Jains Ian

Rip It Up, Issue 6, 1 November 1977, Page 6

Jains lan

William Dart

Five years ago when Janis lan s ' career was at its lowest point, she - must have seemed the last performer likely to visit our shores. But. 1977 is the year that Janis made it to Kiwiland, and October sth saw a concert by the lady in our illustrious town hall I remember reading Variety in 1971 and noticing a review of a Janis lan concert in Los Angeles. She was being pestered by the audience to sing Society's'Child, and they were not really very receptive to her newer songs. These would have been songs from her Present Company album which is a lovely disc. - Nowadays Janis wears her Kits well, and the expected :At Seventeen was saved almost till the end of the concert with a rather droll introductory rap on long socks and teenage years in New Jersey. - I have ■ a;few queries about the concert There seemed to be a clique of a somewhat feminist nature in the front of the hall who responded just a little ■too enthusiastically at times. And. as far as the songs went, they were re- ' markably lacking in a sense of humour at times One exception being a oneminute ditty in the middle of the con-

cert with Jams describing New York in springtime, with rapists, gays, muggers etc. etc. etc coming out to gambol. I feel a bit of a cad picking holes in the evening, cos I really did enjoy it And. having admired the lady consistently now for almost ten years, it was rewarding to see her in person. The opening number was her Hymn from the Aftertones album. lan s reworking of Martini s Plaisir d Amour This featured some lovely harmonies from the very visual Claire Bey with her waist-length tresses, in distinct contrast to Jams lan s chic butch look. And Party Lights from the Miracle Row album was another treat a classic Jams 'an song, thematically and musically. Jams 'an had a fine backing band but still went out of her way to prove her musical versatility, dividing her attentions between acoustic guitar electric piano and guitar during the evening The lady says she is retiring now for a few years It will indeed be interesting to see what she comes up with for us in 1 979.