Old Crow Medicine Show
June 22, 2007
Lupo's in Providence, RI

I went to this show not having a clue as to how big the crowd would be or what type of crowd would be at the show. The crowd was pretty big (500-700 people); more than I expected, and it was full of an assortment of people. There were youngsters, old timers, middle aged couples, ugly people, country people, hippies, punk rockers, big drinkers and more than its fair share of bearded people, and one baby. The cool thing was that everyone was happy and friendly (not that I would expect a fight or anything to break out at an Old Crow Medicine Show concert), and people would actually smile and say hello when they walked by.

Old Crow Medicine Show played two 45 minute sets (approximately), wtih a 15 minute break in between. There was no need for ear plugs at this show due to the nature of their style (basically unplugged and no drums), which had people singing along and dancing "hoe down barnyard" style. What they lacked in stage presence (they pretty much just stood there with the exception of one guy who seemed really coked out), they more than made up for in proficient skill at their instruments and wonderful execution of the songs. The fiddler was constantly displaying his chops, stealing the show on more than one occasion, though the other guys held their own as well. I lost the set list that I was keeping track of (thats what I get for waiting over a month to type up the review), but they ended their first set with a great version of Woody Guthrie's "Union Maid," that had almost everybody dancing uncontrollably.

Their second set was just as good as the first, maybe better due to the fact that it included "Big Time in the Jungle" and "Wagon Wheel," which literally had everybody in the crowd singing along, a wonderful moment to be present at.

Everyone there was pretty amazed by their knowledge of Rhode Island. They had a few references that went beyond the Providence Place Mall (referencing the seldomly visited Warwick Mall), but they blew the crowd away by introducing the band by giving them Rhode Island names. One was T. F. Green (the airport), another Buddy Cianci, two that I forgot and one the late great Salty Brine, a (former) local talk DJ who became famous for announcing that Foster-Glocester had no school on snowy days. Nobody in the crowd really wanted them to stop playing, so they did an encore, ending with Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay," a wonderful ending to a great show.

Written by: RF
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