Concert review: Steve Martin dazzles Utahns with his wit, banjo prowess

STEVE MARTIN, STEEP CAYNON RANGERS, THE PUNCH BROTHERS, Red Butte Garden Amphitheater, June 16

Make no mistake, Steve Martin is one helluva banjo player.

The iconic comedian, best know for his comedy albums, inimitable film characters (will we ever forget Navin R. Johnson?) and frequent guest appearances on "Saturday Night Live" revealed an entirely other facet Wednesday night at Red Butte Garden's outdoor amphitheater — a virtuoso musical talent.

Even in the rain, wind and cold that had a sold-out crowd huddling under umbrellas, Martin showed why he earned a Grammy last year for his debut, 16-song bluegrass album, "The Crow: New Songs for 5-string Banjo."

Taking the stage with the bluegrass quintet, Steep Canyon Rangers, as his backup band, Martin flashed his prowess right out of the gate, fingers flying in an instrumental that immediately roused the crowd.

While many may be surprised at Martin's new career twist, the banjo has been a close companion of his for decades, having popped up in comedy bits and appearances dating back to the '70s.

Martin's musical talent isn't just about mastery of his instrument — he penned all the original songs on his record, with help on a couple of tracks from bluegrass pro Pete "Dr. Banjo" Wernick and Gary Scruggs, son of the legendary bluegrass banjo master, Earl Scruggs. Martin attracted some A-list vocal talent as well, with Dolly Parton and Vince Gill pairing up on "Pretty Flowers."

While Martin's brand of bluegrass plants him firmly in the middle of the genre's tradition, the wit that made him famous shone through in stage banter between songs, and those who braved the blustery evening got a lot more than a solid bluegrass performance.

Of the song, "Go Away, Stop, Turn Around, Come Back," Martin said writing about matters of the heart was the easiest gig in music.

"I like to write songs about love because you can almost say anything," Martin said. "And it will be true for someone."

Though Martin's snappy bluegrass numbers and one-liners brightened the dreary weather, there was a bit of melancholia woven into the evening as well.

In one line of the song, "Daddy Plays the Banjo," Martin writes:

"I'm the banjo player that never had a kid."

Though Martin has had several marriages, he has no children.

Joining Martin at his Red Butte stop Wednesday was Brooklyn's Punch Brothers, led by mandolin player and vocalist Chris Thile, formerly of bluegrass trio Nickel Creek.

The five-piece band plays an edgier, "newgrass" version of the music Bill Monroe put on the map, and even mixed in covers of songs by The White Stripes and The Strokes to give the hipsters something to chatter about.

The Punch Brothers' second album, "Antifogmatic," was released Tuesday.

e-mail: araymond@desnews.com