Rooted in the musical legacy of the White Mountain Apache and shaped by generations of family influence, the Chris Kane Trio brings its soulful blend of blues and rock to stages across Arizona — with Globe’s Silver Tap .928 becoming one of its most loyal homes.
Regulars at the Silver Tap know to expect a solid live show from the Chris Kane Trio, but this winter has brought an unavoidable shift. Drummer Rhoda Ethelbah has been out since a late summer car accident left her with a broken foot — the very one she uses on the kick drum. In her absence, the band has spent months rotating through guest drummers to keep their scheduled gigs intact.
“It hasn’t been easy,” says guitarist and bandleader Chris Kane. “Drummers are the heartbeat of a band. They drive everything forward.”
Even so, the trio continues to pack the room at Silver Tap, a testament to how firmly they’ve planted themselves in Globe’s live music scene. In her absence, the trio has relied on a rotating cast of friends — busy, talented drummers who all seem to belong to four bands at once.
Tonight’s heartbeat is provided by Curtis Rogers, a veteran Valley musician with more than 50 years of professional experience.
“I’m a hired gun,” he says with a grin. “Whoever calls, I play.”
Still, it’s clear that the band’s center of gravity remains Rhoda, whose harmonies, drive, and presence are deeply missed.
“People always ask, ‘Where’s Auntie? We love Rhoda!’ And we do too,” Chris says. “We’re just getting through this time.”
The story of the Chris Kane Trio begins long before Chris ever picked up a guitar. The roots go back to the White Mountain Apache Reservation, where his grandfather — known simply as Midnight (Matthew Kane) — formed a band with his brothers in the late 1960s. His grandfather fell in love and married his grandmother during this time, and Lisa Kane became part of the band. They played school assemblies, community dances, and eventually cut vinyl under the name Apache Spirit, blending country with classic rock.
“Midnight taught himself guitar from the radio and record players,” Chris says. “Everyone back home knows his music. He’s our mentor — our family leader.”
Chris grew up immersed in that world, joining in with Apache Spirit at age 10. Liam, at 17, is too young to have played with Midnight— but he carries the same musical bloodline.
For Chris, the trio’s story begins in 2013, when he landed his first gig at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix. Fresh out of college — where he studied audio recording — he posted his original songs online and persuaded a booking agent to give him a shot. The catch? He had to sell 25 tickets.
“I recruited my uncle on drums and my brother-in-law on bass,” he said. “We played the original music I’d put online.”
From there the ball started rolling. After posting a performance video to YouTube, requests trickled in.
Then Chris made the decision that set the tone for the rest of his career: “I started calling places every day until someone would book me.”
As he navigated Phoenix’s blues jams, he met seasoned musicians like Mike Reardon and Kevin Arts, who helped him build momentum. By 2014–15, he was booking enough shows to consider it a full-time pursuit.
Today’s trio lineup features Chris on guitar and vocals, his cousin Liam on bass, and Rhoda on drums — when she’s healthy.
Liam joined the group in March 2025 at just 16 years old.
“He’s still a senior in high school,” Chris notes.
Liam originally played guitar, but when Chris asked if he could switch to bass, he didn’t hesitate.
“I’ve been playing with him ever since,” says Liam.
The chemistry is undeniable. Even with the lineup disruption, the trio’s sound remains grounded in the musical traditions they inherited, and those they have created as their signature: blues, and classic rock, and the sounds that harken back to Midnight’s “Apache Spirit” era.
“We don’t play country,” Chris explains. “Nothing against it — it just takes a big band with harmonies to do it right. With a trio, blues and rock fit perfectly.”
While music is Chris’ full-time work, the road is demanding — especially with young children at home.
“I get homesick,” he admits. “Things can go wrong when you’re far from home. And I’ve got kids — 11, nine and one.”
He once spent two weeks playing in Rapid City, South Dakota, picking up shows on the way there and back.
“It was just too long,” he admits.
These days, staying close to home feels right, and a steady circuit of Arizona venues allows him to play hard and still return to his family at night. One of those dependable stops is Globe, where the trio built a strong relationship early on after a recommendation from Buz Sneezy — frontman of the long-running Grey Wolf band. From their very first night, the group clicked with the bar’s commitment to live music and a real dance-floor experience.
“We’ve been coming back ever since,” Chris says.
What keeps them returning is more than the gig itself. Chris describes the owners as unusually supportive — people who treat musicians with genuine care. Last Christmas, they even surprised Chris, Rhoda, and his brother Irie with gifts.
“That’s never happened with any employer before,” he says. “I try not to ask for much, but anything we do need, they’re always more than kind.”
The good news: Rhoda has been practicing again. The band hopes to ease her back into shows starting next month — a milestone their fans across the state will be thrilled to see. For now, the trio rounds out its sound with “adopted” talent — solid players like Curtis Rogers who step in seamlessly and keep the heartbeat strong — while the band leans into the music that has shaped their family for generations.
Whether the road takes them to Globe, Pinetop, Mesa, or anywhere else, Chris puts it plainly: “We’re here to entertain people. It’s in our blood. And when we get tired, we play harder.”
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