Club Red: Cash’d Out Returns to Telluride

Club Red: Cash’d Out Returns to Telluride

With major support from the Telluride Ski Resort, Denise Mongan’s Beyond the Groove is pleased to announce an encore show featuring Cash’d Out. Monday, January 25, Club Red at the Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village. Doors, 7:30 p.m.; show, 8 p.m. Tickets, $15 – $25 here.  Please scroll down to the bottom of the post to listen to my podcast with Doug Benson of Cash’d Out.

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A few things you may not know about the Man in Black, Johnny Cash.

In 1984, when Cash felt his record label was ignoring him, he released an intentionally awful album,Chicken in Black, with a title song about Cash’s brain being transplanted into the body of a chicken.

According to his autobiography “Cash,” if he were stuck on a desert island, Cash would bring Bob Dylan’s The Freeweelin’ Bob Dylan, Merle Travis’ Down Home, Jimmie Davis’s Greatest Gospel Hits, Emmylou Harris’ Roses in the Snow, Rosanne Cash’s The Wheel, a gospel album by Rosetta Tharpe, “something by Beethoven,” and You Are There by Edward R. Murrow.

His first gig with the Tennessee Two was playing for a group of elderly ladies in a church basement.

The first time Cash met honky-tonk pioneer Ernest Tubb, Tubb allegedly advised Cash, “Just remember this, son. The higher up the ladder you get, the brighter your ass shines.”

President Jimmy Carter was June Carter’s cousin, related to Cash by marriage. But President Nixon was his favorite president.

Cash always wore black when performing. He started wearing all-black suits as a good luck charm, because he wore a black T-shirt and jeans to his first live gig. He once told Larry King, “[I’ve] never done a concert in anything but black. You walk into my clothes closet. It’s dark in there.”

One thing you do know about Cash: the iconic singer-songwriter has had many admirers, many imitators – but none as ardent or able as the band Cash’d Out, a band on the edge of becoming the house band for Beyond the Groove’s Club Red, returning for the 4th time on January 25, 2016.

Just how good is Cash’d Out covering Cash?

The San Diego-based band – Douglas Benson on vocals, Kevin Manuel on guitar, Stephen Ray on bass and George Bernardo on drums – won four San Diego Music Awards for Best Tribute Band, but the real proof of their prowess lies in what members of Cash’s inner circle have said. Their comments place Cash’d Out on the inside of Cash’s “Ring of Fire.”

“Cindy Cash came to a show, we made her cry and she gave me a necklace with Johnny’s hair in a glass locket,” explained front man Douglas Benson, adding that Cash producer Lou Robin has been to several Cash’d Out shows and claimed that if he closed his eyes it was like “going back in time.”

W.S. Holland, Cash’s longtime drummer, even sat in with Cash’d Out at a birthday celebration for Johnny Cash hosted by Bill and Shannon Miller of JohnnyCash.com at the Fender Museum in Corona, California.

“And Bill let me play Johnny’s cherry sunburst Guild guitar,” added Benson.

Cash’d Out is also the only tribute band endorsed by the official Johnny Cash web page, JohnnyCash.com.

Cash’d Out continues to bring back memories of loved ones who raised us on Cash’s minimalist sound, distinguished by the stark power of his Old Testament baritone. Or those who heard him in concert at Telluride Bluegrass many moons ago.

(Another little known fact: Cash took only one voice lesson, after which the teacher advised him not to let anyone change the way he sang – the quality of which could have something to do with the fact Cash started smoking at age 12.)

The band’s live shows respectfully reference the late, great man’s Sun Records and early Columbia-era sound, combined with the energy of the classic multi-platinum live recordings from Folsom Prison and San Quentin. In all, Cash’d Out has over 150 of JC’s songs in their repertoire and can deliver up to four hours of non-stop entertainment.

The group’s genuine love (and authentic recreation) of Johnny Cash’s music and its universal appeal fans of all ages and of virtually all musical genres makes each and every Cash’d Out show a must-see event.

Or as Miller says, “Some people are Impressionists. These guys leave an impression.”

For a preview of the show, check out my interview with Doug Benson of Cash’d Out.

About Beyond the Groove:

Beyond the Groove is Denise Mongan’s music production company. Its goal: bringing quality live music to Telluride, Colorado, primarily at the new Club Red at Telluride Conference Center. Past successes include Blitzen Trapper, Deer Tick, Matisyahu, Cash’d Out, Justin Townes Earle, Dirty Dozen brass Band, Lettuce, Dawes, Jenny Lewis, The Motet, and Elephant Revival. Upcoming shows include Keller Williams and The Jeff Austin Band. Denise has worked in the music business for 30 years and is thrilled to now have the opportunity to be living her passion producing live shows.
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About Club Red:

With a history of sold-out shows in its first two years, Club Red transforms the Telluride Conference Center into an intimate venue showcasing national touring acts. Plush decor, ambient lighting, and VIP seating make this venue unique to the destination.

About Telluride Ski Resort:

Stashed among the highest concentration of 13,000- and 14,000-foot peaks in North America, Telluride offers some of the most spectacular skiing and riding on the planet. Unique culinary experiences on the mountain blend with the world-class restaurants, sophisticated shops, luxury hotels, and great spas. Plus, getting here is easier than ever with non-stop flights from eight major hubs; getting around is a breeze with the free gondola transportation system. Discover why Telluride is “The Most Beautiful Place You’ll Ever Ski.”
For more info visit: www.tellurideskiresort.com.

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