Even without Old Crow Medicine Show, Ketch Secor burns down the house

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Ketch Secor performed at the Rams Head in Annapolis, Maryland on Monday night. He came on stage with his acoustic guitar, a cowboy hat, and a surprising accessory – a wire coat hanger sticking out of his jeans pocket. It turned out the hanger held his set list, and he moved it around the stage, hanging it on the microphone stands for himself and his two bandmates.

Critchfield, the co-founder and lead singer of Old Crow Medicine Show, is currently touring to promote his first solo album, Story the Crow Told Me, which came out last summer. He’s joined on tour by PJ George, a fellow Old Crow Medicine Show member who is playing bass, and talented slide guitarist Trevor Linden.

Okay, so it’s not exactly like seeing the full Old Crow Medicine Show, but Secor still brings all the energy. He’s hilarious on stage, really feels like he’s doing a stand-up routine mixed with the music. And honestly, the guy crams so much story and so many songs into a two-and-a-half-hour show, it’s amazing!

Even without his standard band, Ketch Secor puts on quite a show

I’ve noticed Secor really gets the Annapolis vibe. It’s not a regular stop for our touring group, but he’s originally from about 150 miles west, in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. It’s funny, whether it’s the mountains around Harrisonburg or the Chesapeake Bay here, he seems to connect with the slower pace of life, and it really comes through in his music. He felt totally comfortable sharing stories – and cracking jokes – about the people and places of the mid-Atlantic. It felt like he really belonged here.

So, I got to hear Secor talk about how he first started making music – basically, he played the whole album from beginning to end! It wasn’t just the songs though, he shared a ton of cool stories about what was happening in his life when he wrote them, which really made the music even more awesome.

From the very first song, “Busker’s Spell,” which evokes the band’s early days, to tracks like the driving “Dickerson Road” and the lively “Junkin’,” and culminating in the warmly reminiscent “What Nashville Was,” Secor consistently delivers an energetic performance that gets the audience singing along, even to songs they’ve never heard before.

He added lovely, personal details to the evening. The last song included a recording of “Girl From the North Country” performed by both Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, originally from Dylan’s album Nashville Skyline.

Once Secor completed his solo album, he and the band relaxed for a bit. They then returned for another performance, using a set list scribbled on a paper bag. This second set included popular Old Crow songs like “Alabama High-test” and “Methamphetamine,” as well as some unique, standout tracks.

Stephen Linden, known for his work with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, played a lively rendition of “Remedy,” a song he co-wrote with Jim Weider for The Band’s 1993 album, Jericho. Meanwhile, Frank Secor shared a funny and lengthy story about meeting John Prine early in his career, then beautifully performed Prine’s beloved song, “Paradise.”

Early in the second set, Secor spotted a family near the side of the stage holding a sign that their son was also named Ketch. He invited the cheerful boy up on stage for pictures and asked if he played any instruments. The boy replied that he plays the trumpet, and Secor then asked if he’d brought it with him.

It was clear that if young Ketch had actually had a trumpet, he would have been asked to play it on stage during the next song. Instead, Secor simply imagined a future where both Ketches would perform together, believing that this would finally bring about a long-awaited outcome.

Secor primarily played guitar throughout the night, but he also skillfully incorporated fiddle and harmonica. He’s clearly good at connecting with a crowd, and when he played Old Crow Medicine Show’s popular song “Wagon Wheel” on the fiddle near the end of the show, everyone joined in singing.

Ketch Secor has a gift for writing songs that people immediately know and love. Even if someone in the audience hadn’t heard “Wagon Wheel” before, you could bet they were singing along by the second verse.

Ketch Secor is wrapping up his current tour with a show in New York and several dates in North Carolina and Tennessee. He’ll take a short break before hitting the road again with OCMS. While the setlist might vary, you’re guaranteed a lively and fun performance whether he’s playing with his trio or his full band – Ketch Secor always delivers an energetic show.

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2025-11-04 17:00