Four men dressed in black nonchalantly ascended the stage at The Boro on a muggy July evening. Although it was a Saturday, no one turned the stage lights on. The band stood outlined in television glow. Then, from the dark recesses of the stage, a guitar began the timeless freight train refrain, “boom-chicka-boom.”
Far From Folsom is a relatively new band. They formed earlier this year and instantly began playing shows in Nashville, where their repertoire of Johnny Cash songs found a ready audience.
But their newness seems to be wearing off. Lead guitarist Shawn Jackson, bassist Dean Marold, and drummer Anthony Schumann present a pretty stoic stage presence but can definitely whip their instruments into shape, producing that unflappable signature Cash mix of honky-tonk, gospel and rock ’n’ roll.
Their calm veneer just sets the stage for the evening’s man in black, Ted Meek, his pale face damn near glowing with intensity under a crop of jet black hair as the foursome launches into several sets of Cash originals, including favorites like “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Ghost Riders in the Sky.”
Some tunes are performed fairly true to form, like “Cocaine Blues,” but the longer their performance lasts, the more obvious it is that these fellas like to add their own subtle touches to Cash’s classics. For the most part it works out; extra inflections are more updated and pay homage to the originals. But Jackson’s style isn’t exactly what Luther Perkins was doing on his Fender Esquire. “Ring Of Fire” was much faster than the original, distractingly so.
But still, Far From Folsom is entertaining, swinging through songs we all know, or that at least sound familiar. Meek is pretty impressive as good ole J.C. His voice is a close match without being mocking, overworked or sounding strained, and his obvious passion for the music shines through in each song.
Far From Folsom can perform about 30 different Cash songs, from early hits like “Cry, Cry, Cry” to his final few recordings, covers like Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage.” Cash’s version of the Nine Inch Nails song “Hurt” was a crowd request at The Boro.
“We like to get down to the Murfreesboro circuit,” Meek said grinning.
Their first Murfreesboro performance was in May, and since then the guys like to make the occasional detour just to the southeast of Music City. They perform regularly at Springwater in Nashville, and have upcoming shows at The Boro on Aug. 30, Wall Street Sept. 13, The Boro again Oct. 4 and Nov. 15, and Wall Street Oct. 25 and Dec. 6.
