Trout Fishing in America shares music and humor with kids and adults at the Bayou
Theater
September 21, 2018 | UHCL Staff
Something fishy will be going on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 2 p.m. at University of Houston-Clear
Lake's Bayou Theater, and parents will love it almost as much as their children will.
Trout Fishing in America, a four-time Grammy-nominated folk rock and children’s music
duo comprised of Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet, will take the stage to perform their
critically acclaimed music with appeal to all music lovers. “I sing, play the guitar,
banjo and bouzouki, which is an 8-stringed instrument with Greek origins,” said Idlet.
“Keith plays bass guitar, upright bass and sings vocals as well. We met in Houston
and grew up in Houston. We’re definitely local guys.”
His bouzouki, said Idlet, makes an especially beautiful sound for two reasons. “It’s
custom made,” he said. “And it’s electric. That makes it louder. Most guitar players
will tell you, it’s better if it’s louder.”
They may have local origins, but they’re not actually fishing for trout. “‘Trout Fishing
in America’ is a book by Richard Brautigen that Keith liked. I just like to fish,”
Idlet said. “We needed a name for our duo, and we called ourselves ‘Trout Fishing
in America’ as a joke. That’s been 40 years. It’s kind of like when your mom says
don’t make that face because it’ll stay that way. But once you hear us, you know the
name fits.”
Although they were nominated in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2008 for Grammys in the “Best
Musical Album for Children” category, the duo started out by playing music for their
peers. “As we got older, we started playing music for kids, and it was music everyone
could enjoy.”
Idlet said there’s an expectation for musicians to specialize, but neither he nor
Grimwood felt inclined to do that. “We just love music that challenges us technically
and feels good creatively,” he said. “The great thing about children’s music is that
it’s not a specific genre. It can be rock, funk, swing – it all makes sense for kids.
It’s easier to market when you do one thing, but we don’t, and that’s one reason for
our longevity.”
Music is great medicine, Idlet said. “Music makes you feel inspired, happy, and glad
to be alive. Many people say ours is the only music they can listen to with the kids
in the car. There’s a joy to what we do, and that’s why people feel good when they
hear us.”
About the Author:
Recent entries by
October 18 2022
Better technology transforms campus safety: Police Chief demonstrates SafeZone to students
October 14 2022
Student's skill with drones takes chicken turtle research to new heights
October 11 2022
Planting event to help UHCL restore native plants to campus, support environmental sustainability