EASTON, Pa. — Old Crow Medicine Show’s Saturday night stop at the State Theatre could be described as a barn burner of a concert.
But rest assured, despite the impassioned energy of the performance, the venerable venue stood sound.
Besides, even if the theater went up in flames, Old Crow just might have stuck around to help with the rebuilding, if only to throw another hootenanny of a show to celebrate.
Ringing in its 25th year together, the American roots band — which combines and distills elements of country, folk, traditional tunes and more — threw one hell of a party with its Jubilee Tour 2024, featuring Willie Watson.
Ringing in its 25th year together, the American roots band — which combines and distills elements of country, folk, traditional tunes and more — threw one hell of a party with its Jubilee Tour 2024, featuring Willie Watson.
The tour rides on the coattails of the band’s latest release, "Jubilee," which serves as an exploration of the bands storied history from busking street corners across New York and Canada to joining the Grand Ole Opry to working alongside legends including the likes of Willie Nelson.
It’s a look both back and forward, celebrating the past of American music while adding to the pantheon.
Watson opens, the boys jump in
Before Old Crow took to the stage, Willie Watson, a founding member of the group, played a short opening set accompanied by violin and upright bass.
The traditional folk feel was strong, with Watson’s setlist, evoking a small get-together with friends enjoying some whiskey on the back porch during a nice summer night.
He kicked off with a few originals from his album that will drop in the fall, warming up the crowd with a few classics, and then rounded out his stage time with a piece written for his wife, “The Only Real Love That I Have Ever Known.”
Once the boys of Old Crow — Ketch Secor, Mike Harris, Morgan Jahning, Mason Via, Dante Pope, PJ George and Cory Younts — took to the stage, the crowd erupted as they started “Tell It To Me,” a raunchy little track about how “Cocaine’s gonna kill my honey dead.”
The band seamlessly jumped onto the next track after Secor grabbed a fiddle, his instrument of choice for most of the night — at least when he wasn’t on the acoustic guitar or the harmonica — and blazed through “Chicken Pie” as attendees cheered to a tune so fast-paced it would put Johnny from “The Devil Went Down to George” to shame.
Folk, blues, covers and gospel
The night continued on for roughly two hours of predominantly high-energy hits from the band’s quarter-century history, including “Paint This Town” from the 2022 album of the same name, among other rapid-fire hits that had fans doing jigs in the aisles.
Touching upon some of the band's bluesy heritage, “Down Home Girl” off of 2006’s Big Iron World” told the twangy tale of a woman without airs, with the boys — including Watson — singing, “Well I swear your perfume, babe, is made out of turnip greens/Every time I kiss you girl it tastes like pork and beans.”
Sprinkled throughout the evening were a few covers (Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary”) and throwbacks that have become a part of Americana (Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “Sixteen Tons,” with the crowd hanging on every chord).
Of course, a quick break is necessary every once in awhile, and Old Crow took a moment here and there to play some more solemn and moody, broody tunes, such as “Allegheny Lullaby,” detailing the familiar tale of life in a dead-end town: “It’s factory, gas station or join.”
Expanding its palate a bit, the band brought out the rejoiceful gospel track “One Drop,” leaving the deity in question up to the believer as they harmonized, “It takes one drop to lift these many waters/It takes one drop to roll these many waters away/It takes one drop to lift these many waters/'Fore we turn still waters to rolling waves.”
Joshing around, and 'Wagon Wheel'
It wouldn’t have been an Old Crow Medicine Show performance without a bit of playful banter, as the band members joked about after-show plans.
“We’re gonna get some pool noodles, we’re gonna get some floaties, we’re gonna get some life jackets, we’re gonna get naked, we’re gonna get a lot of beer, and we’re gonna get wet” in the Delaware River.Old Crow Medicine Show member Cory Younts
“We’re gonna get some pool noodles, we’re gonna get some floaties, we’re gonna get some life jackets, we’re gonna get naked, we’re gonna get a lot of beer, and we’re gonna get wet” in the Delaware River, Younts said.
There also was a bit of discourse about the pronunciation of Bethlehem — whether you read it all out or go with “Bethlem” — with Secor stating, “It was good enough for Jesus, he didn’t need those superfluous syllables.”
Joshing aside, the band showed a strong connection to the crowd, with raucous cheers, rhythmic claps, and plenty of dancing throughout the whole evening, just as Old Crow would have it.
And, of course, Old Crow had to wrap it up with their double platinum hit single “Wagon Wheel,” which has a folksy history all its own, passing through the hands of Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup and Bob Dylan before Secor and his brother Jay completed the ditty.
For that one, the whole audience got up off its seats to sing the beloved chorus of, “So, rock me mama like a wagon wheel/Rock me mama any way you feel/Hey, mama rock me/Rock me mama like the wind and the rain/Rock me mama like a southbound train/Hey, mama rock me” at the top of its lungs.
It finished with resounding cheers and applause.
It was a fitting end to one energetic evening, with a packed house of Old Crow fanatics pouring out on Northampton Street with a bit of fiddle in their hearts.
Let’s just hope no one got too tipsy before that trip to the Delaware.
