Noam Pikelny Plays Murderous 'Diva' in 'Funny or Die' Clip

Posted Oct 26th 2011 10:45AM by Stephen L. Betts
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FunnyorDie.com

While Noam Pikelny may not be a household name (or easy to pronounce or spell), his extraordinary banjo skills first came to the attention of many when he received the inaugural Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass in 2010. He also appeared as a guest on the 'Late Show With David Letterman' and released his second album, 'Beat the Devil and Carry a Rail,' this week on Compass Records.

Noam (whom fans will recognize as a member of Punch Brothers) takes his banjo seriously, but surrounding himself with bluegrass-picking funnymen including Steve Martin and Ed Helms ('The Office') has also allowed him to put a comical spin on his chosen profession. The three, along with several of their musical comrades, shot a hilarious video titled 'Bluegrass Diva,' in which Noam expands his horizons by adding singing -- and cold-blooded murder -- to his arsenal.

The PG-rated clip from the Funny or Die website also spotlights musicians Chris Thile, Bela Fleck, Earl Scruggs, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings and more, all marveling at Noam's banjo-playing abilities and his scrape-the-paint-off-the-wall "singing." Grab your earplugs and enjoy!

Bluegrass Diva with Steve Martin, Ed Helms and Noam Pikelny from Steve Martin

Download Noam Pikelny Songs | Buy 'Beat the Devil and Carry a Rail'

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