Church of Cash pays tribute to Man in Black
Kate Kompas, kkompas@stcloudtimes.com 10:04 a.m. CST January 24, 2016
Church of Cash
LITTLE FALLS — Jay Ernest learned something when he was doing all types of music — country, new wave, Irish — at open mics.
“Every time I played Johnny Cash, people would put down their beer and pay attention,” the Minneapolis musician said.
Ernest was familiar with Cash thanks to his father, who loved the Man in Black. When Ernest decided he wanted to do a Cash tribute band, he found it didn’t take long to learn the songs because so many were stuck in his memory.
“Johnny Cash is a storyteller and a great American storyteller at that,” Ernest said. “He captures the human condition.”
Ernest formed the four-piece Church of Cash band in 2010. The band released its first album recently, filled with nine Cash covers and a song Ernest wrote about Minnesota in the style of Cash. He said the studio engineer told him that he was recording on the same sort of microphone that Cash used, so that lent a more authentic feel.
Jay Ernest leads a four-piece band called Church of
Jay Ernest leads a four-piece band called Church of Cash that is a tribute to the music of Johnny Cash. (Photo: Courtesy photo)
The Church of Cash did 186 shows last year. The band is performing two this week at Great River Arts in Little Falls; the arts venue added a second show for Thursday due to demand. That’s the first time Great River Arts has added a show so close to the original date, program support specialist Sam Bruno said.
“We’ve never been to the point where we’ve sold out and still had people calling, so we’re really, really excited about this opportunity,” Bruno said.
Ernest said he sings in the style of Cash but isn’t trying to imitate him. He gives a lot of credit to his band.
“I got a very dynamic band that really knows how to capture that Johnny Cash sound,” Ernest said.
Ernest said he views Church of Cash as not just a band name.
“Wherever we roll in … everybody’s part of the Church of Cash. We’re there to celebrate Johnny Cash’s music together,” he said.
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If you go …
What: Church of Cash.
When: Thursday, Jan. 28. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; show starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday show is sold out.
Where: Great River Arts, 122 First St. SE, Little Falls.
Tickets: $12. Buy by calling 320-632-0960, visiting greatart.org, or stopping at Great River Arts.