(fixed the link)
Calvin Johnson is an incredible performer, amazing musician. True, kind freak. Calvin makes Calvin Art. The microphone was placed on the ground, leading to some buzz(kindof Link Wray-vibe), but I think the creaks of the floor are nice. Khaela Maricich, who also plays as the Blow, performed a piece that she would later perform at the fancy Kitchen. Since it was rather visual, I didn't think posting the audio would be very fulfilling. This was a very lovely night, and it made me happy to hear it again.

Calvin is one of my all time favorite speakers. Both in show-time story telling, as well as in his very unique way of conversing and verbally digesting a topic. Here are a few snippets of an interview conducted by someone expecting a square interview:

When I called back at the appointed time, his responses were intelligent, but guarded and occasionally condescending. "The hidden assumption of your question was that if the answer was yes, that was a bad thing," replied Johnson when I asked if he felt that increased access to recording and distribution technology is making music more of a disposable art form. After assuring him that I had no hidden assumptions or agendas, he told me that on a subconscious level, I did.
"I think that you were assuming that if music was more disposable that was a negative, and I think music is disposable, I don't think it can get any more disposable. It just is," he reasoned. "I think that a better word than disposable is ephemeral, and the fact that the technology has become more and more accessible has made the gap between the creation of the music and its possible appreciation smaller and smaller."
His point is understandable, yet I didn't take well to his assuming I'd given him a loaded question. Further attempts to clarify his position were met with the same resistance.
"Well, I'm trying to avoid any aspects of your question which is calling upon me to make a qualitative judgment," explained Johnson. "What I'm saying is, I'm trying to just stick to what I see as observations, so as far as the ephemeral nature of music, I would define that as…it's not possible to hold on to it. It's like trying to hold on to a butterfly. You can hold on to a record or a CD, but the music itself is only there in the moment that it can be heard, and it's gone instantly."
Interestingly, Calvin wanted to avoid qualitative judgments, yet his position at K Records entails him to do just that. How else would he be able to decide which bands he wanted to work with? But apparently that isn't such a cut-and-dry question, either.
"I don't have an answer for you," Johnson said. "That's too complicated of a question to answer easily, and within one sentence or afternoon. Or, maybe more honestly, there is no answer to that question. We could talk all day, but I wouldn't be able to communicate an answer, and I probably don't even know the answer."

Songs:
Empty Cot in the Bunkhouse
When you are Mine
It's Just my Luck
When Hearts turn Blue (feat. Ms. Maricich)
I'm Down