New York alt-cabaret provocateur Bridget Everett is coming to our shores this July to perform at the Soho Theatre. Bridget doesn’t just rather fabulous list of comedy credits to her name, from Inside Amy Schumer to Trainwreck to Maria Bamford’s Lady Dynamite but Jerry Seinfeld has said of her: “This is one of the greatest live performers I have ever seen in my life and I have seen them all… The funnest person, an amazing singer, amazingly funny… I never had so much fun.” We like fun and live performance, so naturally we wanted to chat to Bridget – if only to find out what an alt-cabaret provocateur is…
Funny Women: I love that you describe yourself as an alt-cabaret provocateur, but what exactly does that mean?
Bridget Everett: That description was given to me by someone else but I think it suits me. There’s a new generation of cabaret singers in New York City and around the world that are doing things a little differently than those before us. It’s exciting. Everyone is so different and vital and cool and daring. I love it. As for me, I’m not trying to be provocative, I’m trying to be myself which is a slightly unhinged good time woman who loves chardonnay, singing, telling stories and getting to know people. Getting to know them intimately. And for some people, that’s provocative.
FW: How did you develop your style of comedy cabaret?
BE: For several years, the only singing I was doing was in karaoke bars and I would go absolutely apeshit. Up on top of bars, ripping my shirt open, spitting fire – whatever felt good. I wanted to be a singer but didn’t see how or where that could happen. Then I moved to New York and started going to see a bunch of downtown performers: Murray Hill, Kiki and Herb, Sweetie, the greatest living drag queen/lip syncer. There were no rules and I knew immediately that that kind of performing, that kind of excitement was what I had been looking for. So I started writing stories and singing songs and performing wherever I could. I had a fateful wardrobe malfunction that lead to me really embracing my body as part of my shows and the rest is history.
FW: Tell us about your show.
BE: My show is part cabaret, part rock show, part comedy. It’s like you met someone at a party that you end up talking to all night and they tell you maybe a little too much and you go home together but you’re not sure you want to hook up or be best friends.
FW: Why has it taken so long for you to come to the UK?
BE: The opportunity didn’t present itself until now. But I’m really, really excited. I’m gonna make it count!
FW: Fans of Inside Amy Schumer will have spotted you before, how did you meet Amy?
BE: We met at JUST FOR LAUGHS. It’s a big comedy festival in Montreal. We were on a show together and hit it off right away. We have very similar senses of humour and both looooove chardonnay. Normally at festivals, I hide in my room but she persuading me to face my fears and go drink with the other comics. She’s the best.
FW: You’ve worked with some great comedians, the latest being Maria Bamford in her show Lady Dynamite, what was it like working with Maria?
Maria is one of my favorite comics. She is incredibly warm, funny, thoughful, open and honest on stage and off. I still can’t believe I got to work on a show with her. We spent a lot of time talking about our dogs. She is also the best.
FW: You also have a band The Tender Moments, how did you meet band members Ad-Rock of Beastie Boy fame and Carmine Covelli of The Julie Ruin?
BE: Adam (Ad-Rock) runs a softball team. There are a lot of performer types that play. I joined back in 2009 and Carmine has been playing for years. I decided to start a band – the Tender Moments and so I asked my teammates. I never dreamed they would say yes – I mean, it’s not like cabaret has a really cool reputation. But Adam and Carmine hopped on board. I think we all just enjoy making each other laugh and that’s what we do. A bunch of silly shit that makes each other laugh. I know if I can make them laugh, the audience will, too.
FW: Who are your favourite funny women?
BE: Obviously Amy and Maria. My mom is the funniest person I know. And the list goes on: Rachel Feinstein, Morgan Murphy, Rachel Dratch, Jennifer Coolidge, Ana Gasteyer, Eric Markey, Jenn Harris, I could go on all day.
For tickets and more information about Bridget Everett’s Soho Theatre show click here!
