The Cartwright Brothers are renowned as two of the funniest guys you’ll ever meet and perhaps the funniest music act you’ll ever see.

But neither is a Cartwright nor a brother.

They are an acoustic duo that plays songs making fun of almost any issue or public figure imaginable.

Cartwright Mark Nelson said he met bandmate Jeff Schwebach in prison. But the truth is each of them had his own rock band and when Nelson’s broke up, he found himself playing keyboards for Schwebach, who was the bassist in his band.

“We did the ’80s rock thing for awhile,” Schwebach laughed. “You know, clad in spandex, big hair and makeup.”

“One time Jeff wore black spandex, and it looked like two seals fucking in a garbage bag,” Nelson kidded.

“At that point, we saw ourselves in the mirror and thought ‘God, we look stupid’,” Schwebach added.

Soon after, they decided to pick up acoustic guitars and head out on their own.

Their plan was to play mainly lounge acts, but that was put on hold when Nelson received some bad news — he found out he needed surgery on his vocal chords.

“Singing heavy metal was really pushing them,” Nelson said.

With the threat of not being able to sing like he used to, he boldly stepped under the knife. The surgery was a success, but Schwebach would tell you otherwise.

“It didn’t help,” he joked.

Finally, the dynamic duo was on its way.

The Cartwright Brothers started playing what Nelson and Schwebach call serious songs, hence the title of the first album, “Serious.”

A second album followed, titled “Peaking at Life.” Along the way, The Cartwright Brothers discovered they had a knack for making funny songs, so they began focusing on that aspect.

The Cartwright Brothers became a daily feature on a local radio show in Sioux Falls, playing parodies about whatever the day’s topic was. The songs have encompassed a vast assortment of issues and infamous people.

“We like to make fun of dead people because they can’t hurt us,” Nelson said. “We’re scared of that.”

Material for the duo’s songs span from Jerry Garcia and Ellen to gays in the military.

The two are currently working on a song about “Commander One-Hander” George Michael, who was recently caught taking matters into his own hand in a public restroom.

“Another man’s misery is our fodder,” Nelson preached.

“As you can see, nothing is sacred with The Cartwright Brothers,” Schwebach added.

The duo is heavily influenced by comical acts such as “Monty Python” and the early cast of “Saturday Night Live.”

Musically, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Kansas and The Beatles provide inspiration.

Schwebach’s mom said he learned all his Beatles songs off a Chipmunks album, and he ran away from home at the age of five wearing a Beatles wig. They caught him three blocks from home, but his childhood dreams of becoming a musician eventually came true.

The Cartwright Brothers finally made it into playing Happy Hour in local bars and even have the original tip bucket.

“I remember when some of our friends came into the bar and said ‘What the hell are you guys doing here,'” Schwebach reminisced.

Along the way they have appeared with Cheap Trick, Kansas, Kevin Nealon and Bobcat Goldthwaite.

The duo can also be found every summer at Lake Okoboji. Though usually drunk and practically falling off the stage, according to Schwebach, it’s still a great time.

Some people say The Cartwright Brothers are to Lake Okoboji as Jimmy Buffet is to Key West.

This year, like the students of Iowa State, The Cartwright Brothers have chosen to go dry for Veishea.

“Instead you’ll find Mark dressed like Lita Ford,” Schwebach joked.

The duo plans on mostly playing its comedy songs, but will add in a few of its older serious tunes for variety.

“There will be a lot of fun and a lot of irreverence,” Nelson promised.

At times it seems as if The Cartwright Brothers miss the rock star lifestyle of the ’80s.

“There was a lot more fun back then, and more sex,” Nelson said.

However, the duo has come a long way from its spandex wearing days.

With a couple of CDs and a comedy one on the way, Nelson and Schwebach can at least pay the bills.

“Sometimes we have to pass off the serious CDs as a comedy one just to make a sale,” Schwebach said.

The Cartwright Brothers will appear on the Taste of Veishea Stage Friday at 7 p.m.