Big Tex Perkins knows plenty about the music and entertainment game. He’s challenged himself over 27 years. There is no bigger challenge than tapping into the essence of one of, if not the most infamous musical figures. A rebel. An outlaw. A religious man. A devastating performer who was referred to by Kris Kristofferson as a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction. This was life imitating art imitating life tonight and Perkins, his Tennessee Four and his June Carter Cash, Rachael Tidd, took us on an enlightening and refreshing live documentary of sorts through the history of the great mans music and life.

As The Tennessee Four appear on stage to take up their instruments, Perkins’ guitar can be seen poking through the side curtains. As the anticipation grows, he bursts onto stage delivering that old familiar Cash catch cry – “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash” before launching into I Walk The Line with a vocal that if you closed your eyes, was the man himself. Hey Porter, Get Rhythm and Big River are next up, but things feel just a touch flat with Perkins and co seemingly playing within themselves at this point.

Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord) is given extra significance as Tidd and Perkins account for the period surrounding Cash’s brother Jack’s untimely demise at the hands of a whirling table saw in 1944 – the guilt never leaving J.R Cash with their father adding salt to the wound by declaring that this was “the devil’s work” and that the “wrong son was taken”. Strong stuff to deal with. Perkins then proceeds to provide the room with the first of many heartbreakers this evening.

The Man In Black ties through significant moments of both Cash and June’s lives together in music and in life. Cash’s personal dilemmas. June’s long standing love for the man. Whilst Perkins and Tidd were far from capturing the unique chemistry the two icons shared on stage, the performances were top quality even if the – œJune’ vocal was a little too controlled and clinical instead of being rambunctious and raunchy. Perkins never misses a beat with his bass-baritone vocal that suited his range down to a tee.

Tying off the first set with Help Me Make It Through The Night, It Ain’t Me, Babe and an awe-inspiring Jackson, punters we’re left feeling content but wanting a little more fire and brimstone in the showcase for the second half. And boy did we get it early on with Peter Luscombe, James Black, Steve Hadley and Ash Naylor belting out the – œFolsom Prison’ set. Led by Folsom Prison Blues, Perkins threw around the guitar, hardly playing it through the show and snarled and spat, the boom-chicka-boom beat on fire. “Ok. Alright. Let’s go,” he snapped as the band crashed through Busted and Cocaine Blues with Perkins explaining Cash’s love for Jesus and cocaine. “He loved them both equally… and at the same time!”

This intriguing storyline combined with Perkins’ natural flair was a real highlight this evening – the man embodying the essence of the real thing in more than a few instances. A Boy Named Sue, Greyston Chapel, Starkville City Jail and Man In Black were joys to listen to – as were the rollicking countdown to an execution – 25 Minutes To Go and the silly but charming Dirty Old Egg-Suckin’ Dog. The rendition of Leonard Cohen’s 1968 special Bird On A Wire (a song that Cash himself almost made his own decades later on the first collaboration American Recordings with Rick Rubin in 1994), was spellbinding with Perkins drawing a rapturous applause.

To think that the night got even better! With – œJohnny and June’ providing the duet for the ages, If I Were a Carpenter, a song composed by Tim Hardin and popularised by Bobby Darin. Perkins then heading into sombre territory on the sad-as-hell Hurt before ending the set on the über-popular Ring Of Fire, then scooting back on stage for Darlin’ Companion and the stupendously solid Closing Medley from the San Quentin show with Folsom Prison Blues, I Walk The Line, Ring Of Fire and The Rebel – Johnny Yuma.

Much commendation and respect must go out to producers Andrew Barker and Simon Myers, as well as writer Jim McPherson and the entire crew for setting up such a polished and vibrant show.

Thanks to Gavin D Andrew for the photo.