Questions for Ken Heffner, student activities director at Calvin CollegeI can’t not ask you. Calvin was all over national media recently because The New Pornographers show was canceled because of the band’s name. It is now booked at the Orbit Room. Are you happy the show's still going on?
Yes. I'm glad the management decided to schedule it in Grand Rapids and not anywhere else.
The fans definitely stepped up to keep the band in Grand Rapids. Were you surprised?
We did not, as a college, expect a response of this scale from fans.
Does this change the way you will book bands?
No.
Yes. I'm glad the management decided to schedule it in Grand Rapids and not anywhere else.
The fans definitely stepped up to keep the band in Grand Rapids. Were you surprised?
We did not, as a college, expect a response of this scale from fans.
Does this change the way you will book bands?
No.
The renovated Fine Arts Center opens this month with a performance by Over the Rhine. Is this a relief to you?
Oh, yes. It’s been our main home for years. It’s where we typically bring in our big, national acts, and we couldn’t do that last year.
Did you miss out on any good touring acts because you were limited to the 400-seat Ladies Literary Club?
We did. There were some things we weren’t able to get last year because we just didn’t have the right sized room. We would just be pounding our head sometimes.
Which acts were you most bummed about missing?
We were working on The National, but just didn’t have a room for them. Andrew Bird is another one.
What are you most excited about for this season?
The Weepies. People have been asking me to get The Weepies for years, and the last four years, they haven’t toured.
How do you decide which acts you want to perform at Calvin?
We have a student board that works with us on concerts. They are the ones who are often bringing stuff to the table in terms of concerts. There’s this thing called “The Wish List” that we’re constantly updating.
Are the bands you book your taste?
No. I can’t have the luxury of having my taste. I’m paying attention to students all the time. There are lots of bands that we could bring here who would probably sell out, who I might personally like. But there would be very few students there.
Why is the college audience so important?
If you’re not winning a college audience — or a young audience — you’re a dying band. You’ll eventually become a legacy act.
Like bands that play at county fairs?
No, not that much. You become The Eagles, Def Leppard, bands who are playing to their loyal fans who keep getting older.
Which bands are “your” bands?
I love Arcade Fire. I love Sigur Ros, I listen to them often. One of the downsides of my work is, I don’t get to listen to “my” music. It’s been so long, I don’t know what my music is anymore, so almost have to leapfrog back to before I was doing this work.
How do you stay on top of national music trends and new artists?
I’m reading a lot. I’m reading Pitchfork, I’m reading Paste, Relevant, Rolling Stone, I’m going online and checking CMJ … Agencies are always pitching me artists, so I have to go find out more about them.
Are the students impressed by your knowledge of the music industry?
You’d have to ask them.
Have you always been a music guy?
Yeah, I think so. I’m not a musician, but I grew up with a family that played show tunes. Lots of Broadway musicals and classical music. And because I’m a child of the ‘60s, I was introduced to music through The Beatles. That was the first music I really paid attention to.
What do you look for when booking a band?
Telling the truth, even if there’s no words, and even if the truth’s not pretty.
What do you mean by “telling the truth?” When you say that, I think of K’naan, who played Calvin a couple years ago.
K’naan tells the truth. For K’naan, his experience in Somalia actually gives him more heft when he does his hip-hop. He brings a more global perspective to it.
Why is Calvin so invested in its concert series?
We just love live. That’s what we’re passionate about. It’s the artist right there, it’s the actual thing, and anything could happen. You go in community, and that’s not popular right now, music is listened to in a very isolated way. It’s also meant to be a bonding experience. People fall in love over music, people become lifelong friends over music, and if all you do is walk around with ear buds in, that doesn’t happen.
Interview conducted, condensed and edited by Lindsay Patton-Carson
Photo by Seth Thompson
