Wagon Wheel -- Old Crow Medicine Show

Wagon Wheel -- Old Crow Medicine Show


Wow this is hard. I plowed through the iPhone, poured over the computer and I didn't even know where to start. Finally, here it is, you won't be disappointed.

Old Crow Medicine Show, again, not too obscure here but these guys are great!

My grandmother was nurse for years and years at the medical college in my home town. When I was a kid I visited her 3-4 times a week at work since she worked the 3-11 shift. When I was very young she cared for Roy Clark's father and I was able to meet him several times though I was very young. Since Mr. Clark does not carry his guitar everywhere he goes this would not have had a huge impact on me, but my father is evil. He is a bad, bad person, or so I thought on Saturday nights ( I think it was Saturday) when I was forced to watch Hee-Haw. I did not want to see those old guys playing country music. I have artistic integrity (keep in mind I was 2 or 3 years old). I ran around, I interrupted, I made noise, I royally pissed off my father sitting high on his generic Lazyboy throne, and I am pretty sure I was dissuaded in a corporal 70's parenting style way several times. The point is that I paid no attention to that hillbilly music... or so I thought.

Now at the ripe old age of more than 24 but less than 60, I remember clearly some of the music. Family Guy actually played two Conway Twitty Hee-Haw performances, one of which I found myself singing to. I have no idea how, but he was on Hee Haw in the clips it must have stuck. What I do clearly remember, is Roy Clark and Buck Owens with that kick-ass red, white and blue guitar. I loved that thing until I did some investigating and found out it was a Sears guitar in the hands of a master. Thanks to YouTube I now know that I missed some great music. The skill it takes to play Blue Grass is astounding and these were the best of the best.

This may be the biggest statement I ever make on this website. Roy Clark is the single most skilled man to ever hold a guitar in my opinion. (I must now apologize to my heroes SRV, Jack White, Eric Clapton and I have a list, but sorry guys this man can do things not possible with a guitar, all while smiling like the Cheshire cat and he makes it look easy)

The problem was, skill or not, I didn't like the music. I wish someone would take the instruments considered “country”(pedal steel, banjo, mandolin etc.) and add in some Rock n Roll. I wasn't aware of it, but lots of people had that idea as far back as the late 60's with Graham Parsons. The Band, The Great Bob Dylan and their contemporaries certainly learned a great deal from country. Today we see this sound being expanded in Folk Rock, Americana and Alt Country lead by artists like Ryan Adams, Wilco, and yes I do have a point, Old Crow Medicine Show.

As all great bands do, Old Crow Medicine Show, started in Virginia. College lead them north and then even further south to North Carolina. Their big break came while busking in NC. Now guys, if you play on the streets for money shouldn't you have stayed up north where we have subways? I guess not since Doc Watson's daughter happened by and said “ Hey! Wanna play at my huge, acclaimed music festival? The guys said “OK”. Then Marty Stuart said “how bout I mentor you” and the guys said “OK” Then Marty says, “...and I think I will bring my friends Gillian Welsch (President of the Grand Ole Opry) and her writing partner David Rawlings with me, would that be OK?” and the guys said, “OK”

I am pretty sure it didn't happen just like that but what a team!!!

TRIVIA QUESTION: I will send a free copy of OCMS CD, get the bonus and I will add a T-shirt to the first person that replies below with the answer!

Question: Who recorded and subsequently released an argument with David Rawlings on a major label release?

Bonus: Who were they arguing about?

I digress, The group has grown since all this happened in 1998. Since then they have had 3 #1 Blue Grass Albums, 1 top 10 country album and played with the likes of Emmy Lou Harris, and Ricky Skaggs. They played on Conan O'brien and most important to me, they guest stared on Prarie Home Companion with the great Garrison Keillor. (For those that know Garrison personally and want to get me a gift, his is the job I want more than any other, when he is done with it of course. So, if you could set that up, I would greatly appreciate it.)

OCMS have been around but just haven't gotten that one last little piece of magic that has to fall in place to make them a household name. I do believe that even in this genre they have the skill and the sound to cross over. Check em out and see what you think.

Hey, this is fun! Check back tomorrow to see what's next.

MH