Ra Ra Riot in Reno!

Wed-Oct-13 Reno, NV

The Alley

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Sing To Survive

I got a CD in the mail from Dan of The Fancy Dan Band. The Fancy Dan Band is based out of San Francisco, CA. After giving “Sing to Survive” about 5 spins now I can resoundingly say, I like this band. Hey Fancy Dan, bring your band to Reno, Nevada for a show or two, won’t you?

I hear a lot of influences on this record: The Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, Elvis and even a little Tom Petty however; The Fancy Dan Band is able to take a lot of those influences and make a sound that is truly their own. While doing a bit of research on the band I came across anSFGate article that said The Fancy Dan Band’s sound is like “pushing the girl you love on a swing.” What could be better than that? I could not agree more, its great music to listen to in your car at the end of a long hot summer.

I hope to catch this band live sometime soon, “Sing to Survive” is a fun record, go out and pick yourself up a copy. Support local (bay area) musicians. If I lived in S.F. I would surely attend their cd release show at Café Du Nord tonight.

Happily Cho Dependent!

I got a copy of the new Margaret Cho album Cho Dependent from Danny at the Planetary Group. Thanks Danny! I knew before popping it into the cd player that Cho paired up with a bunch of musicians to make a rock record, but what I did not know is how fantastic it was going to sound. I thought it might be a record full of shtick comedy over three cords and a lot of Cho screaming. This record is much more than that, sure there is a bit of shtick and a Cho scream here and there, but there are some great hooks, and catchy tunes as well. The songs themselves are lovely and beautifully produced. Cho adds a sprinkling of her comedy on top of that music in a masterful way. She has quite a lovely voice at times, especially when paired with Tegan & Sara, Fiona Apple and Ani DiFranco.

I feel al little weird saying this, being a thirty something lesbian in America but my favorite track on the album is “Your Dick” in which she collaborates with A.C. Newman. I found myself singing along with the song after a few spins of the record and then laughing out loud at myself for singing along to a song called “Your Dick”. Bravo, Cho!

Cho punctuated the songs brilliantly, just as you are getting into a tune, she throws in a hilarious line that jolts you out of the song and makes you belly laugh, then you are seduced right back into the song until the next belly laugh comes along.

I really enjoyed this album by Margaret Cho; I recommend it to anyone who loves music and a filthy joke or two. You won’t be disappointed.

I hope to be doing a giveaway of some Margaret Cho tickets for her show in SF in December on this blog soon. More information about the album and a full list of tour dates below:



“I want to create a new genre of music that is hilarious but also seriously good, so I turned to some of my music heroes to help me out,” says Margaret Cho in reference to her forthcoming album Cho Dependent. “I have wanted to make an album like this forever. I love comedy music!”

The lyrics on Cho Dependent, which tackle issues of sex, drugs, rock & roll – and lice, may be laugh-inducing, but Cho has made no compromises when it comes to the quality of the songwriting and production. After “My Puss,” a hilarious rap parody Cho recorded impromptu-style with friends, became a surprise YouTube hit, Cho began to integrate more comedy music into her live stand-up shows. With Cho Dependent, her first comedy music album, Cho got a chance to hone her craft with some of the top names in the business.

“There are so many amazing people I got to work with on this album," Cho recounts. “Jon Brion, Fiona Apple, Tegan and Sara, Andrew Bird, Ani DiFranco, Garrison Starr, Meghan Toohey, Brendan Benson, Rachael Yamagata, Carl Newman, Grant Lee Phillips, Patty Griffin, Ben Lee, Kevin Barnes -- I still have to pinch myself!”

Ultimately Cho hopes to raise the bar for the genre as a whole – and get a little recognition for her contribution to the cause. Her motivations for this latter goal however are naturally as subversive as her humor. “I want to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and on Elvis Costello's Spectacle so I can talk all serious about my songwriting ‘process’ -- which is basically trying to figure out what rhymes with ‘dick.’”

TOUR
08.26.10 Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland, OR
08.27.10 Paramount Theatre Seattle, WA
08.28.10 Queen Elizabeth Theatre Vancouver, BC
09.10.10 House of Blues Houston, TX
09.11.10 Verizon Theatre Dallas, TX
09.12.10 Paramount Theatre Austin, TX
09.17.10 The Pearl Concert Theatre @ the Palms Las Vegas, NV
09.18.10 Dodge Theatre Phoenix, AZ
09.23.10 The Grove of Anaheim Anaheim, CA
09.24.10 Humphreys Concerts by the Bay San Diego, CA
09.25.10 The Mountain Winery Saratoga, CA
09.26.10 The Uptown Theatre Napa, CA
10.01.10 Southern Alberta Jubilee Calgary, AB
10.02.10 Wimdspear Centre Edmonton, AB
10.09.10 Paramount Theatre Denver, CO
10.14.10 Overtrue Centrer for the Arts - Capitol Theatre Madison, WI
10.15.10 State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
10.16.10 Chicago Theatre Chicago, IL
10.17.10 The Fillmore Detroit Detroit, MI
10.22.10 Massey Hall Toronto, ON
10.23.10 Salle Wilfrid Pelletier Montreal, PQ
10.24.10 National Arts Centre Ottawa, ON
10.27.10 Scranton Cultural Center Scranton, PA
10.28.10 Wilbur Theatre Boston, MA
10.29.10 Warner Theatre Washington DC
10.30.10 Caeser's Atlantic City Atlantic City, NJ
11.04.10 Wellmont Theatre Montclair, NJ
11.05.10 TBA New York, NY
11.06.10 Fox Theatre Mashantucket, CT
12.03.10 The Wiltern Los Angeles, CA
12.04.10 Nob Hill Masonic Center San Francisco, CA
12.09.10 Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater, FL
12.10.10 Hard Rock Live @ Universal Studios Orlando, FL
12.11.10 Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater Miami Beach, FL
12.12.10 Tabernacle Atlanta, GA

LINKS
http://www.planetarygroup.com/newmedia/pages/margaretcho/
http://www.margaretcho.com/