I ask how the band feels about touring in the
UK and especially London? He says: “The fi rst
time we played in England was 2002/3.The
was sixty blocks long and they closed down UK is the launching point for all international
Broadway. This thing has been going on touring. It all starts in London. We plan to
for something like 85 years or so. It’s a big go over to Australia and New Zealand in the
television event on Thanks Giving Morning. Spring. That would not have happened if we
Everybody in America watches it. We were hadn’t played London seven times. We have
on a marshmallow based fl oat and there were a market for Country Music in the States
people dressed like marshmallows. It was but all the Country stars come over here. I
incredible. There were over a million people. feel it’s more of a nod to the past. We have
The crush was incredible. There were people Idaho. We have got Kansas. We got the ‘Bread
as far as you could see. We played our music. Basket’ for Country. It’s true I could just “After the show it
The atmosphere, the ‘force’ between those stay in Tennessee and play. That’s where our
people and myself was fantastic. After it was music is real popular.” can be a real crash.
all over I went into a corner in my hotel room
and threw up. The crash of it ending had So why the desire to travel? “Well, there is a Everybody handles
affected me so much.” challenge in all this. We have always wanted
to take our music to new places. To bear it differently. I don’t
I ask about the band itself and how it all works the torch. And as I have grown older I have
out between the members themselves. He learned that place is anywhere.” handle it very well.”
says: “In a band you have to work as a team.
It can be a problem for some bands. That’s Which brings me to ask Ketch about the band’s
why some break up. It’s hard to make choices unique style. Does it defy description?
together. With us it seems like the road is
laid before us. That we need to keep going “When we fi rst started we played old
up it. Every turn. Every twist. Like there is time string band music. It’s hillbilly, fi ddle
something really beautiful in sight. Like that music from the Southern Highlands-Virginia,
great night in London. There were many steps North Carolina and Tennessee. Once we
in the making for that to happen.” He adds learnt about Jug Band Music there was no
thoughtfully: “If you had never seen us before going back. Suddenly, it was let’s play like we
you would think we are a really popular act. are from Memphis. Let’s play like we are from
Everybody knows the songs....but there was Cincinnati. Then we got to Nashville and it
so much work that went into it.” was like: ‘Where are your songs boys. Where
are the songs you have written. This is a song
Because I am interested in the band’s writers town.”
popularity I ask. “How does a band so
resolutely American make it in the UK?” Old Crow Medicine Show is quintessentially
He says: “So many trips and hotels and American and Ketch agrees: “Our band was
lobbies where you may have one person hear fi rst formed in ‘98 and we are still pretty
your story And then one day, you have a much the same bunch. We might do a little
thousand. It’s a gradual growth. It happens to bit of Tom Dooley or Frankie and Johnny
good bands, It happens if you stick around. and at the same time we are song writers.
We stuck around. Set our differences aside We had to learn the language. We had to
and agreed it was more powerful for us go walk down some dusty roads. Sleep
together to make our statement than one out nights in the rain. We are just an
individual voice.” American music act.”
old crow.doc 2 30/10/08, 1:56:15 pm
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