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Posted in music on November 4, 2005
Calvin Johnson @ Sidewalk Cafe, NYC | review & pics
CALVIN JOHNSON @ THE SIDEWALK CAFE | 11/02/05
Nick from Brass Bonanza reports...
Calvin Johnson played to a packed house at the Sidewalk Cafe last night. The former Beat Happening front man and K Records founder took the stage a little after midnight. He started off by introducing himself to the crowd and telling one of his many amusing stories. He said that the Lower East Side resents Hoboken, because at one point in time, Hoboken was the “New” Lower East Side. Which lead him to add, “Some say Brooklyn is the “New” Hoboken.” He would continue to rant all night.
He played some songs off his new album, he sang , “Lightnin' Rod For Jesus,” and he played a couple of cover songs by older artists, including Dusty Springfield's, "If wishes were kisses." None of his old work really. He played with guitar and he played without it, leaving the crowd to focus on his voice. It was a very intimate evening and the crowd was silent throughout the hour long set.
I’ve never seen Calvin live , nor have I read a review of a show, so I didn’t know what to expect. The overall feeling of the show was very relaxed. He was animated at times and also very subdued at others. He was at his best though when he was telling his last story of the night. It was about how he came to New York when he was 16 years old, to visit a friend in SoHo. His friend took him to see Gang of Four, Sick Boys and his highlight, The Cramps. He saw The Cramps three times in a 24 hour period at Irving Plaza and said that those shows, “Changed everything and from there on out I never looked back. And for that I say thank you. Thank You New York.” He then went into his final song of the night.
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Posted on November 4, 2005 1:01 PM
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Comments (3)
I had a similar experience earlier this year. It was back in April, I believe. Calvin Johnson played at Peabody's Coffee House in Davenport, IA. Many of us were suprised that he would turn up in our town and play a low key venue as he did. However, I overheard others talking at the show, who commented he enjoyed touring this way.
One of the people I went along with is from Seattle, Washington. She went over and talked with Calvin and told us he seems rather shy, but not standoffish or unapproachable.
He played a solo set, sometimes strumming his guitar, sometimes not. Because the venue was small (and his voice big), he really didn't even need a microphone. He went through mostly new and original material.
He told stories between songs. One in particular stood out, because it was about having his haircut at a local barbershop. A shop near my house, in fact. Then, during the middle of his set, he had a question and answer session with the audience which lasted for about 20 minutes.
At first, I thought of Calvin Johnson as eccentric, but after the show, my wife commented he just seemed deliberate in the way he spoke. In fact, at one point, he changed up the words to a song to avoid cursing as there was a young girl with her parents in the audience; at least that was how I interpreted the event.
The night was intimate and the venue appropriate. He played and talked for about an hour, then had a collection of mixtapes and original recordings available for sale after the show. Earlier in the evening he mentioned his interest in finding local pawn shops, which carried records by local acts; he said he was primarily looking for hip hop records. He then compiled these recordings onto mixtapes.
I will be going to see him again later this month as he is scheduled to play again at Peabody's on November 27.
Posted by Culley | November 4, 2005 4:58 PM
i bought one of the mixtapes at the show i went to. it's called; Rhythm In Collision 77-82: New Wave/Punk Experiments In funk and Dub. it has Pigbag, London Undrground, The Slits, The Pop Group and alot more. I had to het one.
also, good description of the show you attended. he stood far away from the mic at the show i was at as well and barely needed the mic at all.
Posted by brassbonanza | November 5, 2005 1:19 PM
Yes.. I agree ..8
Posted by Anonymous | February 2, 2006 11:25 AM