K Records founder to play Snug Harbor Wednesday

Calvin Johnson, who founded the Olympia, Washington indie label K Records as well as the bands Beat Happening, the Halo Benders, the Go Team, and Dub Narcotic Sound System, brings his latest project the Hive Dwellers to Snug Harbor Wednesday, April 4.

As a college aged girl discovering a world of indie-rock music in the `90s, Johnson's K Records was a big deal for me. Olympia seemed a hub of groundbreaking women in punk, rock, and pop and K was a big part of that movement. Flipping through the pages on K's website yesterday I recognize many records that lined my shelves (the Softies, Heavenly, Lois, Sarah Dougher, Tiger Trap) and artists that I still listen to regularly - Mirah, Cadallaca (featuring Sleater-Kinney's Corin Tucker,) and the Rondelles. Johnson's label released many influential female artists and pop-leaning acts that wrote super catchy songs.

Its current roster includes Tara Jane O'Neil, Mecca Normal, the Maxines, and Mirah. Its most famous artists besides Beat Happening include Built to Spill, the Makeup, Karp and Kimya Dawson.

As both a solo artist and member of multiple bands Johnson, who uses a signature deep low vocal style, remains one of the label's busiest acts. His latest trio headlines Snug Harbor (1228 Gordon St.) at 9 p.m. Wednesday with Curious Mystery, Blossoms, and Zigtebra. Tickets are $7. 704-333-9799; www.snugrock.com You can check them out here.