Calvin Johnson

Beat Happening is an American indie pop and punk rock band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1982. Calvin Johnson, Heather Lewis and Bret Lunsford... have been the band's continual members. Beat Happening were early leaders in the American indie pop and lo-fi movements, noted for their use of primitive recording techniques, disregard for the technical aspects of musicianship, and songs with subject matters of a childish or coy nature. The band met while attending The Evergreen State College and began recording in 1983. The band's basic line-up was drums, guitar and vocals, though when they formed their only instruments were a pair of maracas and a Sears Silvertone guitar purchased at a thrift shop. Heather once joked in an interview that the history of the band could be told through a list of the various people they'd borrowed drums from. Heather and Calvin had been members of a previous band and approached Bret, who had no musical experience at the time, saying they ought to start a band and go to Japan. Indeed, it was on a trip to Tokyo that the band members recorded Three Tea Breakfast, an EP that established the band's reputation.
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Dub Narcotic Sound System is an Olympia, Washington based indie-funk musical group founded by Calvin Johnson, signed to K Records. The band is named... after Calvin Johnson's basement recording studio, Dub Narcotic. The band and its members were all based out of Olympia, Washington when they were active in the band. Dub Narcotic Sound System has toured in many different countries such as Japan, Canada and in Europe, and they toured with many bands such as Built to Spill, Fugazi, and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. The following studio recordings by D.N.S.S. were released on K Records: The band produced a large number of 7" and 12" singles during the mid to late 1990s. Most contained the title track on the A side and "versions" on the flip. Cassettes were also produced during the early 1990s including "Hands on the Dial" which was a joint release from K records with the Punk in my Vitamins label. Exclusive tracks can also be found on a number of compilation releases.
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The Go Team was a 1980s band from Olympia, Washington, consisting of Tobi Vail and Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening. The Go Team was founded in 1985.... As Vail described: The Go Team released several cassettes and 9 singles on the independent label K Records. The records were often collaborations with other musicians and the musical style varied from single to single. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, Billy Karren, The Legend!, Dave Nichols of The Cannanes, Donna Dresch of Team Dresch , Lois Maffeo, Rich Jensen, and Jeffery Kennedy were some of the artists the duo worked with. Billy "Boredom" Karren was one of the rotating musicians who played with The Go Team, and it was in this band that he and Vail played together for the first time, later collaborating in several other bands like Bikini Kill, The Frumpies, the upallnighters, and Spray Painted Love. They toured the West Coast as a two piece, adding Billy Karren for two U.S. tours. Tobi Vail went on to form Bikini Kill with Kathleen Hanna, Kathi Wilcox and occasional Go Team member, Billy Karren. Presently, she plays with the band Spider and the Webs.
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