Curtis Eller is New York City’s angriest yodeling banjo player. He sings about pigeon racing, performing elephants and Jesus, all of which he has seen with his own eyes. He started his show-business career at the age of seven as a juggler and acrobat in the Hiller Olde Tyme Circus in Detroit, but has since turned to the banjo because that’s where the money is. His biggest musical influences are Buster Keaton, Elvis Presley and Abraham Lincoln.
On the lastest American Circus CD Wirewalkers & Assassins Mr. Eller presents 10 songs about John Wilkes Booth, Joe Louis, Jack Ruby, Fidel Castro, Richard Nixon and the Hartford circus fire of 1944 (as well as the usual references to Elvis Presley and various Civil War generals). As always, sporadic yodeling and some strong language should be expected.
“If you think the line “I’m gonna get fucked up like Ulysses S. Grant” is genius, this album is for you.”
“Do you dig dudes who play the banjo with the enthusiasm of an escaped convict? Well, take a trip down Rosa Parks Blvd. to catch Curtis Eller. Eller, who usually fronts the American Circus, is a New York musician who prides himself on bringing an entertaining high-wire element to his banjo-centric anti-folk and country-fried opera.”
“Slow, pleading vocals and sparse banjo rolls characterize Curtis Eller’s distinctive performing style. His bipolar country delivery is like a shoplifter leaving a department store-a panicked criminal hiding behind confident, long strides.”
“Strangely romanticised, finger-picking tales of executions, ghost towns and downtown Detroit were the flavour of the afternoon, as Eller jumped, stomped and flung himself around the stage like a boneless, dancing freakshow. Even the Great Britain gymnastics team would do themselves proud to mirror some of his guitar playing stances as Curtis wrapped his legs around the neck of his banjo and rocked side-to-side, randomly flinging limbs in all directions, with a stare angry and mischievous enough to unnerve even the stiffest upper lip.”
“For someone who started his career as a juggler and acrobat in a Detroit Circus and turned to banjo playing “ebecause that‘s where the money is”, Curtis Eller is a profoundly individual singer-songwriter.”
“Try and think of Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan and Buster Keaton all with banjos, running around a garden together while trying to write songs that would make Buster talk, Bob smile and Phil stop drinking for a minute and if your not too confused you’ll be halfway there with Curtis Eller.”
“He sings about pigeon racing, performing elephants and Jesus, all of which he has seen with his own eyes.”
“Curtis Eller is one of the most dynamic solo performers I’ve ever seen. He has the rare ability to pull a hush over a bar crowd and keep them transfixed through an entire set.”
“Curtis Eller could be Sufjan Stevens crazy older brother. Both Eller and Stevens are banjo-wielding, history-obsessive troubadours born in Michigan, but whereas Sufjan¹s style is more sedate and gentle the blue-eyed angel of Indie music Eller is a little wilder looking, a more unpredictable performer, and isn¹t afraid to get in yer face with his American tales of long-dead presidents, robber barons, and of course, Wirewalkers and Assassins.”
http://www.myspace.com/curtiseller
http://www.myspace.com/alandhisguitar
