O.C.M.S. at Boulder Theatre tonight
Just after 8:00 p.m. Thursday night, the sounds of fiddles, banjos and stomping feet will come a-tumbling out of The Boulder Theater.
Old-time virtuosos The Old Crow Medicine Show will have arrived for a one night stand sure to be stuffed with high-energy American music: traditionals arranged at break-neck paces, originals aflame with social commentary and field hollers bellowed in five-part harmony.
Many of those who have seen the band in action in the past eagerly await the next time Old Crow’s bus rolls into town. The five fellows the world has come to know as the Old Crow Medicine Show met in New York and hit the road soon after, traveling from city to city in a van and eventually settling for a year in North Carolina.
It was there, while playing in front of a pharmacy, they had the good luck to impress folk legend Doc Watson, who scheduled them at once to appear at his Merlefest.
From there, the band moved on to Nashville, where between appearances onstage at The Grand Ole Opry and on air with NPR’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” they managed to record their debut album “O.C.M.S.,” which was released by Nettwerk Records in 2004.
In the summer of 2006, Old Crow released their sophomore effort, “Big Iron World.”
Those in attendance at Thursday night’s show can expect to hear a good handful of tunes from this record, which in combination with “O.C.M.S.” has sold upwards of 200,000 copies.
The band answered a few questions for The Campus Press earlier this week during an impromptu interview conducted via email.
The Campus Press: What kinds of books can be found aboard the Old Crow bus?
Ketch Secor, Old Crow fiddler: Lotsa Joe Halderman, on this run some Edward Abbey.
CP: Does the band have a favorite beer?
Secor: Root beer, sasparilla, Kaliber, anything but Coors Cutter.
CP: Who’s the best band touring these days?
Secor: Willie Nelson and Family. Bob Dylan and His Band, though I miss Bucky Baxter on steel.
CP: Who would you call your influences?
Secor: The entire body of American Folksong. It’s the richest collection of its kind anywhere in the world.
CP: Where’s the best place to play?
Secor: Places with lots of layers exposed, where the bands and the fans have gathered over long stretches.
CP: Among those you’ve shared bills with, who’ve been your favorites?
Secor: I like a band up here called Open Road, a crack outfit, did a tight show with us once at The Ryman. I think we’re blessed to have opened a show once for Loretta Lynn.
CP: Where’s the best food in the country to be found?
Secor: The state of California, says Willie [Willie Watson, Old Crow guitarist]. Kevin [Kevin Hayes, guit-jo] asks, ‘Where are your favorite dumpsters?’ I say New Orleans before the ‘cane.
CP: In your estimation, do androids dream of electric sheep?
Secor: Morgan our bassist says, ‘No – they take electric Ambien.’
The Old Crow Medicine Show will perform at the Boulder Theater, located at 20232 14th St., on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $24.00.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Andrew Frankel at andrew.frankel@thecampuspress.com
