Grand Old Opry Tour last night in Cary,NC

**Darren Kern** · Jul-03-2005, 9:12am

I went to the show last night, Old Crow Medicine Show sounded as good as ever. They played CC Rider, Wagon Wheel, Tear it Down, and I think one other one that I can't remember right now. That was it, that's all the time they were given. The show was similar to the format of the real Grand Old Opry, where the main act (Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder) came out first for a song, then played a tune with the rest of the groups before playing their own set. It was disappointing that the boys didn't get a longer set, but like I said, they sounded great.

Del and the boys were great as usual, they played a couple of songs from their upcoming CD that were REALLY good, then they played the 1952 Vincent Black Lightning. Ronnie is my favorite mandolin player and he didn't disappoint. Riders in the Sky (western band) wasn't really my style and I didn't think I would like them, but they are fantastic musicians and a lot of fun. Patty Loveless was... well, I'm sure she was probably ok if you're into mainstream country, which I'm not.

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder was phenomenal. They played a lot of Bill Monroe songs at a blistering pace, including Rawhide, and it was quite obvious to everyone that Ricky has assembled a band of some of the most talented musicians in bluegrass music. Ricky is great on the mandolin of course, and Andy Leftwich on fiddle (wish he would've grabbed the mando for a song or two), Cody Kilby on guitar, and their banjo player- can't think of his name but he's from Raleigh- really stole the show. Unbelievable musicians.

I think the concert accomplished what they wanted it to, I saw some young folks that were obviously there to see the Crows really getting into the traditional bluegrass groups, and when I was waiting in line to get a t-shirt, there were several folks in line asking which CD had that "song about Raleigh" on it, and then buying it without hesitation. Here's a few pics, only one of Old Crow... sorry for the bad quality. http://community.webshots.com/album/384674915aBWuSn?431

EDIT: #For some reason when I posted this I said Pam Tillis was there, it was Patty Loveless. #Brain cramp.

ANOTHER EDIT: It was Cody Kilby ripping up the acoustic guitar, not Darren Vincent... although Darren was playing acoustic rhythym guitar in the band.

**Moose** · Jul-03-2005, 1:01pm

Hey! - Thanks for sharing!! - In my personal opinion.., there's NOTHIN' like a good LIVE concert! - and, you saw/heard some of the best. That banjo player's name is Jim Mills - ('less RK has changed pickers). That's Bluegrass at it's best -IMHO. Again, thanks for the "review". Moose.