Music Any Down Home Girl Will Love

Do you ever miss that down-home music of old? The type of songs Ma and Pa would play after a long day on the ranch. Well, even if you never set foot outside the city, you can still enjoy the early folk sounds of Old Crow Medicine Show on their EP Down Home Girl.DHG is the perfect display of what this five-person band can do. The title track introduces its listeners to a blend of blues and folk. Willie Watson’s tender voice unites both genres while sharing center stage with Ketch Secor’s impressive harmonica. The song’s lyrics are filled with over-the-top southern imagery that country tunes are often known for. “Every time I kiss you girl / you taste like pork-n-beans.” However, they also take the best parts of the genre and incorporate it into their music. Each member from Morgan Jahing’s upright bass to Kevin Hayes guitjo (half guitar half banjo) are used to the fullest.

In “James River Blues,” the band tries a more traditional folk sound, becoming a powerhouse of harmonization while keeping the easy-going atmosphere of the song. On “Fall On My Knees,” the boys crank up the energy with this spot-on bluegrass anthem. You might even think you’ve stepped into a barn full of line-dancing fools. Secor takes the lead again with his fiddle, making you wonder how any band gets along without one. Though only three songs long Down Home Girl is a thorough ride through OCMS’ version of what country used to be and what it could still be today.