Joanna Bolme
Joanna Bolme is an American multi-instrumentalist and recording engineer who works with several indie rock bands and artists, mainly in the Pacific Northwest. She has been the bass guitarist for Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks since their formation in 2001. On October 12, 2019, Bolme was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.
Biography
Career
Bolme became interested in playing music after seeing the Pretenders while in high school, and she was a fan of the Portland punk scene in the 80s. She learned to play bass when she "got bored with guitar" while playing with Calamity Jane. Over the years, she has played in bands including Quasi, the Minders, the Spinanes, Jr. High, Calamity Jane, Consortium, the Shadow Mortons, and Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.
Bolme was a long-time friend of musician Elliott Smith; she worked to mix his critically acclaimed 1997 album Either/Or and his posthumous 2004 album From a Basement on the Hill, with the help of producer Rob Schnapf.
Bolme became one of the founding members of the Jicks after finding out – during a game of Scrabble with Stephen Malkmus – that he had been playing music with John Moen. She has been the bass player for the Jicks since it began in 2000. She also began touring with the indie rock band Quasi in 2006, and was an official member of the band from 2007 to 2011.
Personal life
Bolme was born in Florida. She moved to Portland, Oregon, early in her life and has lived there since. Bolme is married to Gary Jarman of the Cribs.
Discography
As performer
Arches and Aisles by the Spinanes;- bass Killer of Friendships by Jr. High – bass Golden Street by the Minders – bass Stephen Malkmus by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – bass From Burnt Orange to Midnight Blue by Sean Croghan – piano Pig Lib by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – bass Face the Truth by Stephen Malkmus – bass Real Emotional Trash by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – synthesizer, bass, backing vocals American Gong by Quasi – bass Mirror Traffic by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – bass Wig Out at Jagbags by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – bass Sparkle Hard by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – bass
Either/Or by Elliott Smith – mixing Featuring "Birds" by Quasi – executive producer Bella Neurox by Miss Murgatroid & Petra Haden – mixing Live at the Safari Club by the Chimps – engineer Lost Son by Richmond Fontaine – engineer No Memory by No. 2 – engineer Old Man Motel by Fernando – engineer Colonel Jeffery Pumpernickel: A Concept Album by various artists – engineer What Does Good Luck Bring? by No. 2 – engineer Winnemucca by Richmond Fontaine – engineer From a Basement on the Hill by Elliott Smith – mixing It's a Bright Guilty World by the Minders – mixing To Elliott, From Portland by Various Artists – engineer, mixing