All comedians have it; it just depends on when, or if, they want to reveal it to the public. Dave Chapelle certainly showed us that “other” side a couple of years ago, when he left a very lucrative contract with Comedy Central and took refuge in Africa to figure himself out. Other comedians have also had strange turns of events in their lives, which suggest that they aren't all funny, all the time.



This is very apparent for comedic legend Steve Martin. Martin is in the throes of releasing an album – no, it's not stand-up --- and preparing to embark on a tour in support of it.

The album is titled The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo; and yes, it is a bluegrass record and yes, he is serious. Apparently, Martin is a pretty handy banjo player and fell in love with the instrument years ago – 45 years to be exact.

In fact, he was quoted as saying: “The banjo generated nostalgia for experiences I never had, joy I was yet to experience and melancholy that was yet to come.”

Much of the music on the album is simply re-recorded tunes that are being re-released from his early 80s comedy record, The Steve Martin Brothers.

The interesting thing about the CD is that for Martin, there is a point to releasing it. It details his long, checkered history with this instrument that he just couldn't seem to master when he first began playing it.

He cites it as being “the most undemanding thing in my life” and something that is “always there for you.” He even reflects his love for the banjo in the liner notes of the CD.

All of which is warm, honest, heartfelt and decidedly unfunny; this is because Martin is showing us a more vulnerable side of himself than we are used to seeing in some of his more slapstick moments.

This is not to say that this won't be quite a switch; after all, we are used to seeing him do stand-up routines, it will be quite different and fascinating, in a good way, to just see Martin and his banjo on stage, rocking out.

The tour is a fairly short one, with a Steve Martin Boston date as well as a Steve Martin Atlanta show. Steve Martin Chicago fans will delight in his stop through as will Washington D.C. Steve Martin fans.

He will also hit southern cities, with a Steve Martin concert tour Dallas date as well as a Nashville Steve Martin show. Denver Steve Martin fans will be treated to a show on the tour as will Steve Martin Philadelphia fans.

The interesting thing is that fans – new and old --- will probably really connect to Martin as a person because of his music; as music is usually the best vehicle for doing so. His tour is not going to be a barrel of laughs and fans who are going to actually connect with Martin through his music will probably appreciate that.