With A Twist

Straight up with Pink Martini's Thomas Lauderdale

by A.D. Amorosi

(CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

It makes perfect sense that I catch up with Pink Martini founder Thomas Lauderdale on a break from his latest prestigious gig: leading his band at the Academy Awards' Governors Ball. Along with his sultry co-conspirator, singer China Forbes, Lauderdale has made Pink Martini into a swizzle-sticking, bubbly bit of big-band lounge. From 1997's Sympathique to last year's Hey Eugene!, the 12-piece ensemble has kept it bold, brassy and classy.

City Paper: I know most of Pink Martini came out of grunge-era Portland. Did you have a big-rocking, flannel-flying past?

Thomas Lauderdale: Growing up, first, in rural Indiana on a plant nursery, I realized that practicing classical piano indoors made it possible for me to avoid outdoor chores. You know, watering the plants, mowing the meadow — typical Hoosier activities. It was all classical for me. I frowned at the kids on the school bus singing along to "YMCA" and "Super Trouper." Needless to say, I was never a cool rocker.

CP: Was there as much panache to your sartorial styling as there was to the music you played coming up?

TL: In high school, I wore pink suspenders. I think my global history teacher called me "eccentric" in my college recommendations, which I took as an insult. In college, it shifted to running around Harvard Yard wearing only pink underwear and bunny ears to full-on Betsey Johnson cocktail dresses. Now it's just suits with bow ties. Some days, I miss the cocktail dresses.

CP: Who was the audience for Pink Martini's first album, Sympathique? Because now, it seems like such a radically diverse yet NPR-heavy crowd.

TL: Without NPR we wouldn't have ever had a career in the United States. I guess the crowd was always pretty diverse and cool. Our first fan in Los Angeles, for example, was Mickey Cottrell, a fantastic publicist, film producer and actor.

CP: You met China while in college at Harvard. What do you remember liking or disliking about each other?

TL: I have only love for China in my heart. She was the queen bee of the Adams House dining hall. We would all sit at her table for hours as she entertained us with song and dance every day for years.

CP: Was there ever an us-vs.-them thing at work between you and the other rock 'n' roll squares? Do you feel like it's Pink Martini against the world?

TL: It has never been "Pink Martini against the world." It has always been "Pink Martini adores the world."

CP: How is it that, once you guys started touring, you now can't seem to stop?

TL: Is there an option? If we did not tour we would not sell records. As an independent band, touring can be difficult. This is not the rock band who gets stoned and hops into the van careening down the highway. We are 12 musicians wearing suits and ties.

Pink Martini Tue., March 4, 8 p.m., $36-$45, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, kimmelcenter.org