Hell's Kitchen Radio #445: The Return of the Magnificent Daughter From Hell

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I cannot express to you the amount of joy I feel when my daughter, Lauson joins me in the studio. She first joined me when she was 7, now she's getting close to 17, and she's more lovely, funny, creative, and charismatic than ever. And her taste in music is as exciting as ever. I'm glad she's still into the Beatles, but the fact that she's turning me on to great music tells me I'm raising her right!

We kept the banter to a minimum, but the chat is as lively as the music. I tagged her choices with an "L". 

Many people have asked me how she got her name? About 3-4 years before she was conceived, I had a dream where I was sitting in the back seat, passenger side, of my 1984 burgundy Olds Cutless Supreme. There was a seven year old girl in the front passenger seat, turned around looking at me. She had wild curly in the dream. I asked her name, and she said "Lauson. L.A.U.S.O.N.". She then appeared next to me on my left, with my arm around her. She was smiling at me, and I knew at that moment I was looking at my daughter.

I woke up and looked at my wife (now my ex-wife), and said "we're going to have a daughter named Lauson, L.A.U.S.O.N.". She replied "we're having kids?". That tells you all you need to know about my ex-wife. A few years later Lauson was born. We chose not to know the sex of the baby before delivery, but I knew it was going to be Lauson. Seven years later, it was that same face, that same curly hair, and that same beautiful smile that I cannot get enough of.

Her mother and I divorced when she was only two, sadly. And for too many years Lauson had to go back and forth between houses. But she has been with me, 100% for the past three. We're thick as thieves, she and I. I love that girl from the bottom of my heart. And I am so proud of who she is, heading into her senior year of high school. Time certainly does fly by. 

Luckily I have every show Lauson has joined me on. You can access each of them by clicking on the links below. Check out the playlists to see how her interests have evolved.

Want to hear more shows featuring Little Lauson Hell?

First show in 2012
Second show in 2014
Third show also in 2014
Fourth show in spring of 2015
Fifth show in the summer of 2015
Sixth show in summer 2016 along with Saucy!
Seventh show was also during summer 2016
Eight show was December 2016
Ninth show was July 2017
Tenth show was in August 2017
Eleventh show was July 2018
Twelfth show was April 2019
Lucky Thirteen was April 2020

Enjoy.

jh

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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Payback - The Final Mixdown: James Brown
I Should Not Think Bad Thoughts: X

Night Goat (Acoustic): Melvins
Grandma's Hands: Bill Withers - L
No Diggity: Blackstreet, Dr. Dre and Queen Pen - L

Rhinestone Cowboy: MF Doom and Madlib
i n t e r l u d e: J. Cole - L
662: Christone Kingfish Ingram
Every Hungry Woman: Allman Brothers Band

SWEET/ I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE: Tyler, the Creator ft. Brent Faiyaz and Fana Hues

Back to Black (live acoustic): Amy Winehouse
Jokerman DUB: Bob Dylan/Doctor Dread
Sugar Is A Gateway Drug: Paul Leary

Solar Power: Lorde
I'm In Your Mind/I'm Not In Your Mind: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

Crybaby: Destroy Boys
Make It Go Away: The Scientists
The Astronaut: The Astronauts

Time Of The Season: The Zombies
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place: The Animals

T r a n s p a r e n t S o u l: Willow
Good Night, Sleep Tight: Lawrence Welk Singers

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza - Monday 6-10PM Pacific - Tedeschi/Trucks - August 30, 2012

 

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza

Monday's 6-8PM Pacific

http://radiovalencia.fm

DOWNLOAD THIS SHOW RIGHT HERE!!!

I can't recall exactly when I first heard the Allman Brothers Band, but I must have been in a pre-teen. I was hooked from the start. The double lead guitars of Duane and Dicky. The soulful vocals of Gregg. Damn! When Warren Haynes joined the band in 1989, it had a similar feel as the Duane Allman era, and continued through his tenure, especially when drummer Butch Trucks' nephew Derek Trucks joined the band. This wunderkind blew the doors off anything and everything in his path. And he did so with such a calm and soulful demeanor. 

Now I'll admit, I have never seen the Allman Brothers perform live, nor any of the off-shoots. But I have dozens of ABB bootlegs, of which I cannot get enough. But tonight I have something really special to share.

Derek and wife Susan Tedeschi have not only married one another, but they have married their bands and fan bases as well for the Tedeschi/Trucks Band. And what a band! Tonight I have August 30, 2012 from Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado. A perfect venue for one of the most soulful bands in the land. This is more than a jam band. If you are an ABB fan, or enjoy Delaney and Bonnie, then you are certain to enjoy the Hell out of this show. Susan Tedeschi's voice is to die for. And mixing that with the slide perfection of her husband Derek Trucks, along with pitch perfect backing vocals and one of the best rhythm sections in rock and soul, and you may just have one of the best touring bands in a generation. 

I know you're going to dig this.

Enjoy.

jh

Stick around for my weekly music mix: Hell's Kitchen Radio, 8-10pm Pacific. My daughter, Little Lauson Hell will be joining me in our new studio. She's been doing shows with me since she was 7. Now she's almost 17. Where did the time go? What is she listening to now? What lies will she tell about her father? I do not like Foo Fighters, no matter what she tries to claim. 

Have you tried out our iPhone or Android app yet? Get them where you get your phone apps. I love the iPhone app and use it every day.

Due to the recent attempted break in at our new studio, we are in need of funds beyond what our staff can afford. If you can throw a few dimes Radio Valencia's way, we will be forever in your debt. Thanks in advance. 

Stick around 8-10PM Pacific for my weekly music mix, Hell's Kitchen Radio.

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM Pacific
Radio Valencia in SF

http://radiovalencia.fm
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Hell's Kitchen Radio #444: To Death Do Us ROCK!

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I saw a meme the other day that made some comment about paying attention to those who are introducing new music into your life. Yes, please do. I also read something a while ago about once you reach the age of 30-something you stick with the music that made the most impact on you, sometime in your teens to 20s. Really? That's it? Some crappy, lowest-common-denominator non-offensive music that plays over and over on your favorite radio station, or Spotify playlist? What do you do when Spotify tries to suggest something new to you? Do you swipe left...or right? I wouldn't know; 

I don't have Spotify. Are you shocked by this new found knowledge? Did you think I got all of my musical inspiration from what Spotify suggests to me? I listen to radio. Non-commercial radio to be exact. KFJC, KALX, KPOO, KALW (on the weekends), WFMU, KPFA (especially Wednesdays 8-10pm). And I listen with Shazam close at hand. 

There are times I have stopped the car so I can Shazam a track. How much do you love this app? However there are times when it's stumped. That's mostly when I'm listening to KFJC, the station that stumps Shazam! HA! That's when I call them up and ask them what the hell that just was that blew my mind?!?!?!

I don't think I stumped Shazam tonight, but I gave it the old internet radio try. My buddy Eric came by the house today with his bass and we rocked out to GFY, along with some other Amyl, Stooges, Flat Earthers, Butthole Surfers and Oh Sees tunes. That was super fun. I really need to get loud like that more often. So let's start with some Amyl and the Sniffers, shall we? There's also new music from David McMurray, Paul Leary, Angel Bat Dawid, and Kate Vargas. Also, Mudhoney's 30th anniversary remaster of Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge arrived on Monday, so I threw that in for good measure. Or good fudge. 

There's something for everyone here, even you who still listen to the same music you've been listening to since high school. Don't be afraid. Dive right in. If you don't like what you hear, just wait 3-7 minutes and check out the next tune.

Enjoy.

jh

Have you tried out our iPhone or Android app yet? Get them where you get your phone apps. I love the iPhone app and use it every day.

Due to the recent attempted break in at our new studio, we are in need of funds beyond what our staff can afford. If you can throw a few dimes Radio Valencia's way, we will be forever in your debt. Thanks in advance. 

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM Pacific
Radio Valencia in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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GFY: Amyl and the Sniffers
Gimme MY Wife: Bruce Marshall
Dirty: Joy

Thin White Line: Avengers
Going Up The Country: Three Stoned Men
Take Me Higher and Groove Me: James Brown

The 11: David McMurray
Slates, Slags, Etc: The Fall
Room Service: Rap Rilplinger

Check Out Time: Mudhoney
Roadrunner: Modern Lovers

Gary Floyd Revisited: Paul Leary
Dum Dum: Butthole Surfers
Shit Storm/Youth Of America: Melvins

London: Angel Bat Dawid
Watch Out!: Wells Fargo

The Money Will Roll Right In (For Scott): Fang
Strangers: The Kinks
Raised Right Men: Tom Waits

Church of Misdirection: Kate Vargas
The Funny Bird: Mercury Rev

Apocalyptic Make Out: Love Jerks
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza - Monday 6-10PM Pacific - The Clash (1979) & Blondie (1977)

 

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza

Monday's 6-8PM Pacific

http://radiovalencia.fm

                             Download this show right here!!!

I remember being 12 years old in September 1982 when I learned about The Clash from my best friend, Jimmy Mayor's older sister, who was very Orange County punk. I loved everything about her style, especially the music she was listening to. She was listening to Combat Rock and was telling me and Jimmy we really needed to be listening to them too. Trust me when I tell you I took her at her word.

I lived in SoCal for about a coffee break, from early 1981 to late 1982, when I moved to the Bay Area. My time in SoCal was formative where music was concerned. It was the first time that I found myself listening to music that wasn't coming from what my dad or older sisters were listening to. It's the first time I wanted to go by music of my own.

Tonight I feature two great shows from two bands that influenced my young ears. First up, The Clash from January 3, 1979 at the Lyceum in London. This is a stellar soundboard. This show is shortly after "Give 'Em Enough Rope" came out, but they were already playing a few songs that would show up on "London Calling" later in the year.

The second hour features a young Debbie Harry and Blondie from The Old Waldorf in San Francisco. This was originally broadcast live on the great KSAN-FM. Much of the reason I am in radio is because of Big Daddy Tom Donohue. I read Harry's memoir, "Face It". She's a fun story teller. It lends a level of "truth" to an already colorful tale. Buy it, you'll like it.

Enjoy.

jh

Stick around for my weekly music mix: Hell's Kitchen Radio, 8-10pm Pacific.

Have you tried out our iPhone or Android app yet? Get them where you get your phone apps. I love the iPhone app and use it every day.

Due to the recent attempted break in at our new studio, we are in need of funds beyond what our staff can afford. If you can throw a few dimes Radio Valencia's way, we will be forever in your debt. Thanks in advance. 

Stick around 8-10PM Pacific for my weekly music mix, Hell's Kitchen Radio.

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM Pacific
Radio Valencia in SF

http://radiovalencia.fm
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Follow Radio Valencia on Twitter
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Hell's Kitchen Radio #443: Bad For The Hell Of It

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I was told by a dear friend that I'm not a bad guy, I'm just not all that good either. HA! I love it! That's Hell for ya. I'm just pretty good at being pretty bad. And I enjoy laughing at that, and myself, often. I birthed John Hell in August 1994, when I co-founded Radio Free Burning Man. I'm sure I wrote about this somewhere else on this blog. We were all KFJC DJs and I didn't want to use my airname, Reverend Dah Wave, for the event in the desert. So I needed another moniker. 

I had seen the Rowdy Roddy Piper film "Hell Comes to Frogtown", a post-apocalyptic tale about a guy who survived the devastation and now needs to save all of these extremely hot women (of course), being held in captivity by the Frog King. I love Rowdy Roddy Piper. He was always my favorite wrestler. Pipers Pit was the best part of WWF on Saturday afternoons. And "They Live" will always be a classic. "I've come to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And I'm all out of bubblegum". I mean, come on! Anyway, I thought Piper's name in "Hell Comes To Frogtown" was John Hell. And I thought "Hell YES!", what an excellent name for RFBM. Ends up his name was Frank Hell. That's super lame. No. So John Hell it was and it shall remain, even if Discovery Channel decided it was too adult for their precious little cable outlet and changed it to "Helle" for the four hour "Power Tool Drag Races" special. Whatever, I got paid. 

Initially I was thinking Hell would be all in your face; especially for Burning Man. I was purposely insulting to the organization, just to keep them honest. Now that John Hell about to turn 27(?!?!?!?!) he's much more reserved and sly. I like to poke fun in a more political manner, and to myself. Just what you've come to know and love. You do love me, don't you? (crickets)

As for this show, lot's of new music, Kate Vargas, the Scientists, Angel Bat Dawid, Gojira, Negativland, and Oh Sees. And everything else is gravy. 

Also, you get a treat, one of my oldest and greatest friends is about to start a brand new show Wednesday's 10-midnight (Pacific) on Radio Valencia. His moniker is The Alchemist. The show is a mouthful: Conflux Cornucopia Cerebellum Cocktail Hour! The Alchemist is a walking musical encyclopedia. I know you're going to dig his show. He took over a couple sets in the second hour of this show. I marked it so you know. You're welcome.

Enjoy.

jh

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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White Man's Got A God Complex: The Last Poets
Chiseler: Crystal Fairy

Rumpumpo: Kate Vargas
Gibson Girl: Adam MacKintosh
Working For A Dead Man: Eric McFadden

I Will Miss the Jasmine: Shannon and the Clams
Interstellar Overdrive: Pink Floyd

Science of Suave: The Scientists
Let There Be Dark: Dark Carnival

Black Family: Angel Bat Dawid and Tha Brothahood
***The Alchemist Set***
I Am A Husk: The Mercury Tree
Seven Ways Til Sunday: T.R.A.M.

Electric Landlady: Person
Amazonia: Gojira

Heavy Like A Witch: All Them Witches
Cheating the Polygraph: Porcupine Tree
Atheists Have Songs Too: Rykarda Parasol

***John Hell takes back the reigns***
He Keeps You: Boscoe
Create the Visitor: Negativland

The Ceiling: Oh Sees

Have you tried out our iPhone or Android app yet? Get them where you get your phone apps. I love the iPhone app and use it every day.

Due to the recent attempted break in at our new studio, we are in need of funds beyond what our staff can afford. If you can throw a few dimes Radio Valencia's way, we will be forever in your debt. Thanks in advance. 

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza - Monday 6-10PM Pacific - John Lee Hooker 1976 & Big Mama Thornton 1970

 

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza

Monday's 6-8PM Pacific

http://radiovalencia.fm

Download this show right here!!!

I was raised on the Blues. My dad had it playing in the garage in our house in Toledo, working on old Chevy's and Oldsmobiles from the 1950s. This was in the 70's mind you, but it was the blues of the 50s and 60s that raised me.

One holiday season my dad was late coming home from work. Turns out he was wishing Happy New Year to the owner of the store down the street from his own, who sold pool tables and jukeboxes. My dad knew he was late, and that my mom was waiting for him so they could head out to a holiday party thrown by who-knows-who? I was young, like five. 

The story goes that my dad knew he was late, and he couldn't come home late empty-handed, so he purchased a jukebox, had it loaded up with 50 blues and R&B 45s and brought it home, so my mom wouldn't be as angry as she was absolutely going to be anyway. And yes, she was, thank you for asking.

Anyway, my dad comes home stinking drunk, or so my five year self, and 50 year old memory wants to believe, come stumbling up the driveway, sees my mom standing at the door, hand on hip, glaring at him for being two hours late (you can see that I have no real reason to believe this happened any other way), and my dad looks at her throw beer bottle goggles and proclaims in a beautiful drunken stupor "I bought a big record player" and then hit the floor.

God, how I want this story to be exactly how it has been colored to me over the years. 

That jukebox was in our family room in one house, the rumpus room of another. What the hell is a rumpus room? Is that a thing still? Was it a thing, ever? It ended up in my bedroom by the time I was 8. That thing scared the hell out of me when I would see it in the dark of my bedroom. I thought it was the robot of Lost in Space. It looked nothing like it, but I was 8, with a vivid imagination, which I still have, thankfully. 

It was the music in that machine that made the biggest impact on my young life. If I were to host a full time daily Blues radio show, that would make my life complete.

Tonight's show is all about the Blues. This first hour features the fire and brimstone of Big Mama Mae Thornton in all her 300 pound glory. This is a great soundboard recorded live in Berkeley, CA in 1970, possibly at the Berkeley Folk Festival at the Greek Theater. 

The second hour features what might be my all-time favorite John Lee Hooker show. This is recorded live for WXRT at Wise Fools Club in Chicago, IL. 

Here's John Lee Hooker laying down some nasty blues/boogie in front of a very enthusiastic Chicago audience. Hooker and his band are clearly feeding off the energy in the room and turn in a blazing performance in return. It's
obvious from listening that the room is quite small and one can imagine how exciting it must have been watching a blues legend work his magic in such an intimate setting.

It all about the Blues on this edition of my Live Bootleg Bonanza, ONLY on RadioValencia.fm

Enjoy.

jh

Have you tried out our iPhone or Android app yet? Get them where you get your phone apps. I love the iPhone app and use it every day.

Due to the recent attempted break in at our new studio, we are in need of funds beyond what our staff can afford. If you can throw a few dimes Radio Valencia's way, we will be forever in your debt. Thanks in advance. 

Stick around 8-10PM Pacific for my weekly music mix, Hell's Kitchen Radio.

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM Pacific
Radio Valencia in SF

http://radiovalencia.fm
Follow me on Twitter
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John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza - Monday 6-10PM Pacific - The Doors July 21, 1969 & Jim Morrison's Final Recordings 1971

 

John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza

Monday's 6-8PM Pacific

http://radiovalencia.fm

DOWNLOAD THIS SHOW RIGHT HERE!!!

When I was in my early teens, I heard The Doors for the first time, or at least it's the first time the resonated with me. I'm sure it was "Light My Fire". And regardless of its status as a FM radio hit for the band, that song blazes hot! Robbie Krieger's blistering guitar lines. Ray Manzarek's hypnotic keyboard/bass runs. John Densmore's jazz sylings. And all of this topped with the man who wanted to "take you higher", Jim Morrison.

How couldn't a young, impressionable teen be hooked? I ate up this band. I am certain I owned all of the
Morrison-led Doors LPs within a year, and wore them all out by two. I read "No One Here Gets Out Alive", by Jerry Hopkins and didn't care if half of the stories were rumor and conjecture. I was working at Tower Records in San Mateo, which had a Tower Books next door, when the two volumes of Morrison's poetry were published. Hot damn, I bought those up and devoured them overnight. 

I was happily getting stoned, watching the "Live at the Hollywood Bowl" concert film. I actually saw some of it again recently, and surprised myself how I recalled so much the banter between songs. Morrison was such an instigator, wasn't he?

I read John Densmore's book "Riders on the Storm" when it came out, and regardless of how angry he obviously has been over the years, the stories are great. 

And to top it all off, I was an extra in The Doors film, by Oliver Stone! That was a trip. No pun intended. The indoor concert scenes were filmed at The Warfield in San Francisco, and the outdoor concert scenes were filmed at the Pulgas Water Temple in San Mateo county. I have a very vivid memory of being pulled to a set that was made to look like the backstage of a concert, where the band was going to come from their limo, head into the theater, and straight onto the stage. I was one of about 20 extras that were supposed to be clamoring for Morrison, played by Val Kilmer, as he drunkenly stumbled onto the stage while holding onto his girlfriend Pamela, played by Meg Ryan. In the film this lasted all of about 10 seconds. It took about six hours to film. 

In between takes I would rouse the extras and other stagehands into singing theme
songs from shows like "The Brady Bunch", and "The Jetsons". More than once I caught both Kilmer and Ryan laughing about the goings on. I got to meet them both, as well as Oliver Stone. What a trip.

Both Krieger and Mazarek were at the Warfield shoots. It's Robbie Krieger's hands used in the closeups
during the live shows.

My mother swears she can see me in the concert scenes. I can guarantee you cannot see me in this film. It was a fun though. I think I still have the t-shirt they gave us for being an extra. I did get paid too, and it actually gave me a chance to get my SAG card, which I did not. Hmmmm. Why didn't I do that? Oh yeah, I was a broke radio DJ, who didn't want to try my hand at being a broke actor. That's it.

For tonight's bootleg bonanza, I offer you two, count them two shows. Well, actually one show, and one private recording. The first 70 minutes features a stellar set from the Aquarius Theater in Hollywood, July 21, 1969. Hot damn, this is a great show! WOW! The balance of the show features private recordings of Jim Morrison on March 1969 and June 1971 (weeks before his death), reading his own poetry. There is some organ accompaniment, but not much. It is very well recorded.

I still think of this band as a go-to band. Can you imagine seeing them in a small Hollywood club, or at the Matrix in SF, which sat about 50 people, back in 1966 or 1967? I often still think about that when I listen to them.

Enjoy the hell out of this. I know I still do.

jh

Have you tried out our iPhone or Android app yet? Get them where you get your phone apps. I love the iPhone app and use it every day.

Stick around 8-10PM Pacific for my weekly music mix, Hell's Kitchen Radio.

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM Pacific
Radio Valencia in SF

http://radiovalencia.fm
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Facebook
Follow Radio Valencia on Twitter
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Attempted Break In At Radio Valencia

Thursday afternoon there was an attempt to break into our brand new studio in the Mission District. These fine folks did about $500 in damage to our door. See the pick.

Move in costs were already steep, and now we need to cover this damage, as well as more security measures, and maybe a new door. If you can find it in your heart (and pocketbook), consider donating a few bucks to keep us on the air. Donate via PayPal to:

info@sfindie.com

Thank you, and thank you for listening to Radio Valencia!