It’s album release day, and Margaret Cho has a full day of interviews promoting Cho Dependant, her comedy album. Months of work with artists like Ani DiFranco, Fiona Apple, Andrew Bird and Calgary’s own Tegan and Sara, have come to fruition.

 “It is a great album. ...I am really proud of it. I am so glad it is finally out there. It took a long time and was a lot of work but I am really excited about it.  Comedians really are obsessed with music. A lot of rock stars want to be comics and a lot of comics want to be rock stars; it is a common exchange. I have made a lot of friendships within comedy and rock. There is a lot of song writing that has a lot of humor in it - guys like Morrisey, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Elvis Costello - their stuff is very funny sometimes. In terms of composing, that is where I needed the help and reached out to so many great musicians. The lyrics came pretty naturally to me as a comic.”

 The album has already spawned two videos: I’m Sorry and Eat Shit and Die. As someone who has guest starred in many music videos herself, doing them was one of the aspects of the album that Cho was most excited about.

 “Both videos were directed by Liam Sullivan (Kelly of Shoes fame), a wonderful, creative, hilarious guy that I have worked with a lot in the past. He is a really great film maker. We made these videos together. I loved doing I’m Sorry with Andrew Bird because he is such a serious guy but a hilarious performer. He was funny as a corpse in this Weekend at Bernies inspired video. My husband made the turd costumes for Eat Shit and Die, they are really works of art, incredible.”

 Cho is back on the road in support of the album, which brings her to Calgary October 1st and Edmontonton October 2nd. The tour will feature her trademark stand-up and a few numbers from the album.

 “I’ve been doing some shows in Provincetown unofficially and started in Portland, Seattle and Vancouver. I expect it to go beautifully, I am really excited and can’t wait to get out there. It will be new jokes, stories, new things. I’ve been living in Atlanta for the last six months so I am excited to get out there and do jokes and new material. There will be a couple of songs in there too. The songs will depend on my mood, but I’d like to do I’m Sorry, Your Dick and My Puss, and other than that we will see.”

 Her comedic style is in sharp contrast to the likes of Lisa Lampanelli, who also comes to Alberta in October.  This is part of why her fans really connect with her.

 “I don’t really have a mean sense of humor. My humor is very inclusive and about being together as opposed to attacking. There are legitimate things about different comedic forms but I come from it with a compassionate level. I love being able to go out and connect with people and do shows live, to meet people. A lot of people have been coming to see me year after year which is really tremendous. I am excited to see everyone again.”

 See everyone except for me, that is. The tour dates were announced after I’d already booked a vacation to San Francisco which means I unfortunately will not get to laugh my ass off with the rest of Calgary on October 1st.

 “You’ll have fun,” she said. “I promise I’ll come back to Calgary again.”