Steve Martin "banjo and bluegrass" concert tickets on sale today

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As his career as comedic actor has gone downhill - that is, if you consider 1978's The Jerk to be a high point and 2011's Cheaper by the Dozen 3:The White House Wreck to be a low - Steve Martin has gone from goof banjo player in many of his old comedy acts to one of the most celebrated performers in bluegrass today.

How now, brown cow?

No goof. Martin played banjo on Earl Scruggs' 2001 Grammy-winning remake of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," and last year released his first all-music album, The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo, which won a 2010 Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album.

He's so serious now, I doubt he even plays that thing while wearing a gag arrow through his head. F'real artist, he is! Seem improbable? Well, tickets for his Sunday, June 13 performance at the State Theatre go on sale today at noon ($35-65). Go see for yourself if it's a goof or the real deal. Meantime, here are a few videos that'll widen your eyes - the dude's good. And looking back on his comedic banjo playing, that was never half bad, either. No joke.