Old Crow Medicine Show – Circle the Wagons Tour
with Trey Hensley
Mayo Performing Arts Center – Morristown, NJ – April 23, 2025
Review and Photos – Rebecca Wolf
https://www.instagram.com/rebeccawolfconcertphotos/
I entered Mayo Performing Arts Center on April 23rd for Old Crow Medicine Show’s performance with very minimal knowledge of what I’d be seeing or hearing. Beyond knowing the group’s signature song “Wagon Wheel,” I couldn’t recall having heard any of their other songs. I didn’t even know the scope or range of the band’s music; were they country artists, bluegrass, folk? However, being that I liked “Wagon Wheel” I figured that if their overall sound and energy was similar I’d probably like their other music as well. That evening I was exhausted even before arriving at the theater and I wondered if I’d be able to last the whole performance. When it’s a band I know (and love), with songs I can sing along to, the music is like a shot of adrenaline. As that was not the case this evening, I wondered if I’d be able to make it. Little did I know…..
Extending the performance even longer was the opening act, Trey Hensley. The name was completely unfamiliar to me, so I had no idea what to expect. I surely did not expect to witness a wizard on the guitar. I had no inkling that before me onstage was a Grammy nominated musician and singer-songwriter who was voted 2023’s Guitar Player of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). No more than a few bars into Henley’s first song, “Can’t Outrun the Blues,” and I was blown away by his white-hot picking on the strings and the lightning speed with which his fingers moved on the guitar frets. It wasn’t just me who was impressed. Audience members remained mesmerized as Henley performed, breaking into whistles and cheers at the end of the number.
Toning things down to a slower pace, Hensley followed with a cover of Jimmy Driftwood’s “Tennessee Stud,” which displayed his warm, melodic, country vocals “Thank you…glad to be here. This is my first night with Old Crow,” Hensley shared with the audience. “Last year I released a duo album with Robbie Ickes (titled Living in a Song…their fourth album.) I also played on an album with Taj Mahal that won a Grammy,” he said to the applause of the crowd, referring to Swingin’ Live at the Church in Tulsa that won 2025’s Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album. The more I learned about Hensley and observed the reaction from the audience, the more I became aware that Trey Hensley was not just “some opening act.” In addition to incredible guitar skills, Hensley continued to showcase beautifully deep, rich, country vocals during his song “Back Streets Off Broadway,” from Living in a Song.
Hensley continued to showcase his virtuoso guitar abilities during a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Big River,” a fast-paced number with racing fingers movements. Following with a one-man acoustic version of The Allman Brothers’ “Blue Sky,” huge cheers arose from the crowd at the end of this iconic number. Additional songs included, Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried” and The Band’s “Up on Cripple Creek,” which brought applause rippling through the crowed. Hensley’s set closed with a dynamic cover of Willie Dixon’s “You Can’t Judge a Book By the Cover.” Hensley’s rich, textured country vocals, paired with his phenomenal guitar skills, garnered him a much deserved standing ovation. “I was going to tell you to come see me after my set at my merch table, right next to the bathroom,” Hensley laughed. “However, it seems I’m going to be coming right back on stage with Old Crow…so I can’t meet you by the bathroom,” he chuckled again. “Wow,” I thought. “His first night with Old Crow and he’s coming back out with them.” While I was sufficiently impressed with Hensley from what I’d already seen, I’d end up even more impressed as the evening went on.
Still not knowing what to expect, I awaited the arrival of Old Crow Medicine Show. As the lights rose onstage, the towering circus tent backdrop created the look of an old-time carnival. Suddenly, bounding onstage with the exuberance of a big top performer was the band’s founding member – frontman, lead singer, fiddle, guitar and harmonica player, Ketch Secor. Twirling his cowboy hat on one finger and spinning himself around, Secor radiated joyful energy that instantly commanded the crowd’s attention. As he sang and danced his way to centerstage, band members joined in and the musical party was started.
The exhaustion I’d been feeling prior to the start of the performance was quickly swept away, as I found myself completely caught up in the high-spirited movement around the stage. As someone who’s become a fan of bluegrass in the last few years, I was immediately locked into the sound of the string instruments, particularly the mandolin and banjo. In a matter of a few minutes, I’d gone from having minimal knowledge of Old Crow Medicine Show to being completely engaged and transfixed by them. “How did I not know about this band before?” I asked myself. “Why am I always about two decades late to the game?” (Being firmly planted in the 70s and 80s for several decades was the answer to that question.)
Throughout the 2-hour set the band performed a range of songs from their more than 20 years of music. Songs included, “Cocaine Habit,” from 2006’s Big Iron World,
“Alabama High-Test” and “Methamphetamine” from 2008’s Tennessee Pusher, “Carry Me Back,” the title song from the 2012 album, “Sweet Amarillo,” “Tennessee Bound” and “Sweet Home” from 2014’s Remedy, and “Dixie Avenue” and “Old Hickory” from 2018’s Volunteer. Some of their music leans more towards country, some has more of a bluegrass sound, some could be called Americana. However, whether country, bluegrass, Americana or a combination, their live performance was an incredible auditory and visual display of dynamic, down-home, whimsical energy. Whether singing and sawing away at his fiddle centerstage or dancing across the stage to jam with each bandmate, Secor was the dynamic ringleader around whom the entire band revolved. “Thanks for being here, Morristown, NJ! This is the first night of our spring tour,” he announced to energetic applause from the crowd. “My sister was born in Morristown but I’m originally from Denville. But, since I’m a Nashville guy now I have to lie about being from NJ. You know, like Dylan lied about where he’s from,” he laughed along with the crowd.
Between numbers Secor would momentarily catch his breath as he spoke to the crowd, sharing information about upcoming numbers. “Time for us to play a waltz,” he relayed. There’s ample place here at Mayo PAC for you to do the waltz on the right and left of the theater.” With this encouragement to get up and dance, couples happily flocked to the side aisles to take a spin as the music played. “We are going to the Poconos now. We are going honky tonking!” Secor proclaimed as the sounds of an old time saloon filled the theater and fans enthusiastically clapped along. “This guy on the squeeze box,” Secor announced, pointing to musician, vocalist and baton twirler Tyler Nichols (a performer with the band) “is going to teach you to do the 2-step.” Again eager to be up on their feet dancing, hundreds in the audience joined in at their seats, while others migrated to the theater sides of the theater to do the 2-step, as Nichols sang a cover of The Charlie Daniels Band’s “Tennessee Two Step.”
At one moment, my eyes were drawn to the keyboards and I suddenly became confused. Hadn’t I just seen that keyboardist on the mandolin? And wait, wasn’t the drummer playing the banjo before? It was then that I realized that most of the musicians were multi-instrumentalists and had been rotating instruments for each number. Just when I’d marvel at a musician playing a different instrument, the next song would start and they’d be playing yet another one. The seamless transitions and sheer versatility were astonishing to me. Secor, on fiddle throughout the majority of the performance, also plays, harmonica, banjo, and guitar. Chance McCoy moved between guitar, mandolin, fiddle and banjo. Cory Younts, spent the majority of time on keyboards but took a leave from the keys to play banjo, mandolin and harmonica, and cover on drums for PJ George, who left his perch behind the drum kit to play accordion, and additionally showcased his talents on banjo, mandolin, fiddle and guitar. Upright bassist Morgan Jahnig was the only band member faithful to his one instrument. Needless to say, I was thoroughly impressed.
I was likewise captivated by guitarist Trey Hensley, who I originally thought was popping on for a song or two. However, he remained for the entire performance, stepping in for band member Mike Harris, as he and his wife had a baby that day. What was unbelievable to me was that Hensley performed each and every song with the precision and gusto of a long-standing band member. I was baffled. He’d said it was his first night with Old Crow Medicine Show, so how did he know all of these songs? No matter the answer, I was enthralled by his phenomenal guitar skills.
In addition to playing songs from their own catalog, the band performed a number of covers of country, folk and blues musicians, including CCR’s “Proud Mary,” Jerry Reeds’ “If the Good Lord’s Willing and the Creeks Don’t Rise,” “Otis Blackwell’s “Great Balls of Fire,” and Bob Dylan’s “Song to Woody.” You never forget your first time, whether it’s your first time playing in NJ or your first Jersey girl,” Secor said with a devilish grin, as the crowd cheered and the band followed with a cover of The Bellamy Brothers “Redneck Girl.” Congregating at centerstage around a double-headed microphone, the string players performed an incredible acoustic cover of Ma Rainey’s “CC Rider,” before continuing with a cover of Woody Guthrie’s “Union Maid.” “Woody Guthrie spent the last several years of his life here in Morristown, in an institution. So, we’re going to do a song in honor of Woody…a union song for women,” said Secor to audience applause.
The moment the first notes of “Wagon Wheel” rang out, every fan in the audience instantly recognized the band’s iconic anthem and leapt to their feet in excitement. The musicians onstage radiated not just joy, but a contagious energy that spread throughout the theater by the hundreds in the crowd who sang along to the song’s chorus “So rock me, mama, like a wagon wheel, Rock me, mama, any way you feel Hey, mama, rock me…” Returning for the encore, the band performed a cover of the The Band’s beloved, classic “The Weight.” Younts opened the song, singing the first verse, followed by Secor on the second, George on the third and back to Younts on the fourth. Not only are these incredibly skilled musicians but it was clear they are talented vocalists as well. “It’s music that brings us together. It’s restorative. It’s healing. It’s good medicine,” said Secor. A cover of “I Saw the Light,” by Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys, with Younts again showcasing dynamic vocals, indeed brought everyone together for one last bit of Old Crow magic.
I believe Secor is 100% correct ….music brings people together and its GREAT medicine, especially when it’s the dynamic, high-spirted, fun-loving, foot-stomping music of Old Crow Medicine Show. In a matter of minutes, I went from limited knowledge of this band to completely engaged by their music, their energy and their incredible instrumental skills. I’m more than glad I made it through the whole performance.
