The Blow
Encyclopedia
The Blow is the moniker of Brooklyn, New York-based musician Mikhaela Yvonne Maricich, who has recorded several albums for K Records
. Jona Bechtolt
, aka Yacht
, was also a member of The Blow from 2004 to 2007.
The music of The Blow is a sparse combination of Khaela's vocals and electronic dance beats. Performances often incorporate short monologues - in fact, Khaela has toured extensively with her longer monologue "Blue Sky Versus Night Sky". Khaela is formerly of the band The Microphones
. Before 2002, The Blow went by the names "Get the Hell Out of the Way of the Volcano" and "Get the Hell Out of the Way of the Wave".
Khaela Maricich is also a visual artist. She has held a number of exhibitions of her drawings and illuminated paper sculptures in Seattle, Olympia
, and Portland
. She was an artist-in-residence at the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art
. Maricich has been working with installation artist Melissa Dyne and the two have given artist talks discussing The Blow as a mode of performance art
.
K Records
K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
. Jona Bechtolt
Jona Bechtolt
Jona Bechtolt is an electronic musician and multimedia artist based in Portland, Oregon, United States. He is a former member of The Badger King and The Blow, and has released solo records under the name Yacht since 2003...
, aka Yacht
YACHT (band)
YACHT is an American band from Portland, Oregon, Marfa, Texas, and Los Angeles, CA. The core group consists of Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans, but expands to include musicians Rob "Bobby Birdman" Kieswetter, Jeffrey Brodsky and Katy Davidson as touring members.YACHT has released albums on...
, was also a member of The Blow from 2004 to 2007.
The music of The Blow is a sparse combination of Khaela's vocals and electronic dance beats. Performances often incorporate short monologues - in fact, Khaela has toured extensively with her longer monologue "Blue Sky Versus Night Sky". Khaela is formerly of the band The Microphones
The Microphones
The Microphones was a lo-fi band based in Olympia, Washington, and fronted by Phil Elvrum. Elvrum is the principal member of the band, but he has collaborated with many other musicians on his records....
. Before 2002, The Blow went by the names "Get the Hell Out of the Way of the Volcano" and "Get the Hell Out of the Way of the Wave".
Khaela Maricich is also a visual artist. She has held a number of exhibitions of her drawings and illuminated paper sculptures in Seattle, Olympia
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
, and Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. She was an artist-in-residence at the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art
Portland Institute for Contemporary Art
The Portland Institute for Contemporary Art in Portland, Oregon, United States was founded in 1996 by Kristy Edmunds, formerly the Director of the Portland Art Museum's "Art on the Edge" program...
. Maricich has been working with installation artist Melissa Dyne and the two have given artist talks discussing The Blow as a mode of performance art
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
.
Albums
- Look for it in the Sky, it Will Always Be There (1998 Knw-Yr-Own Records) (released under the artist name “Get the Hell Out of the Way of the Volcano")
- Everyday Examples of Humans Facing Straight into the Blow (2001, 2004 K RecordsK RecordsK Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
) (originally self-released under the artist name “Get the Hell Out of the Way of the Volcano") - Don't Do the Bomb Before My Moustache Comes (2002, self-released)
- Bonus AlbumBonus AlbumBonus Album is the first EP released by Khaela Maricich under the band name The Blow. It was released in 2002 by K Records.-Track listing:All tracks by Khaela Maricich Except were noted# "The Democracy of Small Things" - 2:23...
E.P. (2002, K RecordsK RecordsK Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
) - The Concussive Caress, Or, Casey Caught Her Mom Singing Along with the Vacuum (2003, K RecordsK RecordsK Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
) - Poor Aim: Love SongsPoor Aim: Love SongsPoor Aim: Love Songs is an EP by The Blow originally released in 2004 by States Rights Records/Slender Means Society. It was re-released in 2007 by K Records with remixed bonus tracks.-Reception:...
E.P. (2005, Slender Means SocietySlender Means SocietySlender Means Society is an independent record label founded in 2004 by Zac Pennington, vocalist for the band Parenthetical Girls. The Portland, Oregon label's premier release was Parenthetical Girls' debut, "", in 2004...
/States Rights RecordsStates Rights RecordsStates Rights Records is an independent record label founded in 2001 by Steve Schroeder. The Portland, Oregon label's premier release was "Come Along" by Little Wings. Later that year, the label released "Tongue and Tooth" by The Badger King. Bobby Birdman, Yacht, Lucky Dragons, The Blow, The...
) - Paper TelevisionPaper TelevisionPaper Television is the fourth LP from The Blow. It is also the band's first album as a duo consisting of Khaela Maricich and Jona Bechtolt. Previously, Khaela Maricich had been the sole member.-Track listing:# "Pile of Gold" – 2:12# "Parentheses" – 3:33...
(2006, K RecordsK RecordsK Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
) - Poor Aim: Love SongsPoor Aim: Love SongsPoor Aim: Love Songs is an EP by The Blow originally released in 2004 by States Rights Records/Slender Means Society. It was re-released in 2007 by K Records with remixed bonus tracks.-Reception:...
(2007, K RecordsK RecordsK Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
)
Compilations
- Yoyo a Go Go (1997, Yoyo) A compilation of live performances from various artists at the Yoyo A Gogo music festival. Khaela performs "A Girl in the Sky" with Jenn Kliese
- Projector (1998, Yoyo) Get the Hell Out of the Way of the Volcano "Bagfull of Spiders"
- Remote Wing (2001, Knw-Yr-OwnKnw-Yr-OwnKnw-Yr-Own Records is a small record label operating out of Anacortes, Washington, home to releases from such notoriously independent Northwest bands as D+, Karl Blau, and Little Wings...
), an alternate version of "That Boy Makes me Want Things" from Everyday Examples…, retitled simply "That Boy" - Shipwreck Day (2002, Knw-Yr-OwnKnw-Yr-OwnKnw-Yr-Own Records is a small record label operating out of Anacortes, Washington, home to releases from such notoriously independent Northwest bands as D+, Karl Blau, and Little Wings...
), a cover of the Little WingLittle Wing"Little Wing" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix. It was first recorded by The Jimi Hendrix Experience on their 1967 album Axis: Bold as Love...
's "Faith Children" - Own Zone (2004, States Rights RecordsStates Rights RecordsStates Rights Records is an independent record label founded in 2001 by Steve Schroeder. The Portland, Oregon label's premier release was "Come Along" by Little Wings. Later that year, the label released "Tongue and Tooth" by The Badger King. Bobby Birdman, Yacht, Lucky Dragons, The Blow, The...
), remix of “Hey Boy” - Invisible Shield (2004, K RecordsK RecordsK Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
), "The Democracy of Small Things" - Good Grooming For Girls (2004, Shameless Magazine), "What Tom Said About the Girls"
- Trust in Sirens (2005, Kelp Monthly), a cover of DevoDevoDevo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
's "Snowball" - 2005 PDXPDX Pop Now!PDX Pop Now! is both a local annual music festival held in Portland, Oregon, and the non-profit music education organization that organizes and promotes the event...
Pop Now! (2005, PDX Pop), "Pile of Gold" - Free The Bird (2006, Kelp Monthly), "The Sky Opened Wide Like The Tide (Lucky Dragons New Age Power Mix)"
- 2006 PDXPDX Pop Now!PDX Pop Now! is both a local annual music festival held in Portland, Oregon, and the non-profit music education organization that organizes and promotes the event...
Pop Now! (2006, PDX Pop), "Babay (Eat a Critter, Feel its Wrath)" - Yeti #4 (2006, Yeti Publishing), "Get Around"
- Joyride: RemixesJoyride: RemixesJoyride: Remixes is a double CD, containing remixes of Mirah's material, by K Records artists.-Track listing:Disc 1#"The Light" - 1:50#"La Familia" - 2:53#"Monument" - 3:07...
(2006, K RecordsK RecordsK Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
), a cover of MirahMirahMirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn , is an American musician based in San Francisco California. She has released five albums under the K Records label.- Background :...
's "The Garden"
Accolades
- 'Parentheses' Ranked #55 in Pitchfork'sPitchfork MediaPitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
"Top 100 Tracks of 2006" http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/40070/Staff_List_The_Top_100_Tracks_of_2006/page_5 - Paper Television Ranked #66 in Idolater 2006 Jackin' Pop Critics Poll "Top Albums" category" http://www.idolator.com/?op=compiledresults
- 'Parentheses' Ranked #66 in Idolater 2006 Jackin' Pop Critics Poll "Top Tracks" category" http://www.idolator.com/?op=compiledresults
External links
- The Blow on MySpace
- K Records official site
- Khaela Maricich fansite
- The Blow at The Indie Music Database
- The Blow interviewed by Plan B Magazine, November 2006
- Interview on Urban Pollution
- Interview with Chief Magazine
- Australian Radio Station Triple JTriple Jtriple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
Interview http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/zan/blog/m1328746.mp3 - Interviewed by Miranda JulyMiranda JulyMiranda July is a performing artist, writer, actress and film director. Born Miranda Jennifer Grossinger, she works under the surname of "July," which can be traced to a character from a "girlzine" Miranda created with high school friend Johanna Fateman, called Snarla.- Background :Miranda...
in June/July 2007 issue of The BelieverThe Believer (magazine)The Believer is a United States literary magazine that also covers other arts and general culture. Founded and designed in 2003 by the writer and publisher Dave Eggers, it is edited by Vendela Vida, Heidi Julavits and Ed Park...
http://www.believermag.com/issues/200706/?read=interview_maricich - Interviewed by Christopher Frizzelle in February 2011 on SLOG http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/if-i-have-ever-driven-drunk-i-was-not-apprehended/Content?oid=6575973
- Cultural critic Paul Boshears reviews The Blow's artist talk