Jinx Titanic never ceases to amaze me.This year he released the country album I Want Some Sun under his real name, John Kamys. He also made a well-received documentary on Haiti called Stirring Water. Now the outspoken and devilishly handsome rocker is going out with a bang again with another send-off concert at Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark, on Fri., Sept. 18, before he heads to Ireland for graduate school.
On a late summer morning I met Titanic for coffee. He was running late because he was researching which fireworks were illegal in Illinois. Even jaywalking in the Gold Coast simply wearing T-shirt and jeans, the burly showman commands attention. When Titanic speaks, he is feverishly passionate about his projects and hopes the audience shares his enthusiasm.
On the eve of waving goodbye once again, Titanic has his sights on a rebirth abroad: "I am hoping to start up the Irish version of Super 8 Cum Shot. I am not kidding, the guys already know. If you know any musicians in Ireland get in touch."
Last year with his then final concert, Titanic was collecting toiletries to bring along for a return trip to Haiti. This was tied in with the critically acclaimed documentary Stirring Water, which Kamys directed and scored.
Stirring Water ( J'agite de l'eau ) is moving. The archaic medical conditions and primitive schooling are captured here, but also are the country's beautiful landscape, delicious foods, arts, culture and pride. There is no narration or subtitles, so it gives a sense of life in the poorest country in the western hemisphere.
Translator and guide John Marc Bazil provides insights. Sadly, the "Haitian Sensation" was murdered six weeks after filming.
Stirring Water made its debut at the 11th Annual Washington D.C. Independent Film Festival earlier this year. "It played in the train station in Washington; it was really great. This is my first venture in filmmaking. The fact that it was accepted somewhere is really amazing," Titanic said.
The film's title originates from a Haitian proverb, "I stir water to make butter." The 15-minute film will be available this fall at johnkamys.com .
100% Pure Class: The Very Best of Jinx Titanic & Super 8 Cum Shot is out now on iTunes and CD Baby. All of the songs from Super 8 Cum Shot Volume 1 & 2 are present, including the live favorite "Check Your Nuts." "Oops You're Dead!," "I Lied" and "Get out of My Bed" were newly recorded for this 23-song retrospective. They fit in perfectly.
A collection of rarities is on the horizon. Titanic added, "The band will come full circle with Found in Trunk ( 2009 ) : Good and Bad Demos, Live Junk & Oddities. It is fun, it is all set to go. I am just waiting to get it on iTunes. It is 20 songs of all the stuff that did not fit on the records, including experiments like a hip hop mix of 'Trade' and an electronic version of 'I Love a Boy.'"
With a laugh, Titanic justified the bargain price of Found in Trunk: "It's cheap! It's only $5.99 with 20 tracks on it. You can buy it and if you only like a few tracks you can throw out the ones you don't like."
Although Titanic is best known for his punk-cum-pop queer-party anthems like "Everybody Loves a Muscle Boi," I Want Some Sun shows a drastic change. Titanic's "There's a Porn Star Shining Down on Me" and a fantastic cover of "Trouble of the World" reveal soul in his vocals. But having the man behind Jinx Titanic record country music? The transition and the new theme are natural. Here, he is more Johnny Cash than Garth Brooks.
I Want Some Sun has been in the works for seven years. Kamys sounds broken down on "Is It Wonderful to See Me Again." But on the title track and "Sunflower," the backing vocals brings to chorus to a new level. Try not to find the similarities to Cash on "I'm Your Emergency." ( The album can be previewed at www.myspace.com/johnkamys. )
Titanic cannot conceal hinting at a certain excitement brewing with the upcoming Back to School Show. "We haven't played "Oh Daddy" for like 3 years. Yes, we are pulling out the good stuff. Also we are going to premier the Jinx Titanic karaoke videos for "You Make Me Wanna Cum," "Everybody Here Wants to Fuck You," "Homo Go Home" and "All Night Yeah Yeah."
This all seems like a lot, even Titanic realizes this, "Just when I think I have a plan, I realize I don't have one anymore."
With Stirring Water and I Want Some Sun, it is great to see Kamys branch out into other arenas. However, it will be most entertaining to see all of the stage antics in store for the upcoming concert. Titanic promises a new song will be unveiled on the 18th.
Actor Slash Model, Lezbobo the Clown and The Stewed Tomatoes will be special guests at the show. DJ Sky will be spinning.
Jinx Titanic & Super 8 Cum Shot's Back to School Show will take place at Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark, on Friday, Sept. 18, at 8 p.m.