Since breaking onto the scene in 1991 with the Washington, DC group Autoclave, Mary Timony has become recognized as one indie rock’s most influential guitarists. Her work with Helium, Ex Hex, the supergroup Wild Flag, and as a solo artist have already earned her a spot on Rolling Stone’s “250 Greatest Guitarists of all Time” list, but she shows no signs of resting on her laurels: her 2024 album Untame the Tiger, was hailed by many as her best work to date. Mary joined the Axe Lords from her basement studio to discuss her collection of guitars and pedals, make a shocking revelation about her trusty Jazzmaster, demonstrate her go-to tunings, dissect her favorite Iron Maiden albums, and expound her newest obsession, playing the lute—yeah you heard that right, the lute—which she does for us in typically mind-blowing fashion. Episode note: She was kind enough to redo her lute performance after a technological bugaboo mangled her original take.

Cindy also does a quick dive into one of her guitar builds and tells us about that time she found something dead inside the wood she was cutting for a guitar.

Axe Lords is hosted by Dave Hill, Cindy Hulej and Tom Beaujour. Produced by Studio Kairos. Executive Producer is Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas (Revoice Media). Engineered by Patrick Samaha. Recorded at Kensaltown East. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Theme music by Valley Lodge.

Follow Mary Timony @marytimony

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