The Blow Makes A Comeback

By Sarah Cobarrubias in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 7, 2010 4:20PM

The Blow has been pretty stagnant these past few years. Since Jonah Bechtolt left the synthpop duo in 2007 to concentrate on his solo project YACHT, vocalist Khaela Maricich has been trying to keep the act alive solo, though with little success, some might say because without Bechtolt’s solid, funky beats to back her up, her vulnerable, frenzied vocals just can’t hold their own. But this year, The Blow is redeeming itself and coming back strong; the act has a new EP coming out later this year as well as a new full-length album in the works. She’s also about to set off on a small North American tour and will be making a stop at the Empty Bottle Nov. 13.

For this tour, The Blow will be performing material from its unreleased EP, so it's hard to predict if it'll be a success or a failure. Though Bechtolt’s spot on stage will be replaced by pre-recorded backing tracks, Maricich’s spirited stage presence might just make up for the absence. And if the new material is anything like the old, it'll steal the listeners' hearts with its personal, easily relatable quality. Because, like her stage banter and even her very intimate blog, Maricich’s lyrics focus on universal subjects like love, desperation, and heartache - but in a lighthearted, narrative manner. We also expect she’ll perform some of our old favorites such as the shamelessly catchy sing-along tracks “Parentheses,” “True Affection” and “Fists Up!” from the 2006 album Paper Television.

Maricich won’t be completely alone on this tour. A visual artist as well as a vocalist, she’ll be working in collaboration with artist Melissa Dyne, who will be stationed in a sound booth nearby. In the background, Dyne will be playing with soundscapes through a computer rig (which she designed and programmed specifically for The Blow’s live performance) and manipulating sound and lighting according to the live show as it develops. In essence, each venue on the tour will turn into its own light installation, altering according to the interactions between The Blow and the audience. Also performing will be Brooklyn pop artist Blair.

The Blow plays Friday, November 12 at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western, 10 p.m., $12, 21+