Rosanne Cash brings The List to Minneapolis

February 8, 2010, at the Guthrie Theater

By Jen Paulson
Published: February 10th, 2010 | 10:00pm

Visualize this — a father makes a list of the 100 most essential country songs and gives it to his impressionable and rebellious young adult daughter. Sounds like a poignant exchange, right? Except it becomes exponentially more exciting once you get to the details: The father in question is Johnny Cash, legend of country legends; and the daughter is Rosanne Cash who would herself later enjoy the country spotlight in her own right.

But when Cash received the list, she was following the wayward path of rocknroll after her blended family’s storied history in the annals of country and American roots music. It wasn’t until the Man In Black’s passing that Rosanne Cash would think to turn the list into a project and enlist the likes of incredible vocalist collaborators such as Bruce Springsteen, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, Elvis Costello, and Rufus Wainwright. The result is an incredible tribute, not only to the history of country music but also her father's part in it.

Only 12 of the 100 songs from her dad’s original list would make it to the record. And on a typically blustery Monday evening in February, Rosanne Cash would once again bring her List Tour to Minneapolis — this time, the Guthrie Theater. To call the show intimate would almost be an understatement. At times the crowd was so still and quiet as Cash sang, as if she had an eerie control over it. Her 90-minute set featured not only the country covers her father so highly respected, but included hits from her own successful career and one cover that didn’t make the list: the Bobbie Gentry classic “Ode to Billy Joe,” which was rapturously appreciated by the crowd. Accompanied throughout by her husband John Leventhal on guitar and the occasional vocal harmony, the sparse simplicity of few instruments took on a slightly different feel than its recorded incarnation.

While the show managed to have its high points and a few intermittent lulls, it was a strong, mostly cohesive performance. The shining moments of perfection, such as the rendition of the Springsteen supporting track from the album “Sea of Heartbreak,” were well executed in Leventhal’s harmonies. “Long Black Veil” would later compliment the Carter Family standard, while “Bury Me Under the Willow Tree” and a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Girl from the North Country” were arguably the best of the night.

Cash ended the set with her hit “Seven Year Ache,” itself an exhibit in the classic nature of perfect '80s country and arguably a classic in its own right. The song quickly segued into the seemingly short but fantastic “I Don’t Know Why You Don’t Want Me,” a song that hadn't been performed live in eight years and “The Wheel,” which was played even more gorgeous live with an infusion of roots luster and stripping away the '90s exterior of the original.

Here’s to the possibility that some of the remaining 88 songs on Cash's list find themselves recorded in such a manner because the result is something not only unique but also a great example of how all kinds of different music can bring people together in incredible ways.

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Rosanne Cash official site

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