Students can see musician Jack Johnson practicing his other craft at the showing of his debut surfing film called “Thicker Than Water” tonight at the Varsity. The movie’s soundtrack, including songs from Johnson, G. Love and the Special Sauce and Natural Calamity, also will be showcased at the event.
The singer and songwriter had hits like “Inaudible Memories” and “Bubble Toes” from his 2001 album “Brushfire Fairytales.” But before there was music Johnson was a surfer.
“He grew up in Hawaii, and so his first passion was surfing,” Chris Shirer, a Universal Music College & Lifestyle marketing representative, said.
At the age of 17 Johnson was a pro surfer and had a contract with Quiksilver, a surfing and snowboarding company, but his athletic career ended that same year.
“He was in an accident at 17 and had to have his face stitched,” Fresh and Clean Media publicist Shazila Mohamed said. “That ended his pro career, and he decided to go to school and got a degree in film.”
It was his interest in making films that started Johnson’s music career.
“He started scoring for the movie and that’s how he started writing music,” Mohammed said.
With his background in surfing, Johnson, Chris Malloy and Keith Malloy finished “Thicker Than Water” in 2000 featuring sufers like Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Aaron Lambert, John John Florena and Dan Malloy. The documentary follows the many surfing adventures they came across in the waters of the world including India, Australia and Tahiti.
The CD is not just a Jack Johnson and G. Love and the Special Sauce compilation, both G. Love and Johnson’s love of surfing is permanently remembered in their huge contributions to the soundtrack.
“They met through surfing,” Mohammed said. “They also like to jam together and sing. ‘Rainbow’ came to be that way.”
Shirer agrees it is no coincidence that they have so many songs on the soundtrack.
“Jack and G. Love play out a lot,” Shirer said. “They’re pretty tight.”
Other artists featured on the “Thicker Than Water” soundtrack are Bombay and the Hard Way’s with their tune “My Guru,” Natural Calamity, The Voyces, Harper’s Bizarre and Todd Hannigan.
The movie and CD release event is an effort by Universal Music to create awareness of Johnson’s more obscure work before his music success in 2001.
“Jack has made a bigger name for himself since the movie, and they’re looking for an opportunity to get the movie back out there,” Shirer said. “It’s being shown to boost record and DVD sales.”
At the showing tonight at 8 p.m. a skimboard and an autographed artboard will be given away. Also, CDs and DVDs will be on sale.
There is no cover for the show, and doors open at 7 p.m.