by Katherine FultonContemporary folk duo the Two Man Gentlemen Band began when banjo player Andy Bean and string bassist Fuller Condon began busking together in New York City's Central Park full-time. Their combination of classic American musical styles (including hot jazz, folk, Americana, Tin Pan Alley, and vaudeville) with witty lyrics about history, mathematics, and relationships was a hit, and they soon took their act from the street to the stage. The Two Man Gentlemen Band soon developed a reputation for fun and frenetic shows, with both Bean and Condon performing in character, dressing in suits and hats and handing out free kazoos to audience members. Despite a busy touring schedule, they still found time to release three albums -- The Two Man Gentlemen Band (2005), Great Calamities (2006), and Heavy Petting (2008) -- all on Serious Business Records.