Cash'd Out is all about the "Man in Black"

The idea of a tribute is to pay homage to someone in such a way as to honor his or her memory. There are few country legends as dominant as Johnny Cash when it comes to legendary status.

For the tribute band Cash’d Out, it is a labor of love, though not one that has always been there from the time of youth. They will perform Friday, June 6, and Saturday, June 7, at the Uptown Tavern in Temecula.

“I got into Johnny Cash after hearing a tape a friend brought down on a San Felipe trip in 1998,” said lead vocalist Doug Benson. “I’ve been in love with it ever seen. I found my redneck.”

It was not the classic story of a young boy dreaming of performing like his idol.

“Growing up, I never listened to country,” he said. “My dad was always playing Christian stuff, so I didn’t get that thing where dad and grandfather listened to it so I did. If my dad had listened to Cash, I would have probably rebelled against it.”

But there’s no rebellion.

“I’ve always wanted to play the guitar,” he said. “I never had any friends into it, and when my parents got me a guitar I didn’t have the friends to get with. So, my brother wound up getting it and playing it.”

It was Karaoke that proved vital.

“I used to make fun of people and one night jumped on the karaoke unit,” he said. “When I was working and had to drive around a lot, I’d stop at gas stations and pick up country CDs, like those of Johnny Cash. I fell in love with it. When you are on the road by yourself, you go to bars by yourself. I’d get in cabs and tell the driver to take me to a bar and I’d wind up singing Karaoke and singling Cash.”

The feedback proved powerful.

“Four or five people each night would come up to me and buy me drinks and tell me I should be in Vegas,” he said. “So I got a guitar and started teaching myself some chords. I started a band to play once a month or so and have my good friends come out, drink whiskey and have a good time. The bar started to sell out of whiskey when I would perform and it became real apparent that it was bigger than I ever dreamed of.”

Now the band tours the country, as well as Canada and soon Europe.

“I learned a bunch of songs in the beginning quick, and I now have 250 songs, maybe 300 under my belt,” he said. “But to maintain those songs is a hard thing. If I was a genius or less dumb than I am I would probably have several different set lists. Basically I try to add a new song every month or so. The thing is there are a lot of popular songs you have to do or people get mad!”

One thing he is proud about is the fact that people who were connected to the legendary performer have seen the band and liked what they’ve heard.

“Cindy Cash has come out, and John Carter Cash came to a show,” he said. “Lou Robin, his old manager has been really cool with us and positive. Bill Miller, one of Cash’s best friends, has been good to us as well.”

The band is Benson on vocals, Kevin Manuel on guitar, Ryan Thomas on bass and George Bernardo on drums.

Tickets to the show are free. Show times are 8 p.m. and only those guest 21 and over are permitted to attend.