Concert Review: The Man in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash at Tower Theatre, OKC on February 2, 2025
If Johnny Cash had a dollar for every time someone covered Folsom Prison Blues, he'd own half of Nashville. But on February 2nd at the Tower Theatre in Oklahoma City, The Man in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash made a compelling case that some covers are worth every penny.
Walking into the historic Tower Theatre, you could practically smell the whiskey and hear the ghost of Cash muttering, Let's see what these boys got. The stage was simple, just a band, some guitars, and one man dressed in black, as the name implies. No frills, no pyrotechnics, no backup dancers in sequins. Just pure, twangy, low-voiced Cash goodness.
From the first strum of Ring of Fire, it was clear this wasn't just some guy in a black shirt and a deep voice. This was a full-bodied homage, delivered with the weight and grit that Cash's music demands. Every song came with that familiar train-chug rhythm and storytelling swagger, and the crowd-ranging from old-school country fans to younger folks who probably discovered Cash through Walk the Line” was fully onboard.
The highlight of the night? A blistering take on A Boy Named Sue, where the performer fully embraced the spoken-word storytelling, throwing in a few dramatic pauses and eyebrow raises that would have made the real Cash proud. The audience roared, drinks were raised, and for a moment, we all felt like we were sitting in a smoky dive bar in 1969.
Of course, no Johnny Cash tribute is complete without Hurt. As the first haunting notes played, the audience braced themselves for an emotional gut-punch, and they got one. It was so powerful that even the rowdy guy in the back yelling for One Piece at a Time fell silent.
By the time the final chords of I Walk the Line rang out, it was clear: this wasn't just a tribute act, it was a revival. If Johnny himself had been in the room, he might've nodded, cracked a knowing grin, and muttered, "Not bad, kid."
Verdict? Five out of five black shirts. Would see again, preferably with a whiskey in hand.
