Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry, Tonight at Rocbar

Here’s another film-/music-type thing I ran across recently that sounded pretty damn cool, going on tonight (Thurs., November 5th) up at Röcbar in downtown. Caveat first, for this one: this is apparently an RSVP-only deal, where you have to go to this Website to sign up, and I’ve got no idea how many spaces they’ve got or if the dang thing’s already fully-booked. As of now, the form’s still online, though, so I figure it’s worth a shot…

At any rate, what this is is a screening of a film called Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry, which is a biopic of sorts of legendary tatooist Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins. I can’t claim to be any kind of tattoo afficionado — needles scare the shit out of me, and I’m not overly fond of pain, either — but I find the art fairly fascinating, particularly the Japanese-influenced style that Collins is credited with bringing to American tattoo art.

Odds are that when you think of the WWII-era tattoos sailors and soldiers stationed overseas came home with, the designs that pop into your head were Collins’ work. Collins himself has been dead since before I was born, sadly, so the film apparently consists of interviews with protégés Ed Hardy and Mike “Rollo Banks” Malone, among others, but it still sounds pretty cool to me.

As an added bonus, I’ve heard rumors that there’ll be a couple of musical-type performances in conjunction with this — supposedly Woven Bones, from up in Austin, are playing, and if the Hands Up board is to be believed, local facepunchers Black Congress may be making a “surprise” appearance, too. And yes, there will be lots of rum to drink, since, y’know, that’s what sailors drink. Right?

I’m afraid I’ve got no clue how much, if anything, the screening actually costs, btw; the only other info I’ve got is that you have to be 21 to get in and that doors open at 7PM. I’ve been told it may be free, but even if it isn’t, I doubt it’s too high of a cover charge. Go check it out.