LIMA — Chris Canas is well familiar with the Lima area.
The Detroit-based musician knows what he is getting into as he brings his brand of funk, blues and soul with his namesake band to town for two shows at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Old City Prime’s Upper Lounge.
“Lima’s a very receptive community for the kind of movement that we do, which is primarily blues, funk and soul,” he said. “It’s always nice for an artist to play for people that are receptive to what they’re playing and that actually enjoy that type of music, as opposed to having to work a little bit harder to get someone who’s a nonbeliever of the type of music that you play.”
And this show might be a little more interesting than previous times as Canas and his band have something new to promote.
“The upcoming two shows are pretty special because the last time we were in Lima, we were working on a new album,” said Canas. “And now that we’re coming back, the new album is out and available and the new merch is out so we’ll have all new stuff all-new songs and it’s just going to be awesome.”
For a Detroit musician who has a heavy interest in funk, it makes sense that Canas would be attracted to Ohio, especially for the purpose of recording that new album.
“I would definitely check out the new album,” he said. “It’s the seventh official release. And we partnered up with an Ohio record label actually, 3rd Street Cigar Records in Waterville, and we recorded it in Waterville, as well. So what I wanted to do was combine Detroit and Ohio together because there’s a rivalry between Ann Arbor and Ohio State. I wanted to bridge that gap because I got a lot of friends down in Ohio. A lot of musician friends and I have gone to Memphis together and all kinds of stuff. So it’s not really about where you come from. It’s what you sound like, how music makes you feel and how you connect with it, the stories and that’s really what it’s about. That’s what I want people to look for and to strive for. Check out this album and see how it sounds because it’s Detroit musicians and Ohio musicians. That’s the best of both worlds to me.”
Canas also has an important message that he wants listeners to take away from his music and that it comes from a perspective informed by his mother’s passing and both of their experiences in the music industry.
“This album in particular is about hardships and things like that and overcoming them,” he said. “And that’s what I want people to take away. No matter how down and out you get, no matter what’s going on, as long as you keep moving forward, keep your head up and do the right thing, good things come to those who wait. It’s really a show that’s about triumph and overcoming the odds and dealing with grief and all kinds of stuff. Knowing that, that there’s somebody out there that’s experiencing the same things you’re experiencing, and if you just hold on there’s going to be brighter days ahead.”
The Chris Canas Band can be found on most social media platforms and on their website, http://www.chriscanas.net. Their new album “Detroit” is available now as are tickets to the shows at Old City Prime in Lima.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Chris Canas in concert
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday
WHERE: Old City Prime Upper Lounge, 215 S. Main St., Lima
Tickets are $20 and are available online at https://bit.ly/3Un5AfI.
Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.
