The Man in Black never fades Scott Thomas is voice was a brawny baritone Prison Blues” as Cash’s most Anderson of emotions, scarred and hard- Jimmy Ray’s notable tune about stone walls Hened, trembling and timeless, and steel bars, but in reality a steady foghorn of America’s deep- Black Train other songs were far more Amador est pains, regrets and hopes. unflinching explorations of in Action When I was traveling around the show the souls of the nation’s most United States in 2010 and 2011, I unwanted. “San Quentin, often ran into the problem of you’ve been living hell to explaining where I was from. WHEN: 7 p.m. Nov. me,” are the opening lines to one of who’d only spent a few nights in jail for drug possession – empathize so Midwesterners and Southerners 24 those offerings, rasped without hesi- insist on knowing your roots tation by the deep, forceful pitch of much with convicts? The answer before they’ll enter into any mean- Cash’s voice. “You’ve blistered me seems to be an ever-present soul- ingful conversation, but telling WHERE: Grand Oak since 1963 / I’ve seen them come searching on the part of the artist. folks I was from Sutter Creek only Ballroom, Jackson and go, and I’ve seen them die / And Cash once shared with James drew blank expressions and I knew long ago I stopped asking why.” Mangold, the director of the film Rancheria, 12222 “Walk the Line,” that the movie there was no point in trying to con- New York Ranch Road When Cash sang those words to vince them there was a Jackson the actual prisoners in San Quentin character he identified with most beyond Mississippi. I started outside Jackson Penitentiary in 1968, the mess hall was Frankenstein, telling him, “He’s speaking in regional terms. “I’m exploded with a cathartic roar. But made up of a bunch of bad parts, but from the Sacramento area,” I’d say. the biggest applause would not he still wants to do good.” TICKETS: $40 ($20 On Nov. 24, Jimmy Ray’s Black This didn’t excite nor interest any- Jimmy Ray and Cindi Cantrell are come until the end, when Cash one. And then it dawned on me: for members) at jack- looked up from the hand strum- Train: a Tribute to the Life and Johnny and June Carter Cash at the soncasino.com “Do you like Johnny Cash?” I Jackson Rancheria. ming his guitar to say, “San Legend of Johnny Cash, performs at would ask, knowing that in rural Quentin, may you rot and burn in the Grand Oak Ballroom of the locales from Montana to Georgia it between 1994 and 2003, Cash had hell / May your walls fall, and may Jackson Rancheria. Though the MORE INFO: (800) I live to tell / May all the world for- chance to see the real Cash perform was a rhetorical question. “I live earned a legion of young alterative 822-9466 35 minutes south of Old Folsom fans and transcended all descrip- get you ever stood / And may all has gone forever, I think any oppor- tunity to hear the echoes of his Prison.” Finally I’d discovered an tions to be known simply as the man the world regret you did no good.” sounds – “sharp like a knife, steady icebreaker that seemed to spark of “American music.” walls of Mule Creek Prison and that Another one of Cash’s songs from everyone’s imagination. this period, “Man in Black,” used like a train” – can make for a magi- Nine years after his passing, Cash towering symbol of Preston Castle. In his life, Johnny Cash walked a Cash’s most reflective, socially the low-leveraged ebb in his throat cal evening, as well as remind us remains wildly popular in Amador gambit of musical genres, starting rebellious songs involved viewing to strike a similar discordant image: there’s always room for some per- with the Sun Studios rockabilly County. Whether in the courtyard of the world through the eyes of prison “I wear it for the prisoner who has sonal soul searching. sound in the 1950s and then wander- Preston Castle or the stage of the convicts – and, on a few occasions, long paid for his crime / But is there ing into a three-decade journey of Sutter Creek Theatre, Johnny Cash doing so right in front of them. because he’s a victim of the times.” Contact Scott Thomas Anderson at outlaw country songs and bold, dark tribute bands have experienced huge Today we may think of “Folsom So why did Cash – a Christian [email protected]. gospel mediations. By the time the turnouts. While Cash’s musical aged icon’s career was rebooted by legacy stands on its own, my theory rock producer Rick Rubens with about why it strikes such a chord in series of stark, gritty albums western Amador has to do with the Meal tickets assist our community ou know it’s time to talk turkey even before Ythe fourth Thursday of Celebrate the holidays in the historic luxury of Jackson’s National Hotel the month rolls around Mike Taylor because you see the signs Thanksgiving along Highway 49 at the Calaveras A full, traditional Turkey (free range) dinner with all the trimmings. north end of the county. I’ve raved about Mokelumne Sluice Box Hill’s Turkey in a Barrel A Dickens Christmas Dinner before in this space Tree Lighting Ceremony (Dec. 1st): Santa and his elf, Christmas cookies, caroling, and there’s only one other holiday- fun gathering to complete their homemade egg nog, mulled wine and much more... oriented event in the county that calls appointed task; often they barbe- together so much community spirit cue something special just for Sugar Plum Fairy Teas & Believe! Luncheons: limited days and seating. each year and that event arrives when themselves to sample on as the day Christmas Day Dinner: Old World Christmas Goose, worthy of a Dicken’s family table. the big guy comes calling. progresses and the fowl fumes. Reservations are strongly recommended. Moke Hill’s event is good old- The proceeds from the meal go fashioned camaraderie commin- toward maintaining the town hall, Family overflow for the holidays? We are offering a 25% discount for local’s families on hotel rooms. gled with the best tasting turkey which received a wonderful 2 Water St., Jackson, CA 95642 you’ll ever eat. Yes that’s high makeover this year and appears praise, but the guys who labor all Stanley’s Steakhouse: 209.257.2595 • National Hotel: 209.223.0500 day long roasting the birds for ready for everyone. But I think the Saturday’s affair mean business. real benefits come as all those moms www.NationalHotelJackson.com They also have a heck of a lot of Continued on next page Sierra Lodestar November 14 - 20, 2012 5.