David James鈥� opening line makes it clear that he鈥檚 not a Johnny Cash impersonator but a tribute artist.
鈥淗ello,鈥� James promised he鈥檇 say. 鈥淚鈥檓 almost Johnny Cash.鈥�
After the Walk the Line movie motivated James to cover Cash鈥檚 songs (since he found he sounded like Cash anyway), James has been performing as a Johnny Cash tribute artist for about a decade.
The Nov. 10 Dekker Centre show, featuring the band Big River, consists of covers and interesting bits about Cash鈥檚 life. James said he鈥檚 done a lot of research in the past ten years. Some info caught James鈥� attention, like the fact that Five Feet High and Rising is based on actual events in Cash鈥檚 life, as well as the amount of misinformation written about Cash, particularly by ex-wives.
James said he favourite era is the Sun Records era.
鈥淚t was innocent and raw,鈥� James said. 鈥淭he train beat is unmistakable.鈥�
The set also features songs from the American Recordings, which was how many young people became familiar with Cash. Older people, meanwhile, are usually more interested in Cash鈥檚 earlier songs, James said. Regardless, Cash鈥檚 music appeals to 鈥減unk rockers, metal heads, rednecks and farm folk.鈥�
James said the setlist isn鈥檛 necessarily performed in choronological order, and some nights songs are played according to themes, such as prison songs, love songs, and cowboy songs.
Whatever the setlist is, James promises 鈥渁 barnburner near the end of the night.鈥�
The show begins at 8:00 on Friday, Nov. 10. Advance tickets are $35.99 plus GST, while tickets at the door are $39.99 plus GST.
