Trout Fishing in America: Closer to the Truth

Trout Fishing in America is a local band stationed in North Arkansas that has been a fixture on the Arkansas music circuit for the past 20 years. Their name, of course, is from a book by '70s writer Richard Brautigan. Comprised fundamentally of Ezra Idlet: on guitars and vocals and the classically trained Keith Grimwood on basses and vocals, Trout Fishing has forged an interesting and provocative sound. At 6’ 9", Idlet towers above his partner of twenty years, Grimwood (5’ 5 ½"). Under the microscope (if they could get there) these two musicians betray a powerful synergy. Their repertoire is full of distinctive songs and superb musicianship, intelligence, humor, charm and performance. And performance is how to hear them. Typically, Trout Fishing's music is of sweetness and cleverness as is evidenced in the lyrics of "Old Things" ("Now I don't mind progress but it's hard to get attached to a new idea that's obsolete the moment it gets hatched") or "After You've Gone" ("Nothing can take your place, I'll have more closet space after you've gone"). They use folk styles and '20s and '30s Tin Pan Alley melodies as a vehicle for their smart lyrics. Should you have an opportunity to catch them in a show, by all means, go.