Alternately referred as a group springing from Maryland and Michigan depending upon the point one’s attempting to make, Half Japanese are somehow still doing just about the same thing it was in 1974. And while folks like Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen can say the same thing, each of those guys has received that magical payday at the end of a tour.

Surely, Half Japanese have made a few dollars – not that Jad or Dave Fair really care. After all, during the latter portion of the seventies, the duo sent out tapes and whatever they figured as art, gratis, to a list of fans they’d kept in correspondence with.

It’s that kind of grassroots, naiveté, though, that’s made Half Japanese a pretty big deal. Again, though, the guys in the band probably don’t see it that way. Thankfully, someone got the idea to interview the Fairs on camera as well as a host of critics (Byron Coley), record label honchos (the dingle berry helming Matador – he comes off like a tremendous douche) and….Penn Gillette?

Yeah, for The Band that Would Be King, Penn gets into a story springing from about the time he was on Miami Vice. Apparently, the comedian, actor and magician had to (half) steal the masters for Half Japanese’s 1988 Charmed Life. Luckily he did. ‘Cause that album rules.

Either way, the documentary grants each Fair a decent amount of face time with Jad seeming more bizarre than even his music could have hinted at. But after hearing him speak at length, his geeky gyrations on stage seem even more genuine.

It’s still at times difficult to make it through some his Jad’s more cheese ball writing efforts – “Miracles Happen Everyday” specifically. But his simple and purposefully unfettered lyrics come off as an extension of Jonathan Richman. So, it can’t be all that difficult.

The film does grant viewers a surprisingly broad view of what the band was doing, who cared and why. Contextualizing the band within the then current major label machinations goes a long way to better explicating how Half Japanese even came about. And while it’s endearing to hear the brothers discuss getting to work in their parents house, going to see the MC5 and the Stooges, there’re a great many minutes wasted on latter day live performances. Of course, Mo Tucker drumming on a few songs makes up for any perceived shortcomings, but still….just go buy a record.