Monday, December 23, 2013

Lauson's Film Premier


Our 9 year old daughter Lauson is serious artist. Whether it's painting, illustrating, coding (yes, she's really getting into coding now), puzzles, or her absolute favorite: stop-motion-photography, Lauson really gives it her all. Ever since I allowed her to DL a stop motion app on my phone she's been going to town making some pretty awesome films.

Recently we bought her a 3D Eiffel Tower puzzle. She put it together in about an hour, and then came the idea featured in the video.

Enjoy.

jh

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Rock Fight 11

Well we've gone and done it again. Last night Ron Donovan and I hosted ROCK FIGHT 11! At this early hour I'm a bit tired; having hosted a six hour show, interviewed three amazing people, played some of the rip-roaringest rock and roll, put up with Ron, and standing on my feet from about 6:30AM-12midnight.

My neck hurts.

In our previous 10! incarnations of Rock Fight, the format was all about not repeating an artist throughout the night. Though this proved to be a challenge, Ron and I were always up for the challenge. You see, rock poster artist Ron Donovan, and yours truly, John Hell, have what quite possibly will prove to be the LARGEST LIVE BOOTLEG COLLECTION IN THE WEST! Really, I stake my 25+ year radio reputation against that claim. We're junkies for the live rock 'n roll, and we want to share our problem with you.

For Rock Fight 11 we changed up the format a bit. Instead of it being a plethora of fabulous finger picking and hellacious head banging from many, MANY bands, we would do 30 minute blocks of a featured band. The set list below includes the song/artist/date/location and who selected the tune (JH=John Hell, RD=Ron Donovan).

We had some special guests in the studio, as always. I want to thank Bassy Stacy and Amy Ace of the all-female KISS cover band, KISSER for stopping by. I've been a fan of Stacy since she was in the Kinks cover band, The Minks. KISSER is amazing! This is the band we've all been waiting for. Listen to the interview and you can hear for yourself how enthusiastic they are about "their" music and the gigs. You have got to see them live. In the meantime check out their YouTube channel.

Even Steffan Chirazi of "So What" the official Metallica fanzine did a set. And what a set it was! He came by to talk about the recent Metallica show in ANTARCTICA! What the what?! Awesome! Steffan is a talented and experienced journalist, so interviewing him is always a blast. You have got to hear his story about Axel Rose. You may remember Steffan from the show he and I co-hosted back in May, following the passing of Margaret Thatcher. Take a listen.

Last night he brought some tasty tracks from the Antarctica set, as well as a few other juicy tidbits.

The banter was brilliant at times, and other times I was losing track of Ron's technical DJ errors. HA! That, and he talking away from the mic, and I wanted to hit him over the head with the turntable more than once. How I love that hobbit-wizard of the ink pulling world.

We'll do it again in June. Until then...

You can download all the delightful delicacies here.
Feel free to stream this into your noggin here.
You can check out all of my shows by going here, or just scroll down.

To check out previous Rock Fights, go here:
Rock Fight 10
Rock Fight 9
Rock Fight 8
Rock Fight 7
Rock Fight 6
Rock Fight 5
Rock Fight 4 - Playlist only
Rock Fight 3 - Playlist only
Rock Fight 2 - Playlist only
Rock Fight 1 - Playlist only

I'm taking a few weeks off for the holidays and heading to South Island, New Zealand! I can't wait. I'll see you all in January. Have a great holiday season, and get well rested and prepare for a kick ass 2014, with more of A Season in Hell, with John Hell on the greatest radio station west of East Rutherford, NJ, Radio Valencia!

A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Facebook
Follow Radio Valencia on Twitter
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook

Enjoy.

jh

Rock Fight: Cheech and Chong
Whipping Post: Allman Brothers (07/03/1970 Atlanta Pop Festival)-JH
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed: Allman Brothers (2/11/1970 Fillmore East, NYC)-JH

Remedy: The Black Crowes (10/28/1998 Paris)-RD

Wiser Time: The Black Crowes (10/28/1998 Paris)-R
Hard to Handle: The Black Crowes (05/26/1995 Greek Theater, Berkeley, CA)-RD

Sin City: AC/DC (10/1979 Australia)-RD

Cold Shot: Stevie Ray Vaughn (12/31/86 Fox Theater, Atlanta, GA)-JH

Texas Flood: Stevie Ray Vaughn (06/17/1985 Red Rocks Amp., Morrison, CO)-JH
Superstition: Stevie Ray Vaughn (04/29/1990 Jazz & Hertiage Festival, New Orleans, LA)-JH

I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town: Stevie Ray Vaughn & Albert King (12/06/1983 CHCH Studios, Ontario, CN)-JH
Thank You/Jesus Just Left Chicago/Waiting for the Bus: ZZ Top (04/15/1980 Clarkston, MS-RD

I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide: ZZ Top (04/19/1980 Essen, GR)-RD
Beer Drinkers and Hellraisers: ZZ Top (04/15/1980 Clarkston, MS)
The Bomber: James Gang (02/26/2001, Allen Theater, Cleveland, OH)-JH

Interview with Kisser

Detroit Rock Fight City: KISS (09/03/1976 Richfield, OH)-JH
Love Gun, KISSER (07/27/1973 Visalia, CA)-JH

Interview with KISSER

Black Diamond: KISS (11/27/1979 Fresno, CA)-JH

Interview with KISSER

She: Kiss (05/31/1974 Long Beach, CA)-JH
Sitting by the Ocean: Queens of the Stoneage (12/07/13  KROQ)-RD
With the Flow: Queens of the Stoneage (12/07/13  KROQ)-RD

Open Invitation: Santana (04/06/87 East Berlin, Germany-RD
Snowblind: Black Sabbath (08/26/2013 Shoreline, Mountain View, CA)-JH
For Whom the Bell Tolls: Metallica (09/21/2013 Apollo Theater, NYC, NY)-RD

Hit the Lights: Metallica (09/21/2013 Apollo Theater, NYC, NY)-RD
You Are Blessened: Melvins (08/22/2013 Slim's, SF, CA)-JH

Interview with Steffan Chirazi of Metallica fanzine "So What"

Fight Fire With Fire: Metallica (12/20/1984 Lyceum Theater, London, England)-Steffan

Interview with Steffan Chirazi of Metallica fanzine "So What"

Master of Puppets (headphones-mix): Metallica (12/08/2013 Antarctica)-Steffan
Master of Puppets: Metallica (12/08/2013 Antarctica)-JH

Interview with Steffan Chirazi of Metallica fanzine "So What"

Electric Eye: Judas Priest (05/23/983 US Festival)-Steffan
Riding on the Wind: Judas Priest (05/23/1983 US Festival)-Steffan

Lust For Life: Iggy Pop (01/26/1992 Nue Welt, Berlin)-Steffan
Raw Power: Iggy Pop (03/07/1977 Rainbow Theater, London, England)-Steffan

In My Time of Dying: Led Zeppelin (03/20/1975 Vancouver, BC)-JH
We're Gonna Groove: Led Zeppelin (01/01/1971 Canada)-JH

Heartbreaker: Led Zeppelin (06/02/1973 Kezar Stadium, SF, CA)-JH
Astro Boy (outtake 2): Jimi Hendrix (1969 studio outtake)-RD

Power of Soul: Jimi Hendrix (12/23/1969 Studio outtakes)-JH
Red House: Jimi Hendrix (07/30/1970 Honolulu, HI)-JH

Free Ride: Edgar Winter (09/03/1974 New Haven, CT)-RD
A Quick One While He's Away: The Who (04/06/1968 Fillmore East, NYC)-JH

Relax: The Who (04/05/1968 Fillmore East, NYC)-JH

Overture/It's a Boy: The Who (10/22/1969 Fillmore East, NYC)-JH

Monday, December 09, 2013

A Season in Hell #156: Best of 2013

It's that time of year when the sun goes down earlier, the air gets a bit chillier, and DJs from around the world try to claim that they have what is the absolute BEST music of the year to share with you.

Well they don't. They're all suckers. But I do!!!

My Best of 2013 is perhaps my best BEST OF show in all of my 25 years in radio. Really. Would I lie?

I'm listening to new music all of the time. There are times that I'm looking at my music library, and I wonder just when I'll listen to any of that "old" music again? And when I say old, I mean from last month. There just aren't enough hours in the day. Am I right? I can't wait until I'm too old to do anything by listen to my music. Then I'll hire some hot nurse who'll have to bathe me and put records on my turntable. That's the life.

In the meantime enjoy this collection of fine tunes from 2013. We've got many local talented groups that deserve your attention like Thee Oh Sees, Rin Tin Tiger, Y Axes, Vandella, Mikal Cronin, KalriSSian, Bears! Bears! Bears!, and my favorite "local" band, The Melvins.

Two hours is just not enough time to play all of my faves from 2013. I suggest you tune into Radio Valencia throughout December to check out the many "Best of" shows that are going to cover the airwaves like a warm that sticky film of fat that covers the turkey the day following a good feast...or something like that.

Enjoy.

To stream my Best of 2013 show, go here.
To download it, and give it as a gift, go here, and then burn it onto a CD. You know what CDs are don't ya?
To hear all of my Best of shows, go here.

A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Facebook
Follow Radio Valencia on Twitter
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook 

White Rabbit: Shannon and the Clams
Humans be Swayed: Thee Oh Sees
Teenage Eyes: Spider Bags

My Best Friend: The Melvins
Mt. Abraxas: Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats
Blowin' Kisses: Jacuzzi Boys

Let's Get High: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Hurt Me: Vandella
Silver Timothy: Damien Jurado

Neon Streets: Y Axes
Preacher: Fuzz
The West: Ty Segall

Half of a Century: The Delphines
Haunted Now: Rin Tin Tiger
Shout it Out: Mikal Cronin
Fuck you Cop: Birdcloud

Spanish Speaks: Weekender
I Feel You: The Parrots
Hallelujah: GRMLN
Life Hurts: Kalri$$ian

Living Space: Bears! Bears! Bears!
American Cowboy: Futurebirds
Who Needs You: The Orwells

Ghouls: Wooden Shjips
Emmylou: First Aid Kit
Tie My Pecker to a Tree: The Melvins
Cold River Blues: Loretta Lynch

Monday, December 02, 2013

A Season in Hell #155: Sure is Pissed!

Ok, so sometimes when I'm staring at my music collection, which is quite large, I have no idea what the hell I'm going to play for you. Seriously. Most of the time, when I'm preparing for my show, I totally know what I'm going to play for you. I have a theme in mind, or it's all new music, or based on a band, etc. There are times when I've finished my show and I can't wait until the following Monday when I can play you some tunes that I didn't get to. Then there are those days when I'm just staring at my walls of music (yes, I said walls) and I can't for the life of me figure out what I'm going to play.

What to do, what to do?

That's when I know it's time to really mix it up. For tonight's show it's all about the many genres and strange goings-on in John Hell's music library. Psych, international, grunge, pop vocals, prog-a-capella, accordions, pissed off preachers, ripped off originals, pissed off black men, legendary music-makers, mash-up copyright infringers, and Iggy Pop.

There you have it. Just take a look at this play list, and I'm sure that you'll agree, 4 out of 5 dentist can't be wrong.

You know you just have to drive this one home today!

Download this deal of a lifetime here.
Stream this into your HI-FI here.
Check out all the weirdness by clicking here, or just scroll down.

Enjoy.

A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Facebook
Follow Radio Valencia on Twitter
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook 

I Get a Kick out of You: Tony Bennett
Swan Lee: Syd Barrett
Truth: Alexander Ebert

Other Stars: Wooden Shjips
Leave It (A Capella): Yes
Iron Man: Giant Sand

Baby's Arms: Kurt Vile
Pray til you Sweat: The Monkeywrench
Red Hair: Bevis Frond

Singto: Lion
Mao (Drunk): Don Sornrabeab
OudTaLud Bump (Hurtle Bump): Soonthorn Sujaridchan
Kard Klan Nam Mun (Lack of Gasoline): Rayrai No Koratch

Devil Went Down to Georgia: Those Darn Accordions!
Now Ah Lissen: Some Preacher...and he sure is pissed
My Biggest Mistake: Joan of Arkansas
When the Levee Breaks: Memphis Minnie

George Bush Doesn't Like Black People: Legendary K.O.
East Bound and Down: Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies
You Can't Catch Me: Chuck Berry
Dirt: Iggy Pop

Ca Plane Pour Moi: Thee Headcoatees
What a Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong
My Favorite Things: Negativland