Keep It Cash

Keep It Cash

Middlesbrough Town Hall

4.3.2011

I have enjoyed a couple of tribute bands over the last few years but this was the first time I've had the pleasure of seeing 'Keep It Cash', a very fine Johnny Cash tribute act.

The show started with just three of the band on stage and guitarist Dave Holley singing Rodney Crowell's 'I Walk the Line (Revisited)'. Dave Burnham then appeared, to pick up the Johnny Cash section of Crowell's song. It was a good opening to an enjoyable show.

The 'Keep It Cash' quartet was augmented by the addition of 'June Carter' for a couple of numbers in each half of the show.

Highlights of the first half included 'Ring Of Fire', 'Hurt' and Cash's original version of 'I Walk the Line'.

Andy Swift was on the bass.

Dave Holley showed his skill on guitars, Dobro and mandolin.

Dave Burnham - the voice of Johnny Cash.

Drummer Steve Clark kept the beat going all night.

The second half of the show started with the quirky 'A Boy Named Sue' and featured a number of requests from the appreciative audience, including other well known songs such as 'Ghost Riders in the Sky' and 'One Piece at a Time'.

'June Carter' had a new hat in the second half, donated by a member of the audience.

A medley of hits brought the evening to an end. I never saw Johnny Cash live (but I did see Rosanne Cash last year). However, 'Keep It Cash' proved themselves a worthy tribute band over the course of a lively, friendly, feel-good evening and I will be checking their tour dates carefully in anticipation of a return visit.

For further details, pop along to the official Keep It Cash website.