Fresh from the country spotlight, Old Crow to play Memorial Saturday

By Casey Phillips

Staff Writer

In early 2009, the members of roots-rock/old-time outfit Old Crow Medicine Show were flying pretty high, thanks largely to the fact that their 2008 album, "Tennessee Pusher," had broken into the Top 10 of the Billboard Country chart.

If you goWhat: Old Crow Medicine Show featuring special guest Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives.When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22.Where: Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave.Admission: $29.50-$34.50, plus convenience fees.Phone: 423-642-8497.Venue website: www.ChattanoogaOnStage.com.Artist website: www.crowmedicine.com.

Despite that positive reception, however, lead singer Ketch Secor wondered whether Old Crow would ever amount to more than a footnote in the annals of country music.

He wasn't mad about it or even disappointed, just in a pondering sort of mood.

"I don't think the country music machine has considered what my band means or how they could benefit from them," he confided, in a previous interview with the Times Free Press.

"We had a hotter record than Montgomery Gentry - and maybe for that week, country music looked in our direction and wondered and thought about how much they were missing out on. But I think, quickly, they returned to their own arena where there are 1,000 video screens showing 1,000 songs a day. They didn't want us under that big top anyway."

Fast-forward five years, however, and it quickly becomes apparent just how wrong he was about Old Crow's place in that universe. On Sept. 17, Secor and his bandmates were inducted into the most hallowed hall in country music as the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry.

Less than two months later, a Darius Rucker cover of Old Crow's signature song, "Wagon Wheel" - a rollicking old-time anthem derived from a never-finished Bob Dylan song - was named the Song of the Year at the BMI Country Awards.

Maybe Nashville was paying attention after all.

"I guess what it indicates is that the wheels are turning and there's a little bit of a change that has been visited upon stubborn old Nashville that only ever wanted to make a buck," Secor says. "It turns out they want to make great music, too. When change happens, they take notice."

Discography1998: "Trans:mission"2000: "Greetings From Wawa"2001: "Eutaw"2003: "Live"2004: "O.C.M.S."2006: "Big Iron World"2008: "Tennessee Pusher"2012: "Carry Me Back"2014: "Remedy"

Despite their success, the musicians haven't taken too long to breath easy, much less pat themselves on the back. Instead they've opted to keep putting asphalt under their wheels in the spirit of folk icons such as Woody Guthrie whose "wandering minstrel of the people" philosophy is as evident in the band's mindset as his music is in their sound.

Saturday, Nov. 22, they'll return to the Scenic City to take the stage at Memorial Auditorium alongside country legend Marty Stuart, who Secor describes as "the master ... the zenith of mandolin playing" and "a wizard entertainer."

And even though they've played it thousands upon thousands of times, Secor says he'll be pleased to make sure audiences hear the "Wagon Wheel" turning. Because there's nothing wrong with a hit song, he says, even if the best musicians don't need one.

"You have to be able to stand up there and be entertaining without any props, but a hit song is kind of the best of props," Secor says, laughing. "Having'Wagon Wheel' is like playing a 15­-story fiddle; everybody wants to see it."

Contact Casey Phillips at cphillips@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6205.

Follow him on Twitter at @Phillips CTFP.

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