Musical Role

If actress Kathleen Wilhoite is acting like a singer, then she gets the part. With a great voice and a debut album “Pitch Like a Girl” fairly oozing with hook-filled relationship songs, Wilhoite and her hot band will increase her local fan base exponentially Saturday night at Nicholby’s in Ventura. That’s when and where she opens for those popular Deadhead-friendly acoustic rockers, Southern Cross.

Until she was 18, Wilhoite spent her time growing up in Santa Barbara. She studied drama at USC, but after a couple of months, she landed some acting roles and never went back to school. Wilhoite has appeared regularly in “ER” and “Mad About You,” plus in films including “Angel Heart,” but throughout all the acting gigs, she continued to write songs and perform.

Earlier this year, a couple of guys named Dave--Surnow and Harte--formed their own label, Daves’ Record Co. Wilhoite became their first (and so far, only) client. The album, one of the year’s best, was recently picked up by V2, an up-and-coming label.

The next step? Blue skies, green lights and big things for Wilhoite. Ani DiFranco, Alanis Morissette, Lisa Loeb and the current crop of female singer/songwriters may have sold more albums than Wilhoite, but just wait. The singer discussed her impending third gig at Nicholby’s and other stuff during a recent phoner.

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So how’s “Pitch Like a Girl” doing?

I feel it’s doing good. You know we got signed to V2, which has the advantages of a big record company yet small enough that you still know everybody. This is the beginning stage when everyone still gets along, and I’m just enjoying every bit of the process.

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Everyone wants to get signed, but you did--how’d you do it?

Well, we made the record the way we wanted and played around and started selling CDs at the gigs. We sold over 2,000 of them so far. One of the Daves sent a copy to an A&R; [artists and repertoire] person from V2 that had signed one of his other bands a few years before, and they came out to see me play. And they ended up buying the record, which is good for Daves’ Records.

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Did you begin as a solo act before you got the present band?

I had a record deal in the ‘80s with Polygram, although I don’t think I was ready for it. I’d pay guys to play with me. I got discouraged, then encouraged. But this band I have now is just incredible. When I play a song for them, they start picking it up and it becomes more of a collaborative effort. We never have a bad gig, just different gigs.

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Are you one of those serious girl songwriters?

No, I don’t think so.

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Describe your music.

Singer. Songwriter. Girl. Panty rock, I guess.

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On your bio it says “Women will like this record.” Do they?

Yeah. I think it’s very accessible and definitely appeals to women of my age group from 25 to 35. I think I have a cool, intelligent crowd.

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Is “Wish We Never Met” a bad boyfriend song?

Sure. Oh, truly. It’s more of a composite after a whole series of depressing episodes.

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On “Dumb Old Girl,” there’s a great line: “The more I think I know, the less I learn.” So where did that song come from?

I have a whole lot of guy friends who tell about these girls they’re dating. And these guys are so good, I can’t understand why these girls want to over-analyze everything and basically suck the good out of everything. It definitely came from girls that think too much. Love is a good thing--just let it happen and don’t try to analyze everything.

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With song titles such as “Whatever It Takes,” “No One Can Touch Me,” “Look But Don’t Touch” and “Pick Up Where You Left Off,” is there a common theme in your songs?

I’m not sure, but a couple of them are definitely about my ex-husband. I guess I tend to like people I can’t fix. I take on projects.

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When did you know you wanted to sing?

I’ve always sung and acted, and whatever was happening at the time, I just kept on doing it no matter if the industry said I could or I couldn’t. Music is hard. It’s expensive. You have to pay all the musicians because if you use your friends, they tend to nod out at rehearsals.

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How is it different preparing for a role as opposed to a gig?

Acting compared to the music industry is relatively merciful. Music is brutal. Acting is not so personal. There are so many people, and after a while, you just get used to it. But in music, if they don’t like you, that means they don’t like your songs, and that’s brutal. I don’t like to work too hard. There’s not like any big voodoo thing; I just try not to think about it too much. I just try to make sure my guitar strings are happening before a gig. In acting, the more you think about it, the worse you are.

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So acting is like your day job now?

I think I’ve kinda lost the passion for acting, although it’s allowed me to make a very good living and allowed me to make this record. But I think music is definitely more fulfilling.

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What would be your dream role and dream gig?

My dream role would be one where I actually get to do something. I usually play drug dealers that sell babies. I’ve sold four babies so far. As for a dream gig, I’d like to play some outdoor place with great sound, sort of like the Santa Barbara County Bowl.

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Why is rock never on time?

You tell me. It drives me crazy. It totally sucks. I tell people to show up at a certain time, and then, everyone’s late--I hate that. I don’t have a watch, but I hate to be late.

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So what’s The Plan?

V2 is going to reissue the album on Jan. 27, then I guess we’ll start grinding up the press situation and then tour. I’ve got enough songs for five more albums.

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So do you pitch like a girl?

Probably.

BE THERE

Kathleen Wilhoite and Southern Cross, Saturday, 9:30 p.m. at Nicholby’s, 404 E. Main St., Ventura. $6. Call 653-2320.