The Hive Dwellers

Known for helming indie rock outfits such as K Records, Beat Happening, Halo Benders, and Dub Narcotic Sound System, Calvin Johnson returns to elemental forms through the minimal textures of the Hive Dwellers. Evoking collective effort in its very name, the ensemble originated in Olympia, Washington, where Johnson supplies acoustic guitar, melodica, and his unmistakable baritone, supported in performance by bassist and electric guitarist Gabriel Will of Strangers along with drummer Evan Hashi of Desolation Wilderness. Earlier participants have included K.E. Sixx of the Vibrarians, Brian Weber of Dub Narcotic Sound System and Chain & the Gang, Faustine Hudson of Curious Mystery, Spencer Kelley of Wallpaper and Basemint, Karl Blau, Brett Lyman, Fred Thomas of Saturday Looks Good to Me and City Center, and Michelle Mae of Make-Up. The group first appeared on record in 2009 via a version of Superchunk's "My Noise" included on the Score! 20 Years of Merge Records: The Covers! compilation and subsequently toured with Chain & the Gang. In the following two years the Hive Dwellers issued the Get In EP and Lynch the Swan 7", pairing Johnson's observational lyrics with raw, rhythmic guitar and hollow, stomping drums. Their debut full-length, Hewn from the Wilderness, surfaced in June 2012 and gathered the most favorably received material refined onstage across the preceding three years. The Hive Dwellers followed with their second album, Moanin', in 2014.