July 31–August 7, 1997

six pick

Half Japanese

Half Japanese is either a bunch of rock 'n' roll savants or idiots who should have never been allowed to record. Frontman Jad Fair can barely play guitar and his nasal voice sounds like a teenybopper's in the throes of a tirade — yet his songs are undeniably catchy. Jeff Feuerzeig's rockumentary, Half Japanese: The Band That Would Be King (1993), traces the career of Half Japanese and casts them as the offbeat rock band that deserved to make it. Magician Penn Gillette argues that Half Japanese is more rock 'n' roll than Paul McCartney. Velvet Underground drummer Moe Tucker contends that the band could take the world by storm if only given the chance by a big record company. Though The Band That Would Be King occasionally veers off into predictable tirades about the evils of the corporate rock world, it's a nice portrait of one of the quirkiest rock bands there is. Some of the screenings of this Philadelphia premiere feature discussions with Feuerzeig.

Fri., Aug. 1, 7:30 & 10 p.m., The Painted Bride, 230 Vine St., 925-9914; Sat., Aug. 2, 8 & 10 p.m. and Sun., Aug. 3, 7:30 p.m., Fergie's Pub, 1214 Sansom St., 928-8118. Call 742-4224 for tickets and reservations.

—Neil Gladstone