trying to sound black,” which would be unusual considering his father is in fact black.A native of San Jose, Cain has 10 solo albums, many with the Blind Pig label.Cain has played a handful of shows in the Crystal Bay Casino Red Room and last summer had an outstanding performance at the Mammoth Lakes Bluesapalooza.“I remember when I was a kid, my dad would be mowing the lawn with the stereo blasting Muddy Waters,” Cain said in a press statement. “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.” Cain was just 3 years old when his father took him to Beale Street's most famous performer: B.B. King in concert. Cain taught himself to play guitar when he was 8 and began playing professionally before he was 18. He studied music at San Jose City College, and was taught jazz improvisation on campus. Over the next 20 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 a searing guitar style.
Join the Conversation
View and add comments »




