Just recently, comedian and actress
Margaret Cho released
Cho Dependent, a 13-track album of songs featuring tunes from well-known songwriters such as Ben Lee, Patty Griffin, Jon Brion, Fiona Apple, Grant-Lee Phillips and Ani DiFranco. But before you go and think Cho is leaving stand-up, take a look at some of the song titles: "Your Dick," "Eat Shit and Die," "Captain Cameltoe" and "My Puss." That should allay all fears that Cho has in any way softened her in-your-face approach to performing. Despite an unexpectedly good singing voice, it took encouragement from her good friend Cyndi Lauper to convince Cho she should take a crack at music. "I think a lot about Bette Midler, who is a major influence on me...Her collaboration with Mick Jagger,
Beast of Burden - to me it always seemed like a comedy thing, it was a great, adept comedy record. So she's always someone...who really has a lot [to do with] what I'm doing on this record."
We spoke with a surprisingly subdued Cho, who was in Provincetown, Massachusetts, honing her stand-up act for the upcoming tour. "I'm really excited to get out there and do it up," she says. Fans who are expecting a straight concert will be disappointed. There'll be music, Cho tells us, but the focus will be on her comedy. "A lot of this [process] was writing a whole new stand-up show around [the record]. It's going to be mostly stand-up anyway, because that's where I feel comfortable and it's what I do. It's always going to be a stand-up show, but with three or four songs" 8:30 p.m. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline. For information, call 888-402-5837 or visit www.houseofblues.com. $35 to $55.
Fri., Sept. 10, 8:30 p.m., 2010