Author | Michelle King
The first time I saw The Blow was in 2006 when the duo was comprised of Khaela Maricich and Jona Bechtolt. Bechtolt was on tour with her other project, Yacht, so Maricich performed solo. Alone on stage and without any instrument other than a microphone, Maricich flailed and danced about with abandon as the recorded electro pop beats rang out from the speakers to accompany her. At the time, it was one of the strangest performances I had ever seen.
Bechtolt left the project in 2007 and Maricich began collaborating with (partner?) Melissa Dyne. Last month, I had the opportunity to see them again, now on tour in support of a new self-titled record (their first in six years). The experience was no less wild than it was at The 40 Watt back in 2006. Maricich must have grown comfortable with having the stage to herself, because Dyne performs from an off-stage location. At this particular venue – in the middle of the crowd. The show was as much performance art or comedy a set as it was a concert. Yes, they played songs. New and old. But what made the night so entertaining was Maricich’s crazy monologues and dance moves… if you can call them that. There really are no adequate words to describe her choreography, for lack of a better word. And her stories of how the new album came into existence and other such mind-bending ramblings had the crowd in a state of wonder, and maybe a little disbelief, for those that didn’t know what to expect.
That being said, it was one of the most enjoyable shows I’ve been to in a long time. The Blow’s recorded music is quirky, catchy, and fun and their live sets are one of a kind. Their new album was released this fall on K Records and according to their Twitter, they are already working on another record, because “girl style the second climax comes so fast.”
————————–
Michelle King is a music fiend currently residing in Athens, GA. While her business card will tell you she is executive manager and director of publicity at Noisy Ghost PR, you can also find her blogging at She Turns the Tables, racing for Reality Bikes, and going on adventures with her awesome dog.
You can contact her via email at [email protected].
