Review: Old Crow Medicine Show

Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show, who performed Saturday night at Crossroads KC. Photos by Sue Pfannmuller/Special to The Star

This town produces and supports a variety of music genres but as much as anything, Kansas City loves country music, whether it’s from the big-label commercial country acts who get lots of radio airplay and fill the Sprint Center, like George Strait or Brad Paisley, or the acts on small labels who get no commercial airtime — like Old Crow Medicine Show.

Saturday night, Old Crow and its opener, Chuck Mead and the Grassy Knoll Boys, nearly sold out Crossroads KC. Despite a late start (9 p.m. for the opener), they drew a crowd that appeared to approach 2,000. 

Old Crow is a six-piece string band that plays a combination of bluegrass, old-time country and country laced lightly with a punk attitude. Every once in a while, it throws in some harmonica, which adds a bluesy accent. Along the wide spectrum of string bands, Old Crow falls about halfway between the formal, polished sound of the Del McCoury Band and the feral, unhinged sound of bands like Split Lip Rayfield. Things get freewheeling now and then, but it never quite feels like the train is going to leave the tracks.

They opened Saturday’s 95-minute set with “Carry Me Back,” a rousing fiddle tune about a Civil War soldier that sounds of the Civil War era. Like most of the songs that followed, it was filled with bursts of fiddle and guitar and lots of vocal harmonies. It got the crowd moving right away. “Carry Me” is also the title track on the band’s newest recording, which was released last week. It wasn’t available for sale in Kansas City, however, because the van containing all the band’s merchandise was stolen in St. Louis in Friday, a misfortune that was mentioned several times throughout the show.

Fans showed their support otherwise with lots of dancing and singing along. Much of the big crowd seemed familiar with older material, like “Alabama High-Test,” “Humdinger,” “Methamphetamine” and “Wagon Wheel,” which ignited one of the loudest sing-alongs of the night.

Kevin Hayes

Ketch Secor is the band’s leader, but he shares the spotlight with every other member. Kevin Hayes, who plays the guitjo — a six string banjo with a guitar neck — took the lead vocal on “Humdinger,” a gust of raw country blues. They played several songs from the new record. None was more raucous than “Mississippi Saturday Night,” a high-speed song that rides a throbbing bass line and a hail of banjo and guitjo riffs and some harmonica lines from Secor. 

Another highlight was “Cocaine Habit,” a jug-band-blues odyssey that feels born in the ’60s. They covered Bill Monroe’s “Fire on the Mountain” and added a chorus or two of “This Land Is Your Land” to “I Hear Them.” 

During the encore, Mead and his band joined Old Crow for covers of Moon Mullican’s “Cherokee Boogie” and The Band’s “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” 

When that one was over and everyone on stage took a big, low bow, the house was still nearly filled with fans who like their country music built the old-fashioned way.

Set list: Carry Me Back; Alabama High-Test; Big Time in the Jungle; Bootlegger’s Boy; Fire on the Mountain; Levi; Half-Mile Down; Mississippi Saturday Night; Mary’s Kitchen; Humdinger; Methamphetamine; Take ‘Em Away; Steppin’ Out; Rockin’ in the Weary Land; James River Blues; Ain’t It Enough; Wagon Wheel; Cocaine Habit Blues; I Hear Them All/This Land Is Your Land; Cherokee Boogie; The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Comments

[julia]

It was a fantastic show!! Chuck put together a very talented, 4-piece band, and OCMS performed as well as I've ever seen them (4th time) and they always rock. They also did a moving tribute in honor of the Aurora, CO shooting. (Didn't catch the song title.)

[Geordan]

I considered going to this show at the 11th hour and didn't. Although I don't hate the Crossroads like some folks here, I'm not all that enamored by it either, especially in the heat. Love OCMS, but noticed that guitarist/vocalist Willie Watson left the band. I loved their performance when I saw the live show on PBS a couple of years back and ordered the DVD shortly after. Willie was an integral part of that version of the band. He was definitely the Rocker of the group and it did indeed feel like the train could derail during their more aggressive songs (meant in the best possible sense). But the fact that these guys can bring a crowd to KC that would pack the Uptown to capacity is a testament to their live reputation. Bluegrass isn't an easy sell (I love it, personally), so it's cool to see these guys bringing it to a bigger audience.

[KC Jones]

I went to the show and, starting time for 1st band being at 9pm, it was NOT hot outside. Almost as soon as OCMS came on, a light and constant breeze began blowing. I was up in front for the first half, which was a bit hot, but that was more due to the packed bodies. As i later went towards the back of the venue, it was significantly cooler away from the crowd crush. The sound was loud and clear throughout the venue and the music was vibrant and engaging. Safe to say a good time was had by all. Perfect night at Crossroads. P.S. > I stepped into Grinder's to use the (indoor) restroom and it took all of 30 seconds to get in and out. Also, the beers are bigger if you buy them inside. Just an FYI.

[pellboy]

And you can also get ice cold $3 "yard" beers (Hamm's, Old Style, Stag, etc.) inside Grinder's. Screw the $6 mini draws outside. Easily accessible indoor plumbing bathrooms, cooling off inside, better beer selection and moving around the venue for best vantage points...instead of just bitching about the Crossroads, make it work for you. Not that difficult really.

[LiveMusicFan]

"instead of just bitching about the Crossroads, make it work for you."
Posted by: pellboy

No offense, but if I'm paying money to see a performance I shouldn't have to "make it work" for me. If I'm paying money, THEY should make it work for ME. The tickets at CrossroadsKC aren't any cheaper than other venues in town, so they have no excuses.

[pellboy]

All true, LMF and I while I prefer other venues, if a band I want to see is playing there, I'm going to go and I'm going to deal with it as best as I can. That's all I was saying. I only attend shows that are $25 or less at the Crossroads and in fact, the higher price ($30 plus) as you noted, is what kept me away from the Old Crow/Chuck Mead show the other night. Not a huge difference but when it comes to the Crossroads, there is a definite monetary/discomfort level that I adhere to.

[Phil]

Crossroads KC is a dmup, actually more like a dung pile. It is unsafe, unsanitary, unstable footing, dangerous, smelly, too hot and way overpriced. The city needs to shuit it down until they fix it. period.

[Aaron]

zzzzz...nobody is listening to you whine and cry.

2000 folks that attended don't care about your pity party.

[Aaron]

And for the record the shows at Crossroads KC are cheaper than any other venue in town.

There has been 3 shows this whole season exceeding $30.

Let's factor in service charges now too:
$4.50

Show me any other venue in Kansas City that is bringing top billed acts for that price?
Service feels alone at the midland, or uptown are nearly 3 times that amount.

Until you open your own venue, please refrain from your grumbles. You're not going to change them and they've only gained more support throughout the years.

[pellboy]

Good points, Aaron although it also is possible to avoid service fees completely at the Midland and pay just a very minimal one (similar to Grinders or Knuckleheads) at the Uptown if you purchase from their respective box offices.

As for unsafe, unsanitory and unstable footing (really?), that's all just a bunch a hooey unless you provide some truthful examples. Just avoid wearing sandals and you'll be fine.

[NEW]

"No offense, but if I'm paying money to see a performance I shouldn't have to "make it work" for me. If I'm paying money, THEY should make it work for ME."

I thought about this LMF and when it comes down to it, no matter what the venue, we all always have to do something to make it work for us (i.e. no venue seems to really go out of their way). Whether it's having to leave early to stand in line because of over the top security at Sprint Center or Voodoo (or to get a good table at Knucks), over priced drinks at the Midland, or get on line hours before the doors for a good GA spot at the Uptown, it's always something. Grinders issue is simply crappy bathrooms and dealing with the elements.

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy most all these venues. But when you think about it, everyplace has it's issues.

[LiveMusicFan]

"There has been 3 shows this whole season exceeding $30."
Posted by: Aaron

Really? Because I just looked at their calendar and every single ticket was over $30, except for one that was $29.50 and that's pretty much what the Midland and Uptown are charging, so they're not the cheapest shows in town. Not to mention that in those other venues you're provided with seats, air conditioning, real restrooms, and an altogether better experience. All things considered, tickets at CrossroadsKC should be half of what they are. And while I won't be opening my own venue any time soon, I CAN hope that property values will rise in that area forcing CrossroadsKC out of business. It's bound to happen sooner or later.

[pellboy]

Huh, what website are you looking at? I see $19.50 for Dawes, $21.50 for Umphrey's McGee, $25 for Del McCoury, $20 for Railroad Earth with some of the other shows listed priced just under $30. The two that I'm planning to go to...Blues Traveler and the Jayhawks are priced at $25 and $21.50 respectively. I guess you can certainly argue that those prices might still be too high for Crossroads if you don't like the place, but as compared with other area venues, they are right in line or even below some of the others.

http://www.crossroadskc.com/

[LiveMusicFan]

That was a mistake on my part. I use Firefox with NoScript, and GA tickets weren't showing until I allowed scripts from frontgatesolutions, so I only saw wheelchair, bleacher, and VIP ticket prices. I thought that it was weird that wheelchair tickets were the cheapest.

[Phil]

No need to give any attention to this idiot Aaron. She is obviously paid to post and defend the craphole known as the dump aka Crossroads KC. Being paid to post negates her worthless words.... sooooo blah blah blah Aaron, take your "paid to post crap" elsewhere.

Crossrods Kc is the worst place in KC to see a show, period.

PS

all they need to do is spend some money to make improvments, and I would stop pointing out their flaws.... but they are too cheap to spend a penny on fan/customer improvements.

[Aaron]

Oh, Phil I love you despite your hatred and uninformed statements :)

[Buster]

Wow so much hate - really, Crossroads is that bad? It ain't no country club but it will work for a show. Go in and wing it for a few hours big deal. Now about the show - OCMS without Willie Watson brought on apprehension from jump street but they actually exceeded expectation from the start. Critter Fuqua and another hired multi-instrumentalist gun more than covered Willie's parts musically and vocally.The new line up added a 3 part harmony to almost every song - a new dynamic that elevated the band from last years incarnation. Finally Ketch is as talented of an entertainer there is.... period

[facts]

Crossroads KC is a dump.

Crossroads KC is the worst place anywhere to see a concert in this day and age.

They (and anyone saying good things about it) should be ashamed to even be associated with it.

shame shame shame

Crossroads KC is a smelly, stinky pit.

[andthatsafactjack]

Oh facts, I love you despite your hatred and uninformed statements :)

[Buster]

Hey facts - your not invited to Crossroads anymore so get over it and go back to Leawood.....or buy the VIP you get free trail mix! and your own indoor poddy

[Adidas Porsche Design]

this is beautiful! You do always catch the spirit of adventure.