Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash

It seems everyone wants a piece of the Johnny Cash legacy these days. In 2005, Walk the Line chronicled the country music legend's life, scoring Reese Witherspoon an Oscar for her role as June Carter Cash and Joaquin Phoenix a Best Actor nod for his portrayal of the Man in Black. Last month, Cash'd Out packed in hordes of Johnny Cash fans at Mesa's Goat Head Saloon for the Johnny Cash tribute act's show in the Valley. And now hot on the heels of that show come the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash, who will roll into the Rhythm Room this week. The Americana/country act — which is in no way, even illegitimately, related to Mr. Cash himself — was formed on a whim in 1995 by singer and guitarist Mark Stuart after the band's name came to country music fan Stuart in a dream. Johnny Cash gave the band his personal seal of approval, and the group, which has opened for Willie Nelson, received permission to use Cash's name before his death. Cash's son even helped produce the Austin act's debut album.