Ketch Secor (center) and Old Crow harmonized

Old Crow Medicine Show is an acoustic Americana band. Acoustic and amped.

The Nashville bands interpretation of Bob Dylan music starting with his classic album Blonde on Blonde in its entirety and ending with Like a Rolling Stone was more electrifying live on Saturday at the Palace Theatrein St. Paul than Dylan probably has been in concert since his 1974 tour with the Band.

Yes, the instruments were acoustic guitar, upright bass, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, pedal steel guitar, dobro, accordion, piano and drums (the organ was electric). But the performers had the energy and enthusiasm of middle-aged punk rockers.

Hammy and hyper frontman Ketch Secor, 39, was so fired up that at times he seemed overanxious and too eager to please. He name checked St. Paul about 100 times and gave shout-outs to Dinkytown more than anyone in the history of modern music. He was so thrilled to be performing Dylan music in Dylans home state that he sometimes couldnt contain his excitement.

And, of course, this wasnt the first time Old Crow has played in the Twin Cities. Theyve performed several times on A Prairie Home Companion and in various local venues. In fact, multi-instrumentalist Critter Fuqua gave a shout-out to nearby Mickeys Diner.

When he handled lead vocals, Fuqua did a pretty good Dylan impression. Secor had the Dylanesque phrasing but his voice was smoother, more forceful and often more urgent than Dylans.

Both Secor and Fuqua, who cofounded the band 19 years ago, played several different instruments. Same was true for all seven members of Old Crow. The musicianship may have been the most impressive aspect of the two-hour, two-set performance. That and Secors ability to remember so many Dylan lyrics without a cheat sheet.

Some songs hewed close to the original arrangements such as Like a Rolling Stone, during which Secors harmonica was so loud that concertgoers wearing earplugs even covered their ears.

Some tunes were recast such as 4th Time Around as a waltz and the bluesy rocker Obviously 5 Believers as a smokin hot bluegrass breakdown.

Secor told the story of how OCMS came to collaborate with Dylan on writing a song. The bard had written Rock Me, Mama for 1973s soundtrack to Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. Secor added more lyrics more than two decades later and called the song Wagon Wheel. It became a signature for Old Crow and a country hit for Darius Rucker.

One Old Crow members met Dylan after "Wagon Wheel" was releasedand the great one told Mr. OCMS: You guys are killin it.

Secor told the St. Paul crowd that said hes thinking of having You guys are killin it tattooed across his chest.

Secor and crew did manage to rein it in at times. OCMS explored its old-time roots when five players huddled around one microphone (one other guy tap danced for percussion) for Knockin on Heavens Door and Blowin in the Wind.

That was a Dinkytown hootenanny 50 years later, Secor declared at songs end.

Lets see, Dylan left Dinkytown in 1960 and he wrote Blowin in the Wind in 1962. Ah, lets not quibble. Old Crow was a hoot. Period.

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Acoustic Old Crow Medicine Show electrifies Dylan at Palace ... - Minneapolis Star Tribune