Review: Old Crow Medicine Show offers serious tonic of songs

Old Crow Medicine Show’s new album, “Paint This Town,” includes songs about racism, the abolitionist movement, environmental degradation and the Mississippi flag

“Paint This Town,” Old Crow Medicine Show (ATO Records)

Due to the group’s name, good-timey tempos and comically frantic vocals, Old Crow Medicine Show can be mistaken for a hee-hawing string band not to be taken seriously. All of which makes the Nashville-based group’s new album deceptive in its delights.

“Paint This Town” is indeed a party starter, but there are also powerful songs about racism, drugs, the abolitionist movement, environmental degradation and the Mississippi flag.

Versatile frontman Ketch Secor’s distinctive delivery fits the material, whether his approach is crazed, comedic or conscientious. It turns out Secor can sound a lot like Joe Strummer, and some of the subject matter is Clash-worthy.