by James Whitely - SGN Staff Writer

WENDY HO
THE TRIPLE DOOR
October 10

The salacious skilled singer, 'white rapper,' and comedienne Wendy Jo Smith, better known by her stage name, Wendy Ho, will appear at the Triple Door in downtown Seattle, as part of a tour for her latest album, I'm a Ho!

'The Queen of Sass and Crass,' known for her crude sense of humor, soulful voice, and pop-culture wits, got her break with her 2007 music video 'Bitch, I Stole Yo Purse!' which saw much airtime on both MTV and Logo. Today, Ho is one of the most sought-after performers in the LGBT community. Ho was last in Seattle during Pride, where she performed at R Place alongside Jujubee and Latrice Royale.

'It was fabulous,' said Ho. 'Those two are two of my favorites. We each did like three numbers apiece - it was part of the traditional Lashes show that they have there.'

'I've been at R Place now for going on three or four years, so I'm really close to all those girls. I love Lady Chablis, she loves to give some Tina Turner.'

WHITE WOMAN'S BURDEN
Ho said that what makes Seattle a good drag city is the variety. In addition to her notoriety as a feminist singer, Ho's style and attitude have struck a special chord with the Gay community, especially drag queens, many of whom have covered her music.

'Being Wendy Ho is a celebration of everything you're not supposed to be as a white woman,' Ho told SGN. 'I find it's still a particularly heavy cross to bear, as a white woman who wants to be loud - anything but skinny [and] submissive.'

Ho's best songs include 'F**k Me,' 'Cocaine,' and 'Oprah Winfrey.' She released a new single in September, 'Public Place,' a parody of Rihanna's 'We Found Love.' Ho's version is all about oral sex in public. It's broken rules and stirred up controversy - exactly what Ho aims to do with her music as she seeks to redefine the roles women musicians can take.

'The response has been really great,' said Ho, who recognizes the gendered division in how these topics are often addressed in the mainstream music world. 'How ridiculous it is that these standards still exist.'

'I think that being offended and being shocked is a choice that we make. I think usually it's a choice out of fear of something we don't want to look at,' Ho told SGN. 'I'm of value because I'm here and I have a voice, and I have talent. If you don't want to listen to it that's fine, I won't shut up.'

A PRIDE FEST STAPLE
Ho's notoriety within the Gay community has been bringing her to Pride festivals around the country since 2009.

'I really enjoy performing, Prides are tough, though - it's a tough game to play,' said Ho. 'Often, people don't know who you are, and they're not really there for you.'

'It can be very competitive,' Ho added. 'It's a complicated process to be a performer - it's a business at the end of the day. It's not just an art form, it's a business.'

Ho said that her favorite Pride was one of her most recent, during the first week of September in Austin, Texas.

'I got to attend my very first Pride parade,' Ho told SGN. 'It was the most heartfelt [Pride] experience I've had.'

'It was just so amazing and wonderful to be a part of that energy ... the parade is for the everyday people that are out there working for equality,' said Ho. 'I am not Gay, but I've been embraced by the most creative, wonderful community and I'm so grateful.'

Ho has headlined Pride festivals in Boston, Miami, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere. Her music has been featured on Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, NBC, and Showtime.

'SUPER HO' CONTEST
Ho's latest single, 'Public Place,' is available for download via iTunes. She will appear at the Triple Door on Thursday, October 10. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the 21+ show, which includes dinner service, begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by phone at (206) 838-4333 or online at www.thetripledoor.net.

During the show, Ho will officiate a competition for 'Super Ho of Seattle.'

'[Being Super Ho] means that you are just large and in charge of your Ho-ness, that you understand that you bring pleasure to the masses,' said Ho.

The six local performers vying for the title are Mark 'Mom' Finley, EmpeROAR Fabulous!!!, Majesty St. James, Sashay Supernova, Mizz Honey Bucket, and Kiara. The contest will be judged by Mama Tits, Lady Chablis, and DonaTella Howe, but ultimately the audience will decide which contestant is the biggest Ho - this show isn't one to miss.

'I've never done just a full-on Ho show in Seattle ... I'll be doing a full hour of my material,' Ho told SGN. 'I'll do a little bit of story telling. I get that question a lot - 'How do you come up with this shit?' I'm going to tell.'

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