Reviews

 By BARRY M. KLEIN - February, 2003
I can't help but admire Cash O'Riley. Cash O'Riley and the Downright Daddies have just released a new CD, "Booze Lust, Lies & Heartache "Tales of Steppin' Off the Rural Route". Before I get into the review of this new 12-track, 40-minute CD, I would like to tell you what I know about Cash O'Riley.
             We met a few years ago at the Ark in Ann Arbor, Michigan at a Big Sandy concert. At that time, Cash had a group called The Psycho-Billie Cadillacs, and for the past three years he has been doing business as Cash O'Riley and the Downright Daddies. Almost two years ago I saw Cash O'Riley and the Downright Daddies performing as a quartet at the Motor City Spin-Out www.rockabillyhall.com/BarryKMotorCity.html and the group at that time included Cash, Johnny Itch, Brian and Drew. Based on the spirited set that they did at the Motor City Spin-Out, I booked Cash at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame Stage show at Viva Las Vegas V in 2002. Something funny happened to the group on the way to Las Vegas: they lost a lead guitarist. But that is not the kind of catastrophe that will stop the irrepressible Cash O'Riley: he simply went on with the show without a lead guitarist, although Cash handled some melody chords from his own guitar, but usually played rhythm. The audience feedback was so good from his shows that Tom Ingram booked Cash O'Riley and the Downright Daddies for the Main Stage at Viva Las Vegas VI, which officially kicks off on Thursday, April 17, in Las Vegas (if you are going, however, try not to miss Rockin' Ronny Weiser's Rollin' Rock Records party from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16). At various intervals of time in recent months, Cash has been seeking a bass player, drummer and lead guitarist, but that certainly has not stopped him from coming up with a fine initial CD release with, as Ringo Starr used to say, "a little help from my friends". Cash is King!
             This CD, released on AmericanWax/Jacknife Records, can be purchased at Cash O'Riley's performances or can be ordered via Cash's web site www.cashoriley.com.
             The 12 songs, all but one written by Cash, have some great sounds. Cash and his Downright Daddies keep things moving with good singing, some excellent guitar pickin', a good rhythm section, and even some fine saxophone playing as well as backing vocals. Johnny Itch, who plays doghouse bass for the Downright Daddies, was the saxophone player on the CD, and Brian Bedwell, on the drums, are both original Downright Daddies.
             Dave Roof, who is known to the Michigan rockabillies as the former bass player for The Starlight Drifters and current bass player for Bill Georgio's band, Nobody's Business, produced and engineered this CD at his own Rooftop Studios in Royal Oak, Michigan. With gumption that can possibly only be matched by Cash himself, Dave took it upon himself to play and record the lead guitar tracks after the band had first recorded the bass, drums, vocal and acoustic guitar, so when Cash and crew heard what Dave had done with the lead guitar tracks, everybody was blown away. It just goes to show that talent, ambition, tenacity and the determination of a bull in heat will eventually lead to success. Most of the cuts on the CD are up-tempo rockabilly with a heavy dose of twang that should satisfy any lover of roots/Americana/classic country music, as well as the diehard rockabilly purists. Besides the frequent themes of love, sex and drinking, there are many interesting and enjoyable sounds. The third song on the CD, "Every Time You Walk", is a mid-tempo rockabilly song that reminds me of an early Elvis Presley single that I don't hear too often, "Too Much" (I lost my RCA single many years ago, but I believe the flip side was "I'm Playing For Keeps").
             As is the case with many of our younger generation's rockabilly stars including Craig "Bones" Maki, Cash's exposure to rockabilly was catalyzed by an early propinquity for punk music, and one of the tracks on this CD , "I Love Rock Rock'N'Roll", is Cash's tribute to the Ramones after the death of Joey Ramone in 2002.
             Cash O'Riley is the kind of guy who will get things done no matter what, and that attitude shows up in this CD, and I have no doubt his show in Viva Las Vegas will further augment his rising reputation, and that is destined to happen no matter how many Downright Daddies make it to the stage in Vegas this Easter Weekend.
             Cash O'Riley and the Downright Daddies will also tour the western part of the United States during the spring, and you can check out the venues at www.cashoriley.com.

Big Train To Memphis
The Rockabilly Hall of Fame Benefit Show
Posted October 15, 2003. The big train rolled into Memphis October 10th, 2003 with a shower of Rock-a-billy legends that would equal the stable of artists Sam Phillips had on his Sun roster in the 50's. The Rock-a-billy Hall of Fame picked Memphis because that's where Elvis did his first live show at the Overton Park Shell. The Overton Park Shell had been closed down for twenty years when the Rock-a-billy Hall of Fame discovered that it had just reopened. It was decided that Memphis would be the perfect place for the benefit show. Also the Rock-a-billy Hall of Fame had plans to induct Rick Nelson. They had been looking for a suitable location for the induction ceremony. Since Rick Nelson had a special fondness for Memphis and it's Rock-a-billy roots Memphis was the perfect place.
           Rick Nelson's twins Gunner and Matthew were contacted. They agreed to perform on the show and except the induction plaque for their dad. The show was on. Rock-a-billy legend Glen Glen was contacted in hollywood. Glen who had been friends with Rick Nelson and Elvis was asked to present Rick Nelson's induction into the Rock-a-billy Hall of Fame to the Nelson twins.
           At 2:00 p.m. on October the 10th, Cash O'Reilly and the Down Right Daddies' were introduced to the audience by MC Burl Boykin. They put on a great show and were real crowd pleasers. Sun recording artist and Rock-a-billy legend Charlie Feathers son and daughter Bubba and Wanda Feathers came on next and sang many of their dad's hits. It was great to see Bubba and Wanda keeping the Feathers family tradition alive. What a show they put on.
           Next on stage from Toledo, Ohio was the fabulous Joe "The Shaker" doing his fifties hit "Chicken Shack." Joe was backed up by Butch Wax, Larry Manuel, and the Flat Tops. "The Shaker" is an excellent performer that keeps you rockin. Bobby Joe Swilley and the Country Line Band, with Andy Anderson, guitarist Bucky Barrett along with Alton Lot, Don Pittman, Wray Henson, and Richard Thames got their harmony together on the Fiesta's 1959 hit song "So Fine" and other group hits of the 50's. What a performance the audience loved it.
 

A Review of the 2003
Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender
April 17 to April 20

By Larry Shell
I questioned a couple of Michigan area friends before seeing the next act, CASH O'RILEY, and was told, no make that warned, that he wasn't rockabilly, he was pretty much country and somewhat on the humorous side. Well his style was classic country which I dig and dug I did! It was a great set and at least one of his songs made me laugh out loud, Most of the songs were all originals off of Cash's CD except for "One Piece At A Time" by Johnny Cash, and a new original not on the CD, "No Such Luck".

Las Vegas, Gold Coast Hotel, March 29, 30, 31, 2002

By Barry M. Klein - posted July 5, 2002
 

MOTOR CITY SPIN-OUT:
13 LUCKY HOURS!

By Barry M. Klein - posted August 24, 2001

http://www.rockabillyhall.com/BarryKMotorCity.html