Harold Ford as Johnny Cash 'hotter than a pepper sprout'

Harold Ford brought the house down Friday night at ROH. (Courtesy photo)

The Rochester Opera House might as well have been the Rockin' Opera House on Friday night as Harold Ford put on an impeccable tribute show that truly captured the look, persona and husky baritone vocals of the late Johnny Cash.

Ford, as self-effacing and humble as the "Man in Black" ever was, sang, strummed and even played dueling harmonicas during a two and a half hour concert before a packed house of folks of all ages and generations.

Sure, there were a lot of graybeards, even a cane or two, but there were plenty of youngsters, millennials and gen-Xers to boot.

And Ford did his best to play every song yelled out by an audience member.

Ford's band comprised an impeccable lead guitarist and a talented - and animated - standup bass player as well as a young lady who reprises the voice and sound of June Carter Cash, Johnny Cash's beloved late wife.

But it was Ford who stole the show, mesmerizing the audience - many who said they had come to see him every year for the past six he's been coming to the ROH.

After playing two long sets the concert ended but not before Ford came out for two encores after standing ovations and thunderous applause not to mention a fair amount of hootin' and hollerin' begged for more.

So we were quite surprised, unpleasantly that is, when at the beginning of the second encore scores of audience members began putting on coats, getting up from their seats and trotting out the door in full view of Ford who, to his credit, never missed a beat.

I mean if it were Fenway Park and the Sox were up or down by 10 runs at the end of the eighth, I get it.

But at the ROH ... with two or three hundred people ... a little before 10:30 p.m. ... during the second encore ... playing Cash classic "Rusted Cage" after beginning the song by saying they were going to try a song that they hadn't done much ... AND NAILED IT!

Let's just say some folks missed a great song.