Past Perfect (Part II)
One of the hardest-working acts at the fest this year is Janet Klein and her Parlor boys, putting on at least five shows over the Fujirock weekend. No, Klein is no rock star. Quite the opposite. Klein and her band, the Parlor Boys, perform exclusively songs from the 1920’s and 1930’s, recreating the music of her crumbling collection of tin pan alley-era sheet music. Sitting backstage, she fans herself and grins widely. She’s just finished up a session at Avalon Field, and despite the rain that dumped at the beginning of her set, the crowd actually grew in number, choosing to shimmy to the oldies in the downpour instead of run for shelter
Q: Enjoying the fest so far?
A: Oh sure! But I feel a little out of place here [giggles]. Rock concerts are so foreign to me. So much brain-beating music. I walked by Underworld last night and felt like an alien in a strange land.
Q: What do you think of the crowd?
A: I love the Japanese girls here. They can still be feminine and sweet in this environment.
Q: You seem to get on quite well here.
A: Oh, I love playing in Japan. I love the desgn and the food. I love that the women are still feminine and sweet. I recently learned an old Japanese drinking song from the 1920’s. Crowds love it.
Q: How does performing here compare to your hometown of LA?
A: Oh it’s much different here. People in LA seem to enjoy acting miserable. I’ve never met so many people that enjoy being miserable.
Q: Obviously you take a different tack.
A: Of course! Give ‘em a little sunshine! Smile and put on a nice dress and they’ll lighten up.
Q: Many of the 20’s and 30’s songs you perform were quite racy, even by today’s standards. Have you ever had trouble with obscenity laws?
A: [laughs] No! Not with my delivery anyway. In fact, the more common reaction is “Wow” My Grandmother used could have listened to this?”
Reported by Jason Jenkins (2008.07.30 / 22:09)