A swing band pairing up with Metallica for a Christmas show sounds like an unlikely combination. And a swing band doing a cover of “Enter Sandman” sounds even stranger.

But California swingers The New Morty Show had the opportunity to do exactly that, and they enjoyed every minute of it.

“[Metallica’s] Kirk Hammond is a big fan of the band, and they had us play at their Christmas party,” Vise Grip, singer for The New Morty Show, said. “He heard the cover we did, and he loved it, so he came on stage with us when we played it.”

Four years ago, band leader Morty Okin left his lounge band in San Francisco and joined forces with Grip to form The New Morty Show.

The band’s style of “get-in-your-face” swing has earned it recognition as one of the top swing bands in the country.

Playing shows every day and recording on a number of compilations and soundtracks, such as “Swing This, Baby,” “‘Jack’ soundtrack” and a Frank Sinatra tribute, keep Morty and company very busy.

“Physically it’s tough,” Grip said. “But when we get on stage, the adrenaline kicks in, no matter whose tail is dragging before the show.”

The 10-piece group is made up of Okin, Grip, female lead vocalist

Connie Champagne, pianist John Quam, guitarist Whitney Wilson, drummer David Rubin, bassist Tom Beyer, 68-year-old trombonist “Papa” Van Hughes, and saxophonists David Murotake and Tom Griesser.

“The lineup gets along very well,” Grip said. “Everyone shares responsibility when it comes to writing songs. There is no one person that does everything.”

The band’s pianist, John Quam, is an Iowa State alumnus and will hit The M-Shop stage for a homecoming performance.

With four years of playing under its belt, The New Morty Show is currently embarking on its second world tour.

“It has been good for us, being an early swing band,” Grip said. “We have always been mentioned as one of the top five swing bands.”

Unlike other acts that jumped on the bandwagon in the wake of the swing craze, Grip said The New Morty Show has always been a band influenced by classic swing musicians.

“My family has always listened to swing — people like Cab Calloway,” Grip said. “Papa [Van Hughes] recorded with some of the famous swing musicians of the past.”

The New Morty Show has even made an appearance on national television, when it played a 6 a.m. slot on the Jerry Lewis Telethon.

This February, the group is set to play on the Mirror Ball Tour, a traveling show highlighting current swing bands. December studio plans are also in store.

“We’re probably one of the hardest working bands out there,” Grip said.

The New Morty Show will get the chance to show off all of its hard work when it plays two shows Friday at The M-Shop. Shows begin at 8 and 11 p.m, and tickets are $5 for students or $7 general admission.

The band will also perform tonight with Hipster Daddy-O and the Hand Grenades at 8 at the Val Air Ballroom in Des Moines.

The show is free to Iowa State students with a school ID or $8 for others.