Long beloved by cognoscenti as a kind of musical idiot savant, armed with an intuitive sense of melody and poetry unmatched by most "professional" musicians, Johnston's been on a roll the last few years, helped along by meds and a few well-placed friends. Most recently, Sparklehorse frontman Mark Linkous helmed the recording of Johnston's latest, Fear Yourself, setting Johnston's songs in a star-showered context far removed from the utterly bare-bones sound of his homemade tapes. But Johnston's nakedly vivid vocals cut straight to the marrow -- and when he plays live (a rarity indeed) his songs feel so intimate, they make you blush. This may be your only chance to see a bona-fide legend in a club the size of your thumb, so take it -- but come prepared for both beauty and discomfort.