John McEuen - a life in music: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1655057105992 A founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (recently inducted in to the Colorado Music Hall of Fame) – multi-instrumentalist McEuen has ventured into varied musical genres, and to different formats including television special production, film scoring, and unusual award winning albums. Playing a broad spectrum of roots, bluegrass and music now called Americana has made ** John McEuen** an established name in acoustic music. He brings musical impressions and stories from over 50 years of worldwide travels to his stage, with performing expertise that sets him apart from others, focusing on acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle and mandolin. An active performing schedule both solo and with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band took him to 75 cities with the band and 40 others solo in 2016!. McEuen is joined by his stage buddy Matt Cartsonis (mandola, guitar, vocals) with him. They met 30 years ago when Matt was with the Austin Lounge Lizards and struck up a musical and personal friendship that has put them on stage all over the country. John says: "…I will be bringing one of the finest singers I know, Matt Cartsonis. He sings like he is from Kentucky - that high bluegrass lonesome sound with a rock and roll sensibility, and is a funny guy with funny songs, all accompanied by his hot licks on mandola and guitar. We have done hundreds of shows together.”
You may have seen Matt with Warren Zevon (he accompanied Zevon in his last 5 years), “In 2009 Matt I had join Steve Martin to perform ‘Crow’ music on Saturday Night Live, Letterman, American Idol, and The Ellen Show.” (John’s production of The Crow with Steve Martin won the Best Bluegrass Album Grammy.)
Matt, featured on Made in Brooklyn, has also worked with John on several film score projects over the past few years. Matt’s acrobatic vocals and amiable stage presence endears him to audiences wherever he plays. John has been honored with the “Best in the West” award from the Folk Alliance. With the NGDB he has made over 35 albums, including the landmark platinum-selling Will The Circle Be Unbroken, which was initiated by John. Onstage, McEuen incorporates his vintage instruments with wizardry that keeps the audience entranced, and together with Matt they cover NGDB favorites not heard on stage in years, as well as focus on many songs (and the stories behind them) from the Circle album and music from the new Made In Brooklyn on Chesky Records.
If you want to know more about John, watch the short documentary/bio with historic footage about his lifelong pursuits: John McEuen - a life in music: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1655057105992 If you want to catch some hot NGDB jamming in Denver in 1981, check this out: Randy Lynn Rag and Rocky Top 1982 in Denver: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq1LGSk3t9I