BANDANA - Sound of Johnny Cash

Bandana, that is how the cowboy calls his kerchief, and it is the name of the Johnny Cash tributeband who was the opener for the festival. Those who thought Johnny Cash was nothing to write home about found themselves deluded. The barn was jam-packed, so even the organisers of the festival could enjoy the musically highly pleasing band only standing outdoors. They were pretty easy-going, the boys onstage, one became aware of the great stage experience right on the spot. Pleasantly and with a slight saxon accent came the lead-ins between the single Cash-songs, the sound exactly like one could expect, even as objector of country music one had to - at least mentally - pull off one's cowboy hat.

Saturday started off alas with rain which is especially annoying for all the many sale and promotion stalls on the huge open-air site. The numerous campers and truckers heat up their barbecues and have a good time anyway. The band BANDANA, dedicated to the "sound of Johnny Cash", commences with their show. This formation from the area around Chemnitz was THE positive surprise to us. They get pretty close to the 'original' with their voices and instruments. Who wants to get more information can find them on www.bandana-music.de. We are almost certain that their first appearance at the "Mecca of Country Music Geiselwind" will surely not be their last one. ... - Uwe Spille

Having played more than 280 gigs since 2002 makes "BANDANA" Germany's most booked band.

It does not take long and the audience gets carried away by the Country Music. They knock and clap their hands in time of the music and they dance at the well-attended student's club. From "Cry, Cry, Cry" over "Ring Of Fire" and "I Walk The Line" to "Hurt" - the repertoire of "BANDANA" is huge. And at that they play exclusively songs which either have been played live by their idol or have been released on record. Especially bandleader Andreas Matthes is fond of the singer with the rough voice and critical, unconventional lyrics. Way before 2001 he started getting his teeth into the life and music of "The Man In Black". That's why he can fulfill almost every song request from the audience.

A look into the coverband's schedule is astonishing: In the list, there are not only saloons and Country Music festivals, but also events and venues of every kind. Aomong them there are Punkrock concerts, weddings, golf courses, churches and even prisons.
- Jan Holubek

Saturday started off alas with rain which is especially annoying for all the many sale and promotion stalls on the huge open-air site. The numerous campers and truckers heat up their barbecues and have a good time anyway. The band BANDANA, dedicated to the "sound of Johnny Cash", commences with their show. This formation from the area around Chemnitz was THE positive surprise to us. They get pretty close to the 'original' with their voices and instruments. Who wants to get more information can find them on www.bandana-music.de. We are almost certain that their first appearance at the "Mecca of Country Music Geiselwind" will surely not be their last one. - Peter & Rosmarie Wyrostek

The band "BANDANA" of Burgstädt, all dedicated to Johnny Cash,
"Johnny Cash, who played a lot of concerts in prisons, want to show the inmates that they are not forgotten by the world outside. And that is what we are about as well" explains bandleader Andreas Matthes. "We want to give the prisoners a little bit of life outside."
While setting up the instruments the musicians are already interestedly watched. Because the stage is the loading ramp of the former printing house. Which is located on the part of the prison grounds where the walks in the courtyard are taken. So while the musicians unpack their instruments the inmates are going for a walk, playing soccer or are watching the hustle and bustle from their cells.
Between soundcheck and showtime there is dinner. And the musicians do not get any special treatment. They are fed the same food as the inmates. "Four slices of black bread, margarine, four slices of turkey breast, cheese and yoghurt as well as a tetrapack." itemizes Andreas Matthes and adds "It was good". Joachim Kreyss, head of departement for public relations confirms: "They ate it all up".
Kreyss made the appearance of the young band, which was formed in the actual cast only two years ago, possible. The musicians themselves had asked if they could play there. "And since budgets are tight everywhere we came down to a comprimise", said Kreyss. "We arranged for the transportation of the instruments and equipment and the band played for free".
Then 123 prisoners listen to the sounds of country music which reverberated across the courtyard for an hour and a half. "That's a good outcome with over 300 inmates", said the head of departement. One fraction watches the concert from the yard while the others are looking from the windows of their cells.
Traditional country music is played, especially songs of Johnny Cash with their distingtive 50's and 60's sound. With all the songs in English the audience remains in a cautionary mood in the begining, Kreyss and Matthes agree: But after half an hour they started cheering up. "We even had to play a song twice", the bandleader said.
It had been an impressive experience, reminisces Andreas Matthes, which "BANDANA" is willing to repeat anytime. An offer is made already. The penitentiary of Waldheim wants to recommend the young musicians to the penitentiary of Chemnitz. And there they want to play for free as well. "We receive our fees at other venues", Andreas Matthes said. "BANDANA" plays in pubs as well as on festivals. The Memorial-Concert on the anniversary of Johnny Cash's death are also a fixed date in the band's schedule. And for that the thoroughbred musicians even take a vacation.
The appearance of the Country band is no cultural flash in the pan. "The association for helping delinquents has already organized the appearance of a teenage band from Glauchau this year and we're expecting two singer-songwriters in August", Joachim Kreyss said. He hopes the concert of "BANDANA" might also become an annual tradition.
- Cathrin Reichelt

The coverband BANDANA had their idol Johnny Cash resurrect at the Kulturscheune Thyrow

THYROW - All dressed in black, the guitar slung across his back, that is how Country icon Johnny Cash showed up to his audience. With coarse voice he sang about god, love, the Wild West, but also about the poor, the oppressed and outcasts. At the age of 71 years Johnny Cash passed on in 2003. But real legends never die. With the coverband BANDANA fans celebrated the rebirth of the unforgetable country-troubadour at the jam-packed Kulturscheune (culture barn) of Thyrow.

Together with Bodo Martin (upright bass), Oliver Sachs (drums) and Markus Lang (guitar) bandleader Anderas Matthes wants to convey the original as authentically as possible. Completely dressed in black he played the role of his hero Cash himself. Why "The Man in Black" Cash wore exclusively black onstage, Matthes willingly explained: "Cash didn't change color as long as there's evil, injustice and all kinds of suffering in this world!".

Aside from the black clothes for the reincarnation of Cash further details were correct, too: so Bodo Martin was chewing his gum like Cash's bass player once did. That BANDANA wants to get as close to the original as possible was also proven by Miriam Spranger's appearance. She assumed the vocal part, once occupied by Cash's wife June Carter.

What had the Cash sound of the coverband, coming form saxon Burgstädt, appear especially authentical was Matthes' deep resonant voice - which was surprising, since the lean young man obviously barely owns any soundbox. Only the slightly breathy, spent tone of the drug-experienced original was missing.

"Simply unbelievable, how close to the real Cash Matthes gets!", two older cowboy hat and -boots-wearing gents marveled.

Like Cash himself BANDANA prefered to play the pensive, melancholy songs, but the crowd's favorites were not missing. The band heated the atmosphere to the boiling point with the legendary super hits "Ring of Fire" and "I Walk The Line".
- Andrea Keil

They stepped up with the motto "Sound of Johnny Cash" and a black-clad young man of very lean stature and according to his accent coming from the east of the republic showed up in the VIP area. And this boy, without any apparent soundbox, wanted to sing songs by Master Cash? We were not the only ones wondering that. Then they stood on the stage of "Toni's sacred halls". The young man who rather resembled a Mormon itinerant preacher got started and we were surprised. No, that's no quite accurate, we were excited. Andreas Matthes was the lad's name and if one closed the eyes, one thought J. Cash in person himself was on stage. They did an awsome show and if one has seen the Cash/Carter family live as often as we have, it takes alot of talent to convince us. BANDANA made it on that day and also the spoiled Country Music audience at Geiselwind applauded appropriately. We will never forget their girl singer, Julia, as an incarnation of June Carter. How she moves on stage, sits and sings like June, she even plays the auto-harp like her big idol makes the impression perfect that way. Well, time passes and meanwhile we have seen BANDANA more often on stage. Last time was at the CMM in Berlin. As we learn from their detailed bio, the personnel has changed over the time which is not bothering the audience as long as the sound is right and the frontman still the same. Now they also enqueued in the illustrious list of "Doc" Schulze's live guests. On May, 13th 2008 they came to the media house of Hof and we used the chance to get to know the folks of BANDANA a little closer. Apart from frontman Andreas there were Bodo, Markus and road manager Beate who had come the studio. Bodo greeted the northern Bavarian listeners with a "Servus" and they got started musically with "Folsom Prison Blues". In the interview they explained that they can be booked as trio or even up to as an eight-piece band. "Our focus is on the old classics, mostly from the SUN era, of Johnny Cash". Andreas had already been to Nashville/TN and Memphis/TN, but alas did not get to meet Johnny Cashin person. The only time he saw him was on April, 8th 1997 at the concert at the Kulturpalast in Dresden. We were also there back then, along with Tom Astor and "Doc" Schulze. That night Johnny Cash was inducted to "German Country Hall of Fame" of which one still wonders where it is located to this day. One day ago on a press conference prior to their concert at the Freiheitshalle in Hof we could see and interview Johnny Cash, June Carter and Kris Kristofferson. In 2001 Andreas Matthes was invited by Cashes daughter Kathy for lunch at the "Olive Garden" in Madison/Nashville. BANDANA has a repertoire of at least 80 songs by J.Cash and during the time slot of two hours they are allowed to play plenty of them. Of course, "Ring of Fire", "Big River" and "I Walk The Line" are included. The instrumental "Bandana" is also played and after the show, why should it be different, we sit together in our favorite pizza parlor for a long time and there is much to tell. More information about the band can be found on their website at www.bandana-music.de.


- Peter & Uschi