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INTERVIEW: Calvin Johnson
by kittenpants.

calvin johnson

Who is Calvin Johnson? According to googlism.com:

* Calvin Johnson is the don of Americas shambly underground
* Calvin Johnson is one of indie's most obnoxiously ubiquitious presences
* Calvin Johnson is the man
* Calvin Johnson is trying hard to be the next godfather of soul
* Calvin Johnson is "innocent"
* Calvin Johnson is due for a good year
* Calvin Johnson is a lovely fellow
* Calvin Johnson is one of the three most powerful performers I've ever had the privilege to see
* Calvin Johnson is a dance machine
* Calvin Johnson is the marvel of forensics
* Calvin Johnson is truly an impressive dancer
* Calvin Johnson is another story.

Okay, so if that doesn’t clear things up for you, Calvin Johnson is the reason you’ve heard of Olympia, WA (aside from the beer) or any bands from the Pacific Northwest. As a teenager he founded K records, a label which is home to some of indie rock’s best and brightest, and which, according to K, “explodes the teenage underground into passionate revolt against the corporate ogre world-wide.”

In addition, Calvin put his mouth where his money is, lending his low throaty speak-sing voice to (I won't say "seminal" but everyone else does) bands like Beat Happening, Halo Benders, and Dub Narcotic Sound System.

I showed Calvin his googlism results to get his reaction.

kp: How do you feel about that? Agree? Disagree?
cj:
There is no such thing as bad publicity. It doesn’t matter what they say, as long as they get the name right. These are the basics of publicity, and subscribing to them can be quite a relief, kind of a zen approach to gossip.

kp: Apparently you have quite a reputation as a dancer. Any professional training?
cj:
No. though we were obliged to square dance in elementary and junior high.

kp: Does it annoy you when people refer to Beat Happening as 'childlike'? or when they reference your vocal stylings to those of 'Lurch'?
cj:
Somehow I've never seen an episode of “The Addams Family”, though I love love love “The Munsters”. Many people think that “The Munsters” is a pale imitation of “The Addams Family”. Actually, they both made their network debuts the same week and ran for the same length of time before being cancelled.

I have seen the Addams Family movies; ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES was perfect with Joan Cusack as the conniving bride-to-be.

What a woman. She is perfect in everything she does.

***

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INTERVIEW: Calvin Johnson
FEATURE: Rock Lottery Returns
FEATURE: Dear Extreme Makeover
FEATURE: You're Hired!
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MUSIC: News + Reviews
MUSIC: Adam interviews Jordan Knight
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