A soulful place. That's where good music originates and where great music can take you.

The five musicians in The Chris McKain Band keep that soulful place at the heart of everything they do, by playing music they love and by loving to play.

CMB is a feel-good blues band that brings an authentic, high-energy music experience to the Rochester music scene. Featuring Christine McKain-Roth on lead vocals, Doug Hilsinger on lead guitar and vocals, Phil Lindsay on keyboards and vocals, Chuck Elberti on bass guitar/upright bass and Dana Valentine on drums, the group takes audiences on an exciting emotional journey from gritty blues, to moving ballads, to driving rock and back again, bringing their own feel and artistry to everything they play. Susan Tedeschi, Bonnie Raitt, Francine Reed, Sheryl Crow, Joe Cocker, Etta James, Robben Ford, Joe Bonamassa, Bob Dylan are some of the great artists they cover, plus original songs too. 

 THANK YOU TO OUR FANS: 

The Chris McKain Band (with the lineup of Chris, Doug, Chuck, Phil & Dana) played its last show on Friday, August 21st at the Dinosaur Barbeque downtown. What a show it was, due to an incredible turn-out of people and the bittersweet magic and energy that comes from that place of knowing something truly special is coming to an end. But we really held it, caught up with the fragile dream for a little while, and that was the most wonderful thing.

The band is on extended hiatus right now, parting on good terms but it was just time for us to go  our own ways and take a break after a long and very eventful run. Chris especially needed to take some time for her young family and also rest her voice from steady late-night gigging and rehearsing. She's not sure what the future holds at this point, musically, but well, you never know. Life is a great mystery constantly unfolding. If you're on the CMB newsletter list, we'll keep you posted if/when she or the band is playing again. 

Thank you to all of the people who came out to the clubs around town and shared a great run with us the past two-plus years. And to all of the musicians who were a part of this project from the beginning to the end: Guido Barbone, Greg Jones, Pat Skivington, Gary Spinelli, Pete Halliday, Chuck Elberti, Dana Valentine, Phil Lindsay and Doug Hilsinger. There are no words to capture the memories we made and they'll never be forgotten.

And especially to my husband Leo for all his love and support, helping with bookings, running "expert" sound and hauling equipment, never complaining about a messy house, feeding the kids (pizza again?) and getting them to bed on rehearsal nights and all those crazy late-night runs to Burger King or Denny's after shows at 3 a.m., with the big red van crammed full of sound equipment and always ready to break down at any minute. I don't know too many husbands who would do all of that in order for their wives to follow a dream and bring home $40 bucks a show. But you did and I'll never forget the love you showed me.

Also thanks to my father, Mike McKain, who always believed in me and encouraged me and loaned me $$ whenever I needed it. You're the best.

 CMB's first studio-recorded CD is still available for purchase  on this site. Just click on the "CDs" icon above to purchase one securely through PayPal and have it shipped right to your door.

Thank you to everyone who has purchased one and for your continued support of our music and something we love doing so much.

Yours in music,

Chris

"Whatever is deeply loved -- friends, granchildren, late afternoon light, masonry, tennis, whatever absorbs you-- this may be a reflection of how you move in the invisible world of spirit.  It is your beauty, the elegant point where everything is one." -- Coleman Barks, The illuminated Rumi

"The dream was always running just ahead of me. To catch up with it, to live for a moment in union with it, that was the miracle." -- Anais Nin 

 "More than music, the blues is everyone's psychologist, confidant, personal advisor and friend. It erases lines and builds bridges between people by recognizing that life is the ultimate shared experience, one that is defined by both joy and sorrow. The blues is realistic: it keeps life in perspective offering frank discourse, humor and even "crying in one's beer" as valid options for dealing with the tribulations that periodically come our way. In so doing, the blues is a refuge where optimism and human resiliency reign, souls are cleansed and spirits raised."

 "The purpose of blues is to soothe. It makes people who are feeling bad feel good again. That's the true feeling of the blues. It's not depressing music as some folks have been led to believe." -- Stevie Ray Vaughan

"The blues? Why the blues are a part of me. They're like a chant. The blues are like spirituals, almost sacred. When we sing the blues, we're singing out our hearts,  we're singing out our feelings. Maybe we're hurt and we just can't answer back, then we sing or maybe even hum the blues. When I sing, I walk the floor, I wring my hands and cry...what I'm doing is letting my soul out." -- Alberta Hunter (1895-1984)