Indie rock icon dances the night away

Dub Narcotic Sound System
w/ Onesuitwonder and John Wilkes Booze
Rhino's All Ages Music Club --Friday May, 17 Calvin Johnson is, perhaps, the most unlikely sex god in all of rock and roll. The Olympia, Washington native founded two of indie rock's most venerable institutions in the 1980s: the now-defunct band Beat Happening and the still active and influential label K Records. But the gravity of history falls by the wayside when Calvin steps onstage, as he did with his current project Dub Narcotic Sound System at Rhino's last Thursday. For 90 minutes, it was all about the dancing. DNSS, named for Calvin's home studio back in Olympia, is a far funkier creature than the melodic pop Calvin peddled back in the Beat Happening days. But both bands rely on their singer's unusual, irresistible stage presence. As good as Dub Narcotic's records are, they can never capture the way Calvin manages to completely captivate his audiences while at the same time becoming their best friends. "All the girls want to be me, all the boys want to do me," he rapped at one point. "You're the only man I've ever loved!" one exuberant fan had shouted earlier. The songs themselves are anchored by Chris Sutton's bass and Heather Dunn's spirited drumming. Calvin played guitar for about half the set, but he seemed most at home with the microphone unhooked from its stand, dancing wildly like Ian Curtis on Prozac. Local support came in the form of openers Onesuitwonder (female-fronted up-and-comers) and John Wilkes Booze (at this point, possibly the best live band in Bloomington), and the all ages venue contributed to the vibe of goodwill and positivity that is another hallmark of everything Calvin does. "We're not going to tell any 'mom' jokes tonight," he said in response to a comment shouted from the audience. Then, perhaps worried his admonishment had been too harsh, he gave the audience member in question a brilliant smile and said, "It's cool, baby."