Don’t get him angry. Seriously.

Veteran stand-up Lewis Black, who plays the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on Friday as part of his “Let Them Eat Cake” tour, is not exactly known for his even temper. The comedian, author and host of the Comedy Central series “The Root of All Evil” has practically cornered the market on angry diatribes that are as gloriously unhinged as they are amazingly insightful.

But Black’s vitriol obscures a sharp, thoughtful mind that arrives at its conclusions in a more considered way than the scorched-earth landscapes they produce. We talked to Black in advance of his Denver date about his show (which recently started its second season), the Democratic National Convention and why he thinks American politicians have lately failed at their jobs.

Thanks for talking with me today…

No problem. I’ve been up since 8:30 this morning doing press. My life has just become promo. I’m thinking about skipping my act and just doing promo from now on.

Do you dislike doing press?

Oh, no. I balance it because the marketing, in a sense, is a way of working on material. Plus, the press has gotten a lot smarter in the last ten years. It’s not so dopey. The journalists who call me actually do research beyond my website. Three or four years ago it would be questions so dumb you would think, “So when did you start doing this journalism thing? Is there a reason I have a website and put this stuff out there?” Now people seem to have gotten it.

You’re appearing in Denver just a few days before the Democratic National Convention. Do you plan to stick around, either as a performer or spectator?

I’ve done some convention stuff before for “The Daily Show,” but I really can’t this time because of my tour. But I’ll probably do something back in the studio.

A lot of people are talking about the historical nature of this convention. Do you think it’ll be different than any other?

If anything happens that actually means anything, I’ll be ecstatic. It’s preaching to the converted. The last one I was running around at, in Boston, I was like, “What are they doing this for?” It’s just a pep rally. The changes are minimal. It’s always been and it’s more so each time. (These events) point out that there’s utterly no attempt by either party to do what they’re supposed to, which is govern. All they can do is tell us what the other side is saying, and how awful they are. That’s not the job. The job is to listen to the other side and come up with something that works with both.

So you don’t think there’s something legitimately different happening in this election season?

Well, to watch the Republicans and Democrats begin the primary process so far in advance and not have palpable solutions… I mean, Obama didn’t warn me, McCain didn’t warn me, nobody talked about how the economy was going to hell in a hand basket. And I’m supposed to think they’re really good at this? And their inability to come up with some sort of energy solution is beyond me.

On your new show, “The Root of All Evil,” you play a judge that hears arguments from both sides of an issue, whether its on marijuana legalization, the merits of YouTube or the NRA. How do you feel about the show going into its second season?

We moved it along this time, definitely, and I think it’s a stronger series. The worst thing about doing a new show is figuring out what the show is. You’re like, “Wow, we’re going to do this. Comedy central is involved!” But by time you get to where you’re going, it’s different than where you thought you’d be. But I think my presence is stronger this season. There’s more of a definition to what the guys are doing. Normally you’d debate one thing, but we’re idiots so we have two. We’re insane. But it gives it another flavor and tone and makes it more interesting.

You feature a lot of my favorite comedians on there, some of whom are veterans, but are lesser-known in the mainstream.

There are people like Patton Oswalt that have already had a lot of success. But I’m trying to get some people out there that normally aren’t seen, like Andy Kindler, Greg Giraldo and Kathleen Madigan. The thing I like about the show is finding a way to see comics work without having to see their act.

Any parting thoughts?

I have a firm believe that the American people are smarter than the way they’re being treated.

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