Artist: Matt Flinner
Hometown: Pueblo, CO
Latest Album: Traveling Roots
Personal Nicknames: For a while when I was growing up, my nickname was "Bob" (my dad's name). In England, where I am right now, it's "Simon" (from a Mike Myers character on Saturday Night Live). I call Ross Martin, our guitar player, "Pollock," and Eric Thorin, our bassist, "Francis Bacon" … for reasons that are maybe best left out of this article.
What was the first record you ever bought with your own money?
A 45 of Steve Martin's "King Tut" when I was about seven years old. I loved that record! I had nothing to do with the banjo or bluegrass at that point (and neither did that record), but when, years later, I played on Steve Martin's The Crow album, I thought it was sort of bringing things around full circle.
How many unread emails or texts currently fill your inbox?
3,792
If your life were a movie, which songs would be on the soundtrack?
I think this changes constantly, but the low D-string on a banjo played over and over again would be my underlying soundtrack. To me, it's sort of a cosmic note that brings well-being to myself and the world around me.
What brand of jeans do you wear?
Levi's
What's your go-to karaoke tune?
"The Chicken Dance"
If you were a liquor, what would you be?
Akvavit
Poehler or Schumer?
Schumer (You mean Chuck, right?)
Chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate
Blues or bluegrass?
Bluegrass — especially bluesy bluegrass
Photos one and three by Mark Woodland and Mike McGrath, respectively, courtesy of the artist.
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