Review: Rosanne Cash puts on a hypnotic preformance

By MARIJKE ROWLAND
mrowland@modbee.com

last updated: October 02, 2007 02:42:17 PM

Rosanne Cash put on a hypnotic and meditative performance at the Gallo Center for the Arts Saturday night.

The half-full house in the Rogers Theater was treated to a simple yet sophisticated show culled largely from her deeply personal 2006 album "Black Cadillac." The eldest daughter of the late Johnny Cash started her multi-media show with the stage lights dimmed and images of the sea on screen. Her voiceover narration spoke of her Scottish ancestor and "the original American Cash" who traveled across the ocean in the 17th century.

"I am from a long line of Americans without illusions. We are who we were," she narrated.

Backed simply by a guitarist, bassist and drummer, Cash and her lyrics shone as the main attraction. Both deep and sweet, her voice rung through the theater with crystal precision as the audience listened intently. During songs, the crowd was as quiet as if they were at church but between numbers they showed their appreciation by whooping and clapping their respect.

"You have a beautiful new hall here," she said mid-way through the 90-minute set. "I'm really glad to be part of the opening week. This sound is beautiful. I wish I could carry this sound everywhere."

Cash even acknowledged the previous night's performer.

"I heard Tony Bennett was here last night," she said before launching into the first line of "Fly Me To the Moon." "That's about as far as I can go with that. But I bet he was great. I adore him. This will be nothing like that."

Cash chatted warmly to the audience, giving the show an intimate feel that extended through her thoughtful lyrics that touched on life, loss and love. "Black Cadillac" is dedicated to her father; step-mother, June Carter Cash; and her mother, Vivian Liberto Cash Distin, who all passed away in a two year span during the album's creation.

While at times movingly mournful, Cash's show was also a celebration of the familial bonds and a testament to love. Color and black and white images of water, buildings and cars were projected dreamily onto a screen behind the band.

The night included several songs off her latest album including the title track, "The World Unseen," "House on the Lake," "God Is In The Roses" and "Good Intent."

The night was peppered with some more uptempo numbers ("Burn Down This House," "Dreams Are Not My Home"), some of her older hits ("The Western Wall," "Seven Year Ache") and some covers ("The Sea of Heartbreak," "Ode to Billy Joe," "Tennessee Flat-Top Box" and "Big River," the last two first made famous by her father.)

Indeed, Johnny Cash was a silent presence in the show, coming up in stories and family photos. But it was unquestionably his daughter's night as the crowd soaked in her songs and gave her a standing ovation as she left the stage and cheered for more.

"Well ,I'll take that home with me," Cash said as she came back on stage to a still-standing crowd. She ended the night with the Appalachian folk song "Poor Wayfaring Stranger."

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