Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

A moment with Steve Martin, where we learn that even in a bluegrass show, there is room for ‘King Tut’

Raise Your Hand for Africa Red Carpet

Scott Harrison/Retna/HarrisonPhotos.com

Steve Martin at Raise Your Hand for Africa at the Golden Nugget on Feb. 19, 2011.

Martin and the Rangers cover King Tut

Click to enlarge photo

Steve Martin at Raise Your Hand for Africa at the Golden Nugget on Feb. 19, 2011.

Click to enlarge photo

Steve Martin at Raise Your Hand for Africa at the Golden Nugget on Feb. 19, 2011.

Click to enlarge photo

Steve Martin at Raise Your Hand for Africa at the Golden Nugget on Feb. 19, 2011.

Click to enlarge photo

Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin are hosting the 2010 Academy Awards on ABC on Sunday, March 7.

The rule of engagement for this conference call is merely to keep the questions centered on Steve Martin’s banjo artistry and his music project, the bluegrass band formally titled Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers.

But there must be a way to ask about King Tut. There has to be.

And there is.

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers have been known to play the classic parody “King Tut” during their otherwise traditional bluegrass shows.

So it is that in this phone session among media members from across the country that the question can be posed to Martin, who is performing at the Mirage on Friday and Saturday with the Steep Canyon Rangers. The concerts are part of the newly dubbed “Mirage Masters Series” of entertainment showcases at Terry Fator Theater.

It takes a while to be connected to Martin, and I owe to a high degree of nervous tension as Martin fields questions about his favored form of music and how he is helping introduce uninitiated audiences to the band’s bluegrass proficiency.

I’ve been a Steve Martin fan for a very long time. I was the first kid in Pocatello, Idaho, to know of him, from his earliest appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” I bought “Let’s Get Small” the week it was released, and in the following months, sixth-graders at St. Anthony School were roaming the halls shouting, “Excuuuuuuse meeee!” at startled nuns. I still own the 45 of “King Tut,” which hasn’t been played in about 30 years.

And today, Steve Martin is on the end of this call. All I can think is to make sure my voice doesn’t waver to expose my long-held fandom. Eventually, finally, I’m clicked forward. As it happened, via the art of transcription:

Coordinator: Our next question comes from John Katsilometes.

John Katsilometes: Hi, Steve. This is John Katsilometes. I’m with the Las Vegas Sun out in Nevada (NOTE TO SELF: STEVE MARTIN IS LIKELY AWARE THAT THE LAS VEGAS FROM WHERE I AM CALLING IS THE ONE IN NEVADA).

Steve Martin: Can’t wait to play there. Very curious.

John Katsilometes: Yeah, we’re very curious about you, too. You’re going to be playing in the haven of bluegrass -- the Mirage hotel ...

Steve Martin: That’s right.

John Katsilometes: I wanted to ask about -- you’ve covered "King Tut" live with The Rangers. And I wanted to know if you could talk about how the decision was made to play that particular number, and if there was any trepidation or reluctance from you about playing that song with this group.

Steve Martin: Let’s put it this way. There was a little trepidation. But also it was my idea.

John Katsilometes: OK ...

Steve Martin: Because I thought it was a funny idea to do a bluegrass "King Tut." And I also know that we do a show. You know, we do music. We’ve been very lucky in that I do comedy in the show, but when the music comes along, the audience is able to just transform itself and take it seriously.

Some of the songs are funny. A lot of the songs are serious. And there’s really been no problem with the audience adjusting itself to whatever the next beat is.

And King Tut is always an encore. It’s never like a big serious number in the middle of the show.

John Katsilometes: “Right.” (NOTE TO SELF: ONE-WORD RESPONSES ARE A FAIRLY EFFECTIVE WAY TO MAKE SURE YOU DON’T GUSH OVER INTERVIEWING STEVE MARTIN.)

Steve Martin: And we don’t always do it, by the way. We do it occasionally. And I’m sure we’ll do it in Vegas, because what would be more appropriate, you know? I worked there as a stand-up comedian in the '70s. So I’m sure we’ll do it there.

But you know what, I did question putting it on the record. But the reason I finally put it on the record (the band’s latest release, “Rare Bird Alert”) was I also want people to know that our live show is fun. That when they come to the live show, it’s not going to be me standing onstage with my back to the audience playing 30 songs in a row with no comedy.

John Katsilometes: Right. OK, well I thank you. And we’re really looking forward to seeing you here.

Steve Martin: I can’t wait to come.

That was it. It’s worth noting Martin’s reference to his previous performances during his stand-up career. In his book, “Born Standing Up,” Martin says his last pure stand-up appearance was at the Riviera. He made the decision to halt his comedy act when he observed empty seats in the showroom.

It’s been a long wait, and maybe it’s not at all pure comedy, but Steve Martin in Las Vegas can only bring a smile to your face.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow "Kats With the Dish" at twitter.com/KatsWithTheDish.

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