Pictured Jinx Titanic and band , Lesley Gore and Lady Bunny.
During Jinx Titanic's Pride Fest show, special guest Suka fisted a watermelon and a fan had his shorts pulled down on stage—being unconventional remains the band's niche. What will they have in store for their Market Days performance on Saturday, Aug. 6? What kind of debris will the Kimmi Hayes Band and Judy Tenuta have to wade through after Jinx's set?
The outfit's lead singer, also named Jinx Titanic, proposed conducting the interview in his bedroom with '70s porn playing in the background while chomping on cigars. Luckily there's a coffeeshop across the street, but then again Jinx's place has air conditioning.
The Chicago rock band is taking its first summer break, scheduling only one concert a month including Pride Fest, San Francisco's Folsom Fair, Market Days and a special concert at Jackhammer with the Stewed Tomatoes July 15. But the band's frontman has been hosting events like Estrojam's Tribute to the Ladies on Jazz & Blues and Out Music Awards with Lea DeLaria. Last year the band packed them in for Spin's Oktoberfest and is optimistic about being asked to return to the annual event.
Jinx is a fearless showman with his trademark cigar and Heineken in tow. During his shows audience members may challenge him, but without flinching the handsomely rugged, muscular singer in military fatigues welcomes them to join him on stage, knowing the hecklers will cower.
One project the band will be working on during the summer vacation is inking a deal for The Jinx Titanic Show. In trying to find a home for Jinx's twisted version of the beloved '70s variety show genre, Mr. Titanic has already faced a series of obstacles due to the current political climate and the nature of the Jinx Titanic experience. However, after several revisions of the program and the attachment of director Philip Wm. McKinley ( The Boy From Oz ) , the television version of The Jinx Titanic Show may be ready for audiences as early as this fall.
Jinx Titanic is one of the many gay rock groups mentioned in the book Homocore: The Loud and Raucous Rise of Queer Rock by David Ciminelli and Ken Kox due out this August via Alyson Publications.
Director Kevin Evans is working on a trilogy of videos for Jinx Titanic. After seeing a rough edit for 'Trade,' Jinx is very excited about the first clip in the series. The band has songs available for download through iTunes and for purchase at cdbaby.com .
She may have sang 'That's the Way Boys Are' but '60s icon Lesley Gore would have been able to sing about the way girls are even better. Even though the 'It's My Party ( And I'll Cry if Want To ) ' singer hosted the PBS special In the Life, the teen idol recently verified on afterellen.com that she is in fact a lesbian while promoting her recent album Ever Since. The former teen idol is doing select concert dates and her new album features a remake of her classic 'You Don't Own Me.'
With hair so big, Lady Bunny must be from the south. With a chuckle, Bunny quips, 'The higher the hair, the closer to god.' The New York-based drag queen DJ'ed at the Circuit Diva stage for Pride Fest and is putting the final touches on this year's line-up for Wigstock, the annual drag festival to held in New York's Tompkins Square Park Aug. 27.
Considering where the political pendulum is, Bunny has been touring several pride events with a mission. She notes, 'big get-togethers are great, we can show strength in numbers. Iraq is not the only war in this administration. They don't see the point in gay marriage, we need to show up at these pride events, get revved up, keep spirit of pride throughout the year to enact some changes. We need some of the fighting spirit from Stonewall, the crazy drag queens got to take the reins again.'
The founder and head of Wigstock is best known for her Laugh-In style sense of humor and her trademark look, just imagine Dusty Springfield through the eyes of Alice, but with legs that don't end. The official Web site ladybunny.net offers a clip of the Tennessee native's comedy act, where she lip synchs to parodies of pop hits. A full DVD is due by end of summer. If that's not enough, the blonde bombshell has a single out with DJ Disciple called 'I Get High' and is also shopping around her demo full of upbeat party music, some may recall her playful covers of 'Shame, Shame, Shame' and 'The Pussycat Song.' Lady Bunny loves Chicago and the city's music scene with hopes of bringing Wigstock to Market Days one day.
24th Northalsted Marketdays to Take Place Aug. 6-7
Chicago's North Halsted Street will be Chicago's most festive neighborhood as thousands of people from around the nation will converge Aug. 6-7 to mark the 24th Northalsted Marketdays, the largest two-day street fair in the Midwest.
The event, which will occur on North Halsted between Belmont ( 3200 North ) and Addison ( 3600 North ) , is sponsored by the Northalsted Area Merchants Association. There is a suggested donation of $6 per entrant.
According to a press release, the daily festivities run continuously each day from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. The event spans six city blocks, has 17 entrance gates and features three music stages with a program lineup that includes more than 40 acts. This year's headliners include singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik and stand-up comedienne and gay favorite Judy Tenuta on Saturday, Aug. 6. The following day's headliners include R&B legends The Average White Band ( 'Pick Up The Pieces' ) , singer/songwriter Melissa Ferrick and soul-rockers Whild Peach.
There will also be a bazaar of more than 400 unique foods; arts and crafts vendors; and booths featuring various organizations, including Windy City Media Group.
