Friday, October 8, 2010

TVD's Idelic Hour with Jon Sidel


Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

I’m an “axe victim.” As I sit here and write to you I have no less than five electric guitars within reach of my desk (and let’s not forget my P-bass.) After 25 years of playing guitar and being in bands it’s fairly ironic I can barely play a note.

Despite my lack of “shred-ablity” these “axes” along with my wedding rings are my most prized possessions. Each guitar seems to have its own life and reason for existence. The electric guitar is simply one of the noblest of artifacts of this last half century. The history of rock n roll lives within their grain.




With guitars in mind I set out to put together this week’s Idelic Hour. At first I was thinking about great guitar players and began listening mostly to Hendrix. On Jimi, Robert Fripp once said, he dedicated his entire life playing millions of notes in quest to play one perfect “note.” Fripp added that Jimi hit that note every time he touched a guitar. I know, too deep (ha ha) but I love my white strat!

As the week wore on I started thinking more about the guitars than the players. In the end, I had five hours of great guitar playing music to fit into an hour playlist.


Check out what I got. Many of the guitarists shredding this Idelic Hour are pretty obvious. Hopefully I will include the rest of my list in “Victims II” later this Fall. In the meantime, I’m digging the new breed of guitar godz; Marnie Stern, Randy Randall and Gary Clark Jr.

The Idelic Hit of the Week:

Marnie Stern - For Ash (Mp3)



xosidealer

idelicsounds.com | @sidelic


TVD Fresh Track | New from True Womanhood


DC's True Womanhood are coming off one hell of a busy summer and we're happy to have some fruits of their labors for your right-clicking below.

Upcoming are the release of tracks recorded in Baltimore with J Robbins (Jawbox/Burning Airlines—but you knew that, right?) First of the batch will be a 7-inch single out on Environmental Aesthetics Recordings and Sockets Records. That release will include the all new tracks 'Last Rites' and 'Chatter.'

The band's also playing multiple shows at this year's CMJ Festival in New York (NYC Taper, PopTartsSuckToasted and AAM Showcases respectively) as lead up to a Fall Northeast tour.

True Womanhood - Dream Cargoes (Mp3)
Approved for download!


TVD | The Box


I never knew this was actually issued in a 2-LP set comprising both Volume 1 and Volume 2.

Until, that is, I saw it on ebay. Mint. Sealed.

Essential.

Elton John - Bennie And The Jets (Mp3)
Elton John - Daniel (Mp3)
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Mp3)
Elton John - Philadelphia Freedom (Mp3)
Elton John - Rocket Man (Mp3)
Elton John - Your Song (Mp3)

TVD | Sal Go's 7 Day Weekend


The split 7” can be a polarizing format. Some adore the fast variety and relative obscurity, some loathe those same qualities. And what of a split with covers of the other band’s songs? It seems such an intimate exchange. There has to be a high level of mutual respect necessary to agree to such a venture, right? You’ll need more than just friendly trust in the other band to not fuck up your song, right?


Well, Thee Lexington Arrows and The Safes can rest assured that their songs have not been fucked up by the other. Thee Lexington Arrows are punk rock and roll to a hipshaking beat, led by female vocals with a tumbler full of grit and soul. You might remember the Safes from Chicago as a melodic pop punk trio, with catchy hooks and on-point harmonies. Both bands are in the same vein, but the new release takes them a few heavy strides away from their usual sound. It gives us listeners something special. And that is essentially what a split single should do.



“It's something that bands used to do a whole lot, and I don't see that much anymore. I always liked splits like that. It makes it more of a coherent EP instead of a couple singles form a couple bands.” Thee Arrows’ Curt Schmelz says. “Also, as a big fan of the Safes music personally, it's a good excuse to get to play one of their songs that I love.”

To celebrate this union, Thee Lexington Arrows join the Safes for six dates on a month long tour. They play the DC area this coming Monday, October 11th, at Galaxy Hut in Arlington, VA. You can pick up the new EP from Merrifield Records.... or you could comment below and win a free copy directly from the bands!

Support splits! Support covers! Support unions!


The Safes - She's So Sad (Mp3)