# Letterman tonite: Holy Crap! Sleepy Man Banjo Boys kills! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 29, 2011, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230 "2011-06-29T04:41:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/21 "2011-06-30T04:20:32Z")
> [@BrassyPhrase](#): > > Wow that was AMAZING! There’s this little odd bit of Kentucky left in me (ooh! it hurts sometimes!) that is so happy when it hears banjo music! Yeah, I grew up disliking country music and I still do, mostly, but good banjo music is just too good to dislike … can’t keep my toes from tapping to “Under the Double Eagle” or “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/22 "2011-06-30T16:37:25Z")
Wow, I hope they’re managed well so they don’t crash and burn, as seems to happen to so many kid performers. They’ve potentially got very long careers ahead of them. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/23 "2011-07-03T03:28:53Z")
They were only impressive because of their age. They won’t really make it big as adults. So they have 60 years ahead of them touring county fairs 5 or 6 spots down on the billing. Yeah, the sound issues in the Ed Sullivan Theater for the Late Show have been notorious since day one. They seem to have given up even trying to fix them. Almost every band that appears sounds just awful. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/24 "2011-07-03T15:44:52Z")
Oh, and **Evil Captor** : > [@](#): > > Yeah, I grew up disliking country music and I still do, mostly, but good banjo music is just too good to dislike … can’t keep my toes from tapping to “Under the Double Eagle” or “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.” It helps to realize that there are two completely different genres that are both called “country music”. I’m a big fan of folk country, but can’t stand most pop country. So far as I can tell, the only thing the two have in common is that the performers are usually wearing hats (and often not even the same style of hat). ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/25 "2011-07-03T16:29:52Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > They were only impressive because of their age. They won’t really make it big as adults. So they have 60 years ahead of them touring county fairs 5 or 6 spots down > on the billing. Why do you think so? Why not “they’re young, they’ll only get better”? What’s “big”? They won’t be Lady Gaga big, but they may well be big in their genre. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/26 "2011-07-03T16:35:55Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > They were only impressive because of their age. They won’t really make it big as adults. So they have 60 years ahead of them touring county fairs 5 or 6 spots down > on the billing. At age 12, mandolin prodigy [Chris Thile](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Thile) won the Walnut Valley Festival national mandolin championship. He went on to form Nickel Creek with a few other musicians, and got several Grammy nominations and, I believe, one win. He’s still making very well-regarded music and is quite popular. Just because you’re a child prodigy doesn’t mean you won’t go on to adult success. ---
**Author:** ![Lilacs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Lilacs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lilacs)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/27 "2011-07-03T17:01:47Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > They were only impressive because of their age. They won’t really make it big as adults. So they have 60 years ahead of them touring county fairs 5 or 6 spots down > on the billing. The issue to me is that Traditional Bluegrass is a dying genre. To find a talented group of kids who will play it, will keep the genre alive. The pioneers (Bill Monroe, the Stanely Brothers, Flatt & Scruggs, Jimmy Martin and Don Reno to name a few) are nearly all gone, and the 2nd generation of players (like my father and his friends) are going to be gone as well. Whether they are a commercial success matters very little to fans of traditional bluegrass music. I don’t think a lot of the musicians who play ever expect to make it big. My dad LOVES playing small venues, county fairs, or just jamming with friends. It’s not about fame or money. It’s about the love of the music. I want to add that this isn’t a slam against progressive bluegrass, just an observation. The progressive bluegrass players probably will have greater commercial success. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/28 "2011-07-03T20:53:39Z")
> [@](#): > > The issue to me is that Traditional Bluegrass is a dying genre. Only in the sense that _all_ genres are dying. Bluegrass has already had considerably more longevity than most musical styles. And most of the bluegrass bands I’ve seen live (probably none of them Big Names, but still) have been middle-aged at the oldest. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/29 "2011-07-03T21:22:59Z")
Shoot, come down to Galax. I see several kids this good every year. Bluegrass has a better structure for developing its young players than most styles, to my knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/30 "2011-07-04T02:25:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Oh, and **Evil Captor** :It helps to realize that there are two completely different genres that are both called “country music”. I’m a big fan of folk country, but can’t stand most pop country. So far as I can tell, the only thing the two have in common is that the performers are usually wearing hats (and often not even the same style of hat). So, which was the one started by True Scotsmen? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/31 "2011-07-04T03:46:11Z")
> [@](#): > > So, which was the one started by True Scotsmen? Folk. Wait, was that supposed to be a trick question? But seriously, I can see no connection whatsoever between the music of, say, Lee Greenwood and John Denver, nor do I know of any artists who seem to straddle the line. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/32 "2011-07-04T04:07:28Z")
just off the top of my head. back in the 20s folk, blues and country music had large areas of overlap and undifferentiation. people would play all these styles. in the 30s this continued though differentiated more. bluegrass developed as a style. during and after WW2 populations relocated and the popular music styles developed. into modern times there are some rare cross genre artists maybe like Doc Watson or Taj Mahal, for people like them a many decades career helps. they aren’t major famous thought have a following. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/33 "2011-07-04T04:51:52Z")
Stevie better get the rosin out. Hot Damn! ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/34 "2011-07-04T14:51:01Z")
I honestly have problems distinguishing genres. Progressive vs. traditional bluegrass; hard rock vs. metal (and it’s many sub-categories;) classic rock vs. blues rock. What I can say about Sleepy Man Banjo Boys is that they kept me entertained. I’m ordering their CD and hope that they’re around for awhile without having to subsidize their playing with “real jobs.” Peace- DESK ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/35 "2011-07-04T16:36:33Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > Shoot, come down to Galax. I see several kids this good every year. > > Bluegrass has a better structure for developing its young players than most styles, to my knowledge. Just to help out, Spark240 is talking about the [Old Fiddler’s Convention](http://www.oldfiddlersconvention.com/) held in Galax, Va every year. Highly recommended. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/36 "2011-07-04T16:42:58Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > They were only impressive because of their age. No offense, but as far as the banjo playing, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve played for many years, and also know Earl Scrugss’ version of Flint Hill Special up and down. The kid plays it very close to the way Earl does and absolutely nails it. That is _professional_ level banjo playing. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230/37 "2011-07-04T17:38:40Z")
I’m not a fan of bluegrass in the sense I’d turn it on under my own volition, but it’s such a unique and fun sound, that can be as technically impressive as any other genre, so whenever I hear it, I ironically think… _that’s so rock 'n roll!_ Despite its reputation, I think the banjo is one of the coolest instruments ever invented. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letterman-tonite-holy-crap-sleepy-man-banjo-boys-kills/587230.md?page=1)