Marcus ArmanBridget Everett is a lot of woman. Beloved throughout the New York City downtown club scene for being in your face — and maybe in your lap — Everett performs at Largo on Sunday with her backing band, the Tender Moments.
The bassist for said group just happens to be Adam Horovitz, also known as King Ad-Rock from the Beastie Boys. They're taking their cabaret-style show cross-country and have big plans for the future, including “cunt rock” world domination. We spoke with the pair about a lot of wacky things.
Adam, Bridgett, you both there?
Bridget Everett: Yep.
Adam Horovitz: Wait – you can't hear me or I can't hear you, because I'm too far away right now. I'm in Hawaii on a little island. The waves are too loud and the suntan lotion is making the phone slip away from my ear.
BE: I'm on the mean streets of New York right now drinking a juice.
AH: You should have told them you're in Malta or something. We got to work on our stories.
BE: Oops. I mean I'm in Ibiza.
Bridget, were you aware that searching your name on Google images is enough to get someone fired?
BE: Then my job here is done. I mean, at least I don't have to go back to high school reunions for them to find me.
For someone who's never seen you guys perform live, what should they expect?
BE: You know, my friend calls it “cunt rock.” But I think it's sort of terrifying — Adam what words would you use?
AH: I wouldn't use terror. I would use delight. I would use tender, fabulous, emotional, terror and glamorous. Oh and I would also have to throw out the voice of an angel.
BE: With a little bit of titty. I have a hard time describing it. That's why I had to ask Adam. But I tell people I'm a singer and that you have to see it to believe it. Some of it, you'll never forget. It's like cabaret with motor-boating.
Adam, this is your first live performance in L.A. in years. Why this performance and why now?
AH: We're coming just to get out of the cold. I'm the bassist in the Tender Moments. We have a regular show at Joe's Pub in New York and it's great. So we're just trying to get out of the cold.
BE: We're on a softball team together. I think that's how I got him in the band actually. He joined the team, we became part of this brotherhood and went from there.
AH: We should get a game going on in L.A. I know people.
Growing up in Kansas, how were you exposed to performance art and cabaret music Bridget?
BE: Uh, I wasn't. I was in show choir in high school. I was on the swim team, student council, just kind of doing my thing until I went to Arizona State. I went there on a choral scholarship so I couldn't have been any further away from that scene. But when I moved to New York, my friend wanted to take me to a show. And he took me to see this group called Kiki and Herb. And I was like, “What the…” I didn't even know this kind of thing existed. It was just people singing, telling stories and getting wild. I figured it out when I got to New York. It was just kind of like, I had the voice of an angel, and I worked it out step-by-step.
Oh — and my Mom used to get drunk around the piano. That was kind of like cabaret. I do the same thing now but I get paid for it.
When did your Mom discover exactly what you do? Did you describe it for her?
BE: I just kept telling her I'm doing some “thing” and she would be like, “I'm so proud of you.” She never really asked what it was. So I slowly started telling her after the show got picked up and reviewed by The New York Times. And then I was in my hometown paper. And they talk about how I mention abortion and sex with black men in the show. And my Mom's like, “What's this about sex with black men?” Nothing about the abortion bits.
She finally came to a show when I hadn't seen her in three years. She walked into the theatre and it was pretty overwhelming for me. 'Cause you know, she's a conservative, Republican schoolteacher and I'm spread-eagle on a guy on-stage. So it was a lot to take in but she did just fine.
AH: She came on stage!
BE: That's right, I brought her on stage to sing. She always wanted to sing in New York City she said. It made the front page of my hometown paper. She got up and sang “Hello Dolly” and I had never seen an audience go as ape shit as they did for my Mom.
AH: It was a tender moment!
After the show on Sunday, what's next? Are you guys working on any other projects together?
AH: Now that you mention it, we're actually writing a television pilot. When we're in L.A., we'll be working on that. And we're also putting the finishing touches on an album that'll be coming out early next year.
BE: And Adam is also contributing to a project I'm working on for a project with a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts. He'll be providing some musical touches to that in the fall. Wait, summer! Next year! 2013 sometime, shit.
AH: Basically, what we're saying is 2013 is going to be a big year for Bridget Everett and the Tender Moments.
Bridget Everett and the Tender Moments perform at Largo on Sunday, Dec. 2nd.
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