Last night I went to see Calvin Johnson play at the Artistary. I LOVE Calvin, I love his music, I love his jokes, I love that he does my dishes when he stays at my house. I love the endearing misfit community he presides over. I met some of my deepest friends through Calvin, and I will be loyal to him until the day I die.
However. Sometimes? The people who go to Calvin’s shows? Can get on my nerves. Like last night. I was standing against the wall over to the side and I had a view of the whole crowd. It was a packed house! Everyone was sitting cross-legged on the floor, smiling adoringly at my dear friend. Cool. then I noticed this one dude drinking from a ceramic mug. And I was like, “whoa, dude. Come on. Isn’t that just a little bit affected? This isn’t a house show!” But then my vision sort of panned out, and I realized there were about half a dozen plucky kids sipping from ceramic mugs. And for some reason that just irritated the fuck out of me. It crossed the line in my eyes from cute and twee to downright affected. I mean honestly. There’s comfort and community, and then there’s just putting on airs. Suddenly all of the ill-fitting sweaters and frayed scarves in the room made me feel a little woozy, and I had to apply some blush to calm my nerves. It didn’t help that the girl wearing the red hoodie sitting in front of me kept bumping into my legs as she leaned her head back to feel the vibrations or whatever. Ugh. You all know how I feel about that!
Snarkiness aside, it was one of the nicest shows I’ve seen Calvin give. The crowd (much as they annoyed me) was super warm to him. They laughed at all his rad jokes, even the ones imbedded in his songs. And Calvin seemed really happy and silly, which I love. He told a great story that simultaneously roasted Adam Forkner and pumped him up. Karl Blau played next, and though I wasn’t able to stay for the whole set, what I heard flashed me back to Shipwreck Days in the nicest way.
So, a little bit snarky, but nice where it counts.
Urban Honking
is a community of writers, visual artists, musicians, filmmakers, and other great humans.
Archives
- March 2012
- January 2012
- October 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- March 2010
- December 2008
- November 2008
- March 2008
- January 2008
- November 2007
- August 2007
- June 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
Categories
you know i would never defend some twee shit in my life, but i must say that at that show (which was awesome) there was
free tea served in the back of the room. there was a whole spread of teas back there. so there is where all the twee tea came from
also, the artistery is kinda a house show place. i mean, the old artistery was a house, with a back yard, and the new one like 6 people live in that place, as well as the house next door.
anyway, it was nice to see you there willow. karl’s set was killer, as was calvins. a john henry memorial was also really great, as was fairey talk
yeah
ha ha! sounds very portland to me!
I knew I’d get in trouble! :)
Thanks for the Artistary info, Adam. I feel a little less grumpy about it now. It was great to see you, too.
No ceramic mugs in NY. In fact, I don’t even get it. Who carries a mug around with them? At least you can wear an ill-fitting sweater. What does the average hipster do with their mug after they’re done drinking tea? Do they know tea will be available at a show? Do they bring mugs into bars and drink beer out of them? What about diners? Enlighten me, please.
Ha!
I think the mugs were available at the show. Though I have know some portland kids (hippies, not twees) carrying glass jars everywhere they go for coffee, wine, etc.
This is a strange town.
i think if the tea and mugs are provided, this is totally legit. i say this mostly because i would like to have free tea and cocoa provided at our venue…
The hippie glass jar thing was a L&C phenomenon, wasn’t it? I had some smart-ass friends from there that almost started carrying dog bowls filled with water around to heighten the impracticality and mock the trustafarians.
Ha!
I’d love to have seen that! Damn hippies.