Image from MySpace

Half Japanese formed in the mid-seventies, and the band, which initially consisted of just brothers Jad and David Fair, would go on to have an musical impact on par with fellow primitive rock and roll ideologues Beat Happening and forebears The Shaggs. Kurt Cobain and Penn Jillette both championed their qualities to a larger audience, and their early history is even chronicled in a film entitled Half Japanese: The Band That Would Be King by The Devil and Daniel Johnston director Jeff Feurezeig. Even after David left Half Japanese to pursue other things, Jad kept the love lights glowing by recording both under the band’s name and his own, collaborating with many other musicians along the way.

Half Japanese is reuniting for the first time in what feels like forever this SXSW, and Jad Fair, who was recently chronicled in some other local magazine to boot, was nice enough to answer some questions for us via email.

Jad, first of all, you're now officially a Texan, aren't you? What's it like living in Manor as opposed to the cold Midwest?

I grew up in Michigan, and the winters never bothered me. I guess I didn't know any better. I sure wouldn't want to move back. It's way better down here. Austin is a great city.

Have you been able to get a lot of recording done since you've been here, and have you spent a lot of time with your old pal Daniel Johnston? Any chance of a sequel to It's Spooky?

I've been recording at home on my Mac. I've started doing personalized songs for $300. I've done several songs for birthdays, weddings, and baby births. It's cool doing songs that are custom made. The songs go in directions I normally wouldn't think to go.

I did another album with Daniel and Chris Bultman. The band name was The Lucky Sperm and the album is Somewhat Humorous. I'd be real keen on doing more with Daniel. He's great.

Half Japanese is playing the Misc. Music showcase at The Counter Café for a SXSW showcase. We're told that this will be a full reunion of Half Japanese, which includes who, exactly? Where will you guys set up? The Counter Café is, if recollection serves, quite tiny.

Half Japanese will do 5 shows during SXSW. We'll be at a party for Flatstock, the WFMU showcase, a party at Yard Dog, an in-store at Waterloo Records and the Misc. Music show at Counter Café. The stage will be in the parking lot of Counter Café. I played there last year. I'm looking forward to it. It'll be the old line up of Half Japanese. My brother David will be here, and Mark Jickling, the Dreyfuss Brothers, and John Mormen.

What musicians have gotten your attention these days? Any artists local to Austin or the surrounding area?

I'm a big fan of Amy Allison, and Cat Power. Austin is one of the best cities for music. Spoon is great, and Roky Erickson is in fine form.

Most of the collaborations I've done have started with being friends and the music is an extension of that. I'm lucky to have such talented friends. Most people have friends that are shitty musicians, but not me. Mine are cool.

How would you say you've changed as a musician over the years? Is technical prowess still much less important to you than a basic desire to play?

I think what I do best is being me. I'm pretty good at that. I don't care at all about technical junk. There's already enough people doing that.

In the documentary Half Japanese: The Band That Would Be King, there's a scene where you're playing at a nursing home and a resident pulls a harmonica out of nowhere to play along. How have other responses been from shows at very un-rock and roll venues?

I've played at a few weddings and at a preschool. One of the strangest shows I've done was at an airport in New Zealand. I flew in and there was a news team there to interview me. They asked me to play a few songs. As soon as I started, the police came. It was kind of wacky.

Speaking of that film, it contains a great deal of interview and live footage of solo artists, former Velvet Underground drummer and Half Japanese compatriot Moe Tucker. Do you still keep in touch with Moe, or know what she's working on these days?

My wife Patty and I went to Atlanta a few years back for a surprise birthday party for Moe. It was so good to see her again. It's way cool that she has a song in Juno. I don't know what she's working on now.

What album, for you, embodies what you love about music? What are a few records you consider amazing and/or timeless?

The Shaggs' Philosophy Of The World is one of my all time favorite records. I'm a huge fan of the Shaggs and also NRBQ. I've seen hundreds of great bands and I have to say NRBQ is the finest live band I've seen. Super Duper. Way cool.

Do you have any surprising records in your collection that Jad Fair fans wouldn't expect to find? Are you a closet prog-rocker or fan of Yngwie Malmsteen?

This one surprises me. I've started listening to U2. They've been around forever, and I never cared for them, but their last couple albums have been good. Most bands get worse with time, but they've gotten better.

Jad Fair: [website]