Live at the county jail holiday show with Wilmette’s Chris Karabas and Band

Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen and B.B. King are among Chris Karabas’ musical heroes. And each of them performed for an incarcerated audience.

So when Karabas, a Wilmette musician, received an opportunity to play the Cook County jail, headlining an experience like that was the main attractant. But his tune quickly changed before his band’s set in 2023.

“I thought it be a cool thing to do, almost in like a novelty way, but when we got here, it became a whole different thing,” Karabas said. “The reality of the situation just really hit me hard … I think about it every day.

“You realize, I’m going home after the show. These guys are going to our worst nightmare.”

The strength of that feeling drew Karabas and company (Luke Karabas on guitar, Steve Vivian on bass, Emma Smoker on violin and Steve Mueller on drums) back to the chapel at Cook County Correctional on Saturday, Dec. 21, when the Chris Karabas and Band played their second holiday concert.

The audience for the matinee performance was about 100 individuals in the jail’s Division 11, a medium-security facility for males in custody of all classifications, according to the county’s website. Individuals in jail are awaiting trials or sentencing.

Volunteer Chris Jacobs, who the men in custody fondly call CJ, helped develop the concert program. The Karabas show was the 33rd he’s helped organize in the past handful of years. The Bacon Brothers, featuring actor Kevin Bacon, played the Division 11 chapel earlier this year.

Jacobs thanked Sheriff Tom Dart and Executive Director of the Cook County Department of Corrections Dr. Jane Gubsar for their support.

“My motivation is to open their eyes and their ears, because they don’t necessarily ever have a chance to hear this type of music,” Jacobs said, before sharing a story about how after one concert an individual in custody told him that was the first time he’d heard live music that wasn’t the bucket boys, who entertain along Chicago streets.

Division 11 comprises more than 1,500 individuals in custody. It is home to many of the county’s enrichment programs, such as the concerts in the chapel; Recipe for Change, a culinary program; and a musical program.

Individuals in custody Keevon Conner and Jasper Gipson participate in the division’s musical program and were both at Karabas’ show.

Conner said since he learned more about music, he hears it differently. He enjoys “the sound more than the lyrics.”

“I’ve been in the program maybe two years and it taught me how to rap on beat and play bass guitar, and music theory, like the notes you got to know,” Conner said. “I love the band stuff. I’m actually part of a band and never thought I’d enjoy that until I came here. … I see bands differently now and appreciate their hustle.”

Conner and Gipson appreciate the timing of the holiday show. Christmastime is not easy for many in custody. Gipson said his mother died just before a previous Christmas.

“It’s hard for me to cope when these times come around,” he said. “So seeing this band and hearing the music definitely puts a little light in you, lets you know this ain’t your last stop and we’re going to get up out of here.”

Messages like that brought Karabas and his band back this year.

Karabas said that after the 2023 show, he complimented the artist behind a painting on the wall. After the performance, a person in custody came up to him and thanked him for the compliment and, more importantly, for noticing him.

“As long as these guys know that there is someone on the outside who has them on their mind in some way, I think that means a lot,” he said. “The stuff they are doing here, like the art programs, gave me a purpose to want to do more of this.”

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