When the outrageous New Morty Show hits the stage, the joint comes alive to the echoes of the all-night vegas parties of the 1950s. The New Morty Show is back to their original lineup and features Morty Okin (band leader/trumpet), and features the sexy vocals of the elegant San Francisco diva Connie Champagne and the incomparable front man and king of the one liners Vise Grip, who together have brought magic to the stage for the past fifteen years.
Nominated for one of the top 100 Bay Areas all time best bands by The San FranciscoChronicle, The New Morty Show formed in1994.This dynamic and ever-popular entertainment conspiracy features 10 top notch musicians who faithfully celebrate the style and substance of the Golden Era of Las Vegas while creating a modern and polished sound thats brings us into the new millenium.The New Morty Show also delves into the bizarre with their insane take on songs from rock/pop/metal/punk groups such as Metallica,Poison, The Ramones,The Sex Pistols, X, Billy Idol, The Clash, Violent Femmes and more,as well as putting The New Morty Show twist on swing standards.This, along with their high-energy,original material, puts The New Morty Show in a class of its own by bridging the gap between rock,swing and jazz.
With multiple US tours and continuous regional touring,The New Morty Show's numerous sold-out performances have been seen nationwide and Canada. A few sell-out venues includeTheFillmore - San Franciscos classic night spot -Bimbos365Club, as well asNew YorkCitysSupperClub, BostonsRoxyTheatre andTheMontreal JazzFestival. And what city is more appropriate for the group than Las Vegas? TheMirage played host to the group on New Years Eve 1997, and the amazing New York New York Hotel and Casino made Vegas history by having The New Morty Show play its grand opening for a two week run. Other Casinos the band has played include: Harrahs, Desert Inn, Hard Rock Hotel, Treasure Island, The Orleans, The Excalibur, The MGM Grand nightclub and Caesars Palace.Those are just the Vegas casinos! They have also played Caesars Lake Tahoe, The Atlantis Resort Lake Tahoe, The Reno Hilton, Trump Marina Atlantic City, The El Dorado Hotel and Casino in Reno,and more.
The New Morty Show, whose debut album, Mortyfied,(Slimstyle Records) was released in March 1998, was also featured in the Francis FordCoppola film Jack, starringRobinWilliams. Band members open the movie in a hilarious scene filmed at Bimbos. The band was lucky enough to have legendary Latin percussionist PeteEscevedo and two sons PeterMichael(who cerrently leads the house band for The Martin Short Show)and JuanEscevedo play with them for the film.The band has also been featured onTheJerryLewisMDA Telethon two years in a row and has shared the stage with a variety of great acts such as TheBrianSetzerOrch.,CherryPoppin Daddies, Stroke9, The Reverend Horton Heat, BigBadVoodooDaddy,RoyalCrownReview,SuperDiamond,NancyWilson,
Charo,RichardJeni,GeorgeShearing,SaveFerris,HarryConnikJr,Ta
jMahal,TheTemptations,TheVillagePeople,thegreatDickClarkand many more. The band is currently being aired on the Bravostation in a documentary called TheJointisJumpin as well as a live studio audience video (similair to a Sessions at West 54th concert) that they did for the MusicMaxChannel in Montreal called LaBoiteDuJazz. The band is also continuously being aired on TheFoxNetwork throughout California on a program called LocalsOnly that is sponsored by TheMusicChannel. Their song OutofControl was featured in an episode of the FoxNetworks now cancelled drama PointPleasant,in2005.They have even played a couple of Xmas parties for original headbangers Metallica over the years.
The New Morty Shows two long awaitedlastestCDs were released in June and October of2000. Rigormorty(Oct.) is again on SlimstyleRecords and is hard edged and mostly original material. The other is a jazz album entitled TheNewMortyShow--StraightAhead(June),that was released by the band on NewMortyShowRecordswith most of the tunes superbly arranged by Sandy Magas. Both of the latest albums were produced by JefferyWood whos recent releases include Penelope Houston(Warner/Reprise Records) and Hank Williams III.
From the smoky hipster dives and the classy hotels on the hill,to corporate events, The New Morty Show draws a wide variety of enthusiastic fans, ranging from young punk rockers to grandparents. The members of the crowd may be different, but they are all looking for the real thing - great music and top notch entertainers putting on an incredible show thats a party for everyone.
The New Morty Show Swings Metallica baby!
The New Morty Show Swings Billy Idol!
The New Morty Show with Vise Grip and Connie Champagne
Sing Sing Sing