When I interviewed Chris "Critter" Eldridge last month, he made the observation, "It's funny that all comedians seem to be banjo players, too." He was mostly referring to Steve Martin, the renaissance funnyman who Eldridge's Punch Brothers have played with quite a bit this year. And Martin is bringing his banjo (and his sense of humor) to the Triangle next spring.

Martin will play Durham Performing Arts Center on March 21 May 21, sharing a bill with Steep Canyon Rangers. The show will probably take the same form as the ones Eldridge saw when Martin was touring with Punch Brothers.

"It was pretty inspiring to watch his show, which was equal parts music and humor," Eldridge said. "It was really well-executed bluegrass-based music, and then comedy time between songs. He was hilarious, really funny. I can't even describe it. But his wit was brilliant."

The "official" on-sale date is Dec. 10, with various pre-sales going on before that.

(UPDATE: DPAC released the incorrect date this morning. For the record, the show happens on May 21).

There are two guys named Chris in Punch Brothers -- but only one Critter. Yes indeed, Punch Brothers guitarist Chris Eldridge is known far and wide as... Critter. Odder still, he doesn't seem to mind.

"At this point, it's taken over as my name," Eldridge said in a recent phone interview. "My parents called me 'The Critter' in utero, and everybody called me that before I was born. Then I was born and was a bit of a little critter, climbing around and doing what critters do. I kind of grew out of that name at some point, when I was at 5 or 6, but an old family friend would always still call me that. Then when I was a little older, some college friends and I were hanging around with him and he called me that. 'Critter?! That is the greatest nickname ever!' So it came back with a vengence."

For more, including details on their Triangle show and the story behind the group's mysteriously titled new album, see the preview in Friday's paper.

Howdy, folks. I'm back from last week's vacation, and still struggling to catch up. While I do that, take a listen to this and peruse a couple of quick items about upcoming live shows:

New to the TWCMPAWC schedule, redneck gal Gretchen Wilson on Sept. 12 -- because, you know, there just haven't been enough country shows out there this year. On-sale details to come.

Also at the same venue is a show billed as 2009 Soul Music Festival on Aug. 29, headlined by the incomparable Erykah Badu. You can expect her to give an onstage shout-out to our own Ninth Wonder, who produced one of Badu's bigger recent hits. On-sale details also to come.

Over at Duke University, meanwhile, the 2009-10 live-concert season schedule is out, with highlights including Punch Brothers, Rosanne Cash, Los Lobos, Alejandro Escovedo and lots more. Check the complete lineup here.