Cash WrainsA Simple Man With A Storytelling Soul
Picture a loner, a drifter, a shadowy character, a man that looks like he’s straight out from the 50's era, bearing the essence of James Dean, wearing nothing but just black and a top hat, complimented by a gravely voice. This is Cash Wrains. But to many, he is known by his real name, Joel Steinbach. The “alter-ego†of Steinbach is a true homage to Johnny Cash, one of the most legendary artists of the 20th Century.His style is a raw mix of such names as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, and various others. Elements of those musicians carry with him like an old suitcase, creating a fusion of songwriting and performance that is influenced by those legendary artists of the past.Joel began playing guitar and writing songs since the young age of fifteen years old. It was his high school teacher that inspired Joel’s first guitar purchase, and so began his musical journey that still continues today. He later hooked up with many other local musician friends and jammed for years in and around campfires, prairies, dry riverbeds, out in the badlands, in the mountains of Colorado, abandoned houses, ghost towns out west, and even graveyards and junkyards. One of the more unique locations that Steinbach has practiced his craft was inside a box car of a moving train. All of these eccentric locations in which he has performed have defined his style and feel of what his music is all about.Appearing more and more around in the local music scene of Mankato and Southern Minnesota in general and gaining a positive reputation in the process, people say that Joel is indeed very much a man of his own opinions and principles. As an artist who is one that is deep, yet complex and full of giant ideas and stories, his songs are heartfelt, haunting, gritty, and elegant, gorgeously darkened with fabled tales of the way Steinbach thinks and lives.Joel came to a point on his road of self-awareness where a change in direction was in order after spending years without a true identity, simply blending his craft with other artists and groups. Eventually, he decided to focus on developing himself as a solo singer/songwriter, after writing and arranging music for other local artists and bands in the past. Steinbach started to expand vocally upon this mindset of focusing on his own independent efforts, and has, since then, begun new musical endeavors, adding elements of organ and piano into many of his own written material.Over the last several years, Joel has played a number of shows locally and regionally. The list includes the Sugar Room, McGoffs, What’s Up Lounge, Bandana Brewery,Busters Bar,Coffee Hag,The Contessa,Eagles Club, Inferno Tavern, and the Wine Café. Two of his bigger performances occurred at Mankato’s Old Town Summerfest in late August, and at Pachyderm Recording Studio in Cannon Falls at various times in the last year. Joel also excels during Open Mic nights locally, and he has performed on the road at spots in South Dakota to even as far out west as Colorado.Joel has spent time in the studio in past years as well. He recorded demos and short films locally with the assistance of the talented Paul Spevacek, and is currently working with old friend Marko at Back Alley Studios in Minneapolis, finishing up his album, “Self-Titled “ scheduled for release October 31st of this year.Further on up the road, Joel Steinbach, also known as Cash Wrains, plans to widen his horizons here in the Midwest, playing more unique and intimate venues to give people a true glimpse into his talented songwriting abilities, as well as his accomplished singing and stage presence. In due time, he then plans to head out to the open road, where his aspirations in music and film are open to the vastness of the West. Who knows what the future holds for this amazing singer/songwriter, only the stars in the sky that will follow him on his journey probably know for sure.
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