Music Review: OCMS Live at the Ryman

Hm, mentioned this album back in October, ordered it immediately, and have played it at least once a week ever since.  It's pure Old Crow Medicine Show playing at the mother church of country music, so you know it's got to be good.  All of the songs are old familiars, but more than that, it's a gathering of friends.  The very first voice you hear is music historian and long-time WSM DJ Eddie Stubbs introducing the band, along with guest singer Margo Price chiming in, followed by the band, with a hearty welcome.

The songs, once again, are old favorites, but they have a new upbeat twist on them.  Even the songs of grief, like "Take 'em Away" and "Methamphetamine," have a an upbeat shine.  It's more that they're helping people celebrate beating hard times than playing the blues over them.  From anyone else this would be, well, not quite right.  From OCMS at the Ryman, it's time to celebrate.  If they do this with the downbeat numbers, the upbeat ones are even more jump-up-and-sing numbers.  And of course "Wagon Wheel" is the next-to-last, done as a sing-along.  The only problem, if it can be called that, is that the music ends too soon.  A follow-up Volume II would be most welcome, i.e., shut up and take my money already.

However... if you haven't heard OCMS before, it may be all too much.  It may be better start out with their studio albums, or even "Best of."  This is high-test music played with high energy between friends, and a more gentle introduction may be needed.  That's frequently the case with live albums, and this is one of the more amped-up examples.  Exercise good judgement and due caution.

Here, watch the promo trailer, you'll see what this is about: over a hundred years of traditions rolled up with modern energy into one slick package.