Whoever it is who finds himself with a stolen 1972 Les Paul Gold Top in his possession must be a first-rate asshole. The guitar and its owner, Matt Robbins, are icons in this town and the thief is as much of a dick for not knowing what he has as he is for having it. The perfectly toned axe was stolen from Robbins’s vehicle following a January 28 gig at Amigo’s with new band Eldemur Krimm (don’t worry, he’s still doing the King Memphis thing, though maybe with a new guitar). The serial number is 966218 and Robbins says one identifying feature is a small white plastic cover in between the volume and tone knobs. There was a mini-switch there that Robbins removed. Those who happen to come upon the guy who stole it apparently are free to kick his ass without fear of repercussion (sorry for all the male pronouns if the thief happens to be female, but in that case the “Sibilance” staff will be glad to have offended the distaff douche bag).
On to happier thoughts. Jdwalker debuted a couple weeks back at #16 on the CMJ hip-hop charts. The mag and Web site (CMJ once stood for something, but doesn’t anymore) track college-radio playlists and the chart is essentially a ranking for number of spins. Starting January 9, jdwalker was sitting in rarified air next to Kanye West, Atmosphere, and the Roots. Good things happen when you get good distribution and radio promotion for your album, we guess. Them Get You, Them Got You was held up for more than a year by all manner logistical hurdles. Then, once it hit college radio, the pressing of 3000 sold out in three weeks. Jd’s long-time pal and fellow underground rapper du jour Sole will be repressing the disc on his Six Months label, an outgrowth of anticon. Look for jd to skip town for a tour in the very soon.
Jack Murray, resident at Big Sound Studio as of late, is managing the jam band 26 North, who are making noise at places like the Alehouse lately.
Leon and the boys from the Hi-Fivin’ White Guys are near to finished with their long-promised debut punk missive. “It’s short,” says Leon, “and called Ate Songs. Retarded, yes.” (Leon, watch what you send to your friendly "Sibilance" staffers in an e-mail — we’re too shameless not to use a great quote like that!) But really, retarded punk is what the White Guys do best, so you’ll pardon all of us for our lack of political correctness. We find that term apt for a style of music that instills everyone to start spitting beer at one another. Which is not to say we don’t enjoy it. We’re just a bit prissy, you know?
We’re always in favor of saving school music programs. Mark Rankin’s memorial shows for his brother always go to that cause, and now the Dave Rowe Trio are playing February 10 at Lewiston’s Franco-American Heritage Center to try to drum up cash for the Edward Little High School program. If L/A kids can’t have music, what do they have to live for?
