O.C.M.S.

Recently, my mentor teacher and I have been teaching high-schoolers about the roots of country music in the History of American Popular Music class... that's why this is relevant:

Last winter, I had several new experiences. I went skiing for the first time and I heard Old Crow Medicine Show for the first time. I was in the bar at the Alta Peruvian Ski Lodge drinking one of my favorite Czech beers (my wife & I lived there the year before) spending time with my family. The pot-head ski bums behind the bar were playing various tunes over the speakers through their iPod's.

After listening to a few songs, making random guesses about who it may be, I approached the bartenders. "Who is this?" I had never heard of Old Crow Medicine Show, but it was a hell of a name and I was immediately intrigued.

Upon returning home, I sought out their albums and was surprised to find that these guys were young and that the music was current. Somehow, despite production and other elements, it seemed older. Anyone who digs American folk music and traditional Appalachian music should really check them out. They tackle plenty of old standards as well as lesser-known gems, but they also add a few of their own songs in. Their self-penned songs are usually well worth

listening to and fit in quite nice with the others.

On a side note... these guys also have a rowdy, rock n' roll side that keeps you at a distance. Here are their first two albums from '04 and '06 respectively.