Steve Martin is known first as a comedian, and this will never change. It isn't because he doesn't do anything else than make people laugh. He does that at an elite level. He also creates music at an elite level.
Martin is currently on tour with long-time pal and Only Murders in the Building co-star, Martin Short. The two are consistently mining comedy gold. But that's always been something the general public knew they did well. Bluegrass fans had an appreciation of Steve Martin for a different reason.
And a rightful one. Martin has won five Grammys in his lifetime. (If you go to the show, it's part of the shtick.) Only two of those are due to his comedy. The other three are because he is ridiculously good at playing the banjo. He has showcased his talent with bands such as the Steep Canyon Rangers.
Steve Martin is the musical great we didn't know we needed
He does the same thing during different bits of his tour with Short. Leaving that talent out of the show would diminish everything, and both of the comedians know it. Short is brilliant at sketch comedy and making people laugh, but if Steve Martin had never made one person laugh, he would still have made a career out of making music.
Music has a place throughout the Steven Martin and Martin Short Dukes of Funnytown Tour. Short sings a lot, and does so well and with humor, while Steve Martin sings at times, too. His songs are more traditional, though.
It is when he brings out the excellent bluegrass band, Alison Brown and Fair Weather Friends, to join him (mind you, not back him) for a couple of numbers. Martin and the band recently released a new album, Safe, Sensible, and Sane, so part of the show works as a mini-tour backing the record.
The interplay between Martin and the group is priceless. The tunes aren't meant to be overtly and only funny, however. They are well-played and well-constructed. Martin plays one of two banjos, as does Brown. The overall sound is elite.
It should be noted that despite the bluegrass songs near the end of the concert, pianist Jeff Babko, who readers might remember as being a part of the band on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, has a part during the show as well. He is a comic foil for Short, but he is also a brilliant musician.
When one attends a Steven Martin and Martin Short Dukes of Funnytown Tour show, one knows what they are going for: The laughs. But the music is fantastic and important, just as Short and Martin want it to be.