Is Calvin College cutting and running from The New Pornographers? Apparently, yes. The Michigan Christian college (alma mater of "Taxi Driver" writer Paul Schrader) just put the kibosh on a planned October show from the indie darlings. The reason? The band's name. Explained a statement posted on the school's website:

We believe that the decision to invite the band fit our rubric of engaging culture through a Christian lens. The band makes good, thoughtful music, and we invited them here based on their artistic merit. However, after weeks of discussion and consideration, the irony of the band's name was impossible to explain to many. The band's name, to some, is mistakenly associated with pornography. Consequently, Calvin, to some, was mistakenly associated with pornography. Neither the college nor the band endorses pornography. The Student Activities Office regrets the way this has happened. We regret the message we have sent to the band and their fans with this cancellation, and any confusion this has caused generally. We have been in contact with the band to explain this regret and the breakdown in our own processes that led us to first invite them and then withdraw that invitation. Calvin College remains committed to the difficult, yet important work at faithfully engaging popular culture.

And really, what's more indie than that?

(H/T to The Awl)

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Ray Gustini