Not, I'm pleased to say, yet another Johnny Cash tribute act, but a tribute to the songs and legacy of the Man in Black. Scotland's leading Americana singer/songwriter, Dean Owens, is a big fan of Cash and recorded an album of his songs five years ago. For this gig he was accompanied by his usual excellent guitarist, Craig Ross, and the versatile Kevin McGuire on double bass. Sadly fiddler Amy Geddes was unable to make it, so some fiddle parts were filled in by Owens' harmonica, and the voices of the audience!
A mix of Cash compositions, songs he covered from the likes of Leonard Cohen and Nick Lowe, and Dean's own number about the night Cash played in San Quentin prison. Plus Heartbreak Hotel to mark the 40th anniversary of the death of Elvis. Owens did his best to cram in as many songs as possible, but can't resist the urge to tell stories to his audience, and he's all the better for doing so. He doesn't have the cash -down-in-the-boots register, so his versions are very much his own interpretations, and none the worse for that. The voice is smooth and expressive and immediately identifiable. Ross did a lovely job of creating the guitar sound of the Cash era, while adding his own flourishes, and McGuire was as reliable as always. It was obvious that the trio were having a great time on stage and could easily have gone on playing if time allowed.
A great show which sent the audience out grinning.
Cash Back (Songs I Learned from Johnny) was a one-off event, but you could buy Owens' album of the same name....
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