The Story The Crow Told Me Soars at Garcia’s in Chicago With Ketch Secor

Ketch Secor rolled into Chicago with his debut solo tour, The Story The Crow Told Me, turning Garcia's into the kind of venue where stories and songs felt like old friends catching up. Garcia’s, for those who’ve yet to step foot inside, isn’t your typical venue. It’s part music spot, part shrine to the late Jerry Garcia, with walls dressed up in vinyl and vibes that scream, “Stay a while.” The mix of nostalgia and modern edge made it the perfect stage for Ketch’s new venture.

All Photos By: Aaron R. Shriver Photography

From the moment you walked in, you knew you weren’t in for your average night of music. The staff worked the room like seasoned pros who also just happened to genuinely care if you were having a good time. They nailed that sweet spot between making the place feel like a laid-back neighborhood hangout and a high-end music showcase. Add in a room that felt intimate enough for you to hear the banter from the stage but big enough to let the music fully bloom, and you’ve got a recipe for a pretty magical night.

Ketch wasted no time setting the tone. Even before the first chord, the space seemed to transform, one part concert venue, one part storytelling lounge. This was no slick, rehearsed production, though. Ketch gave you the sense that this was a musical scrapbook come to life, and he was about to walk you through it page by page. From the murmurs in the crowd, you could tell everyone was there for more than just the music; they were there to connect, to be a part of something. The energy wasn’t just in the songs but in the shared laughs, the head nods, and that collective moment when everyone realized this wasn’t just a gig; it was Ketch’s love letter to his roots.

Ketch Secor, best known as the frontman of Old Crow Medicine Show, has finally decided to step into the solo spotlight. The result? A personal, storytelling-heavy debut album, *The Story the Crow Told Me*, which dives into his early OCMS days as a street busker and paints a vivid picture of his journey to Nashville. Produced by Jody Stevens, the album isn't just a one-man show. Ketch brought some heavy hitters to the party, like Marty Stuart, Molly Tuttle, and even Willie Watson, an OCMS co-founder. He’s also sprinkled some Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash references in there because, let’s be honest, it wouldn’t be a proper Nashville ode without those two. From raw street grit to Music City grandeur, this album tells Ketch’s story with a side of twang and humor. And now, he’s taken it live to show us all just how much fun you can have with a fiddle, a story, and a little Chicago banter.

Ketch Secor hit the stage at Garcia's with the kind of unpolished charm that makes you feel like you’re catching up with an old friend who just happens to have a guitar in hand. With PJ George III and Collin Linden backing him up, the trio launched into “Buskers Spell,” kicking things off with a mix of grit and heart. The whole set felt like a guided tour through Ketch’s scrapbook of memories, and he wasn’t afraid to get personal, or hilarious, along the way.

In true storyteller fashion, Ketch sprinkled in anecdotes that had the crowd alternately laughing and nodding in quiet appreciation. One highlight? His crack about introducing Ryne Sandberg to his daughter, followed by the realization from the crowd that Sandberg had recently passed. Without missing a beat, Ketch placed his hat over his heart, gave a quick tribute, and turned the moment into something both touching and funny. That’s the kind of charm money can’t buy.

As he worked through tracks from his debut album like “Talkin’ Doc Blues”, the stories behind the songs came to life. He talked about sleeping in a halfway house back in the days when Nashville wasn’t the polished tourist trap it is now, giving the audience a vivid look at the hustle behind his journey. Songs like “Ghost Train” and “Dickerson Road” became more than just melodies; they were pieces of a bigger puzzle, snapshots of his winding road to musical success.

But Ketch didn’t just rely on nostalgia. His ability to keep the audience engaged with off-the-cuff banter and jokes, like his playful comparison of Nashville to Chicago’s South Side, gave the show a laid-back, in-the-moment feel. Between the humor, the heartfelt moments, and the unvarnished honesty in his delivery, Ketch turned the night into something more than a concert. It felt like sitting around a campfire with the world’s most entertaining tour guide. He followed with “Old Man River”, “Catch Me If You Can”, & “Highland Rim”.

“Junkin’” got a nod from the crowd, partly because it hit so close to home in a venue surrounded by walls of vinyl. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to hit up a thrift store, dig through dusty bins, and find something that feels like a piece of treasure, though you’ll never look as cool doing it as Ketch sounds singing about it.

Then there was “On The Wall,” a cheeky nod to the moment he realized he might be onto something when his face started popping up on posters. The way he delivered it made it feel less like bragging and more like a guy marveling at how far he’d come from those street-busking days. “Thanks Again” tugged at heartstrings, a sincere thank-you card to the scrappy beginnings of his career, while “Holes In The Wall” was a love letter to the dives that shaped him, and let’s be real, every great musician’s got a few of those in their back pocket.

And let’s not forget “What Nashville Was,” a track that hits differently live. With a voice-over from Johnny Cash mid-song, it painted a bittersweet picture of a city that’s changed as much as Ketch has. It was a heavy hitter, and you could feel the weight of it in the room.

After wrapping up the journey through his debut album & a brief intermission, Ketch Secor and his band came back to the stage and shifted gears into full-blown Old Crow Medicine Show mode. It was like flipping a switch from introspective storytelling to rowdy, foot-stomping energy, and the crowd ate it up. They launched into "Alabama High Test," and you could almost feel the floor shake as everyone got swept up in the breakneck pace.

From there, it was one crowd-pleaser after another, with "I Hear Them All" and "Methamphetamine" reminding everyone why OCMS has stayed such a powerhouse for so long. Collin Linden took the lead on a fiery cover of The Band's "Remedy," and it was one of those moments where the entire room seemed to collectively lean in. It wasn’t just a tribute, it felt alive, like a continuation of everything The Band stood for, mixed with OCMS's raw grit.

The band kept the momentum rolling with "Dixie Avenue" and "Levi," giving die-hard OCMS fans exactly what they came for. By this point, the whole room was buzzing, and Ketch wasn’t about to let the energy dip. Then came "Wagon Wheel," the song everyone had been waiting for, whether they’d admit it or not. As soon as the opening notes hit, the crowd lost it. They practically drowned Ketch out with their singing, but judging by the grin on his face, he didn’t mind one bit. It was one of those perfect concert moments where everyone in the room was on the same wavelength, belting out a song they all knew by heart.

Ketch Secor didn’t just play a show at Garcia’s; he created a whole experience. It was part live album, part comedy hour, and part heartfelt reunion with fans who’ve been along for the ride since his busking days. From the offbeat stories to the raw, unfiltered delivery of his debut album, Ketch proved he’s just as captivating solo as he is with Old Crow Medicine Show. He’s the kind of performer who makes you feel like you’re in on the joke, the journey, and the music all at once.

What made the night even better was how every song felt alive, almost as if the room itself became part of the performance. The intimacy of Garcia’s paired perfectly with the storytelling nature of Ketch’s set, giving every lyric and anecdote extra weight. The crowd wasn’t just there to listen; they were there to connect, to laugh at his jokes, and to feel the stories behind the songs in a way you just can’t get from streaming an album at home.

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If you get a chance to see Ketch Secor live, don’t think twice. Whether you’re a die-hard OCMS fan or just someone who appreciates a night of music that feels more personal than polished, this show is for you. And hey, if his tour doesn’t roll through your town, consider a road trip, because seeing him perform these songs live is worth the drive and then some.

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Ketch Secor Set-List:

Busker’s Spell

Talkin’ Doc Blues

Ghost Train

Dickerson Road

Old Man River

Catch Me If You Can

Highland Rim

Junkin’

On The Wall

Thanks Again

Holes In The Wall

What Nashville Was

Intermission

Alabama High-Test (Old Crow Medicine Show song)

I Hear Them All (Old Crow Medicine Show song)

Methamphetamine (Old Crow Medicine Show song)

Remedy (The Band Cover) [Sung by Collin Linden]

Dixie Avenue (Old Crow Medicine Show song)

Levi (Old Crow Medicine Show song)

Wagon Wheel (Old Crow Medicine Show song)