Hell's Kitchen Radio #515: It's Gonna Blow

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You have no idea what Radio Valencia has gone through the past few weeks. When it rains it blows. And boy howdy did it blow. What should have taken no longer than 90 minutes to fix, turned into two weeks of saying "what the fuck" over and over again. 

Note to self: do not hire a drug addict to "look into the issue".

Noted.

That being said, my own life has been quite topsy-turvy for the past number of months, which has led me to host my show every other week for the foreseeable future. Tonight was one of those nights.

Now that we're up and running we really could use your help. This station has been a labor of love and our own deep pockets, since 2010. We have some amazing shows, some of the best I have ever heard in my 30+ years in radio, and we want to keep this operation going strong for years to come.

We need to pay for regular upkeep of our equipment, purchase new equipment, build a new website, pay rent and bills, and so much more.

Please go to our site and click on the PayPal link on the right side of the page. Any amount helps and we're a 501c3 non-profit, so this would be a tax-deductible donation!!! 

Thanks in advance.

For this show it's what you have come to expect from me: a grab bag of what feels good to me at the moment. I always drag along a large amount of vinyl to make the pickings good. I feel good about this show. Take a listen and let me know what you think

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

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Nuclear War: Sun Ra
16 Shells From a 40 Ought 6: Tom Waits

Money: Roger Waters
NIB: Jazz Sabbath

Anglehead: The Monkeywrench
Road Runner: Thee Headcoatees
Bring It All Home: Led Zeppelin

Moonage Daydream: David Bowie
Nice, Nice, Very Nice: Ambrosia
Nancy From Now On: Father John Misty
Cardboard Pile: Kikagaku Moyo
The Letter: Joe Cocker and Leon Russell

Muddy Water: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Doriella du Fontaine: Lightnin' Rod (Last Poets) with Jimi Hendrix

Spy Girl: The Darts
The Devil's Chasing Me: Reverend Horton Heat

Intercepted Message: Oh Sees
Carletta's In Hats Again: Brigid Dawson and the Mother's Network
Down At The Rock and Roll Club: Richard Hell and the Voidoids

I Don't Mind: Buzzcocks
I Bid Goodnight: Joseph Spence

Hell's Kitchen Radio #487: Black Summertime

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No guests, new music, you, me, these turntables, this microphone. Tonight I was feeling a bit peckish and chose a variety that has moved me lately. New releases from Kikagaku Moyo, Mavis Staples and Levon Helm, and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.

I just want to let the music do the talking here. It was also the 50th anniversary of what I consider to be one of the top five all-time great Grateful Dead shows: August 27, 1972. There is a lot I can say about this amazing show, but I think you should just go listen the very well produced Deadcast and let Jesse Jarnow tell you all about it. I shared the 18 minute "Playin' in the Band". 

I was going to follow up the epic Dead jam with a new 18 minute King Gizzard track, but I was running out of time. Dang. I would have done it too. And the story of the new KGLW track "The Dripping Tap" is really one to read about. I look forward to sharing the track with you soon.

Check out the playlist below and click the link above to check out the show.

Don't forget to tune in starting Mondays at 6PM for my weekly Live Bootleg Bonanza, where I share full live shows from my vast live bootleg library. I have thousands of shows from hundreds of artists, across dozens of genres. So much good stuff to check out on Radio Valencia Monday nights.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Nice, Nice, Very Nice: Ambrosia
I Will Not Be Your Fool: David Bromberg

Jubilee Train/Do Re Mi/Promised Land: Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men

Walk the Plank: The Scientists

The Universe: Death Valley Girls
Raisins: Dinosaur Jr (Electronic Anthology Project)

Cardboard Pile: Kikagaku Moyo

I Feel Good (1975): James Brown

Packing Up Getting Ready To Go: Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder

You Gotta Serve Somebody: Mavis Staples and Levon Helm

Knock It On The Head: Mudhoney

Carry Home: The Gun Club

Playin' in the Band: Grateful Dead (August 27, 1972)

Magenta Mountain: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

Eyes of the Muse: King Tuff

Carletta's In Hats Again: Brigid Dawson and the Mothers Network

Spanish Fly: Boss Hog

What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

Hell's Kitchen Radio #476: No Reward Without Hell

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How many ways am I supposed to say it, you do not get nearly enough good music in your diet. I want you to promise that if I drop off the face of this Earth, that you are going to commit to listening to quality music on the daily. And you need to mix it up. You can't just stay with the same genre, you know? My suggestion, when you go record shopping and you purchase three or more records make at least one from a genre you aren't used to. Trust me, it's a great way to build your collection while broadening your horizons.

I know that my international collection was built in this way. And I never would have discovered the richness of African Funk if I didn't stick to this method. And one artist leads to another, and one unheard of genre leads to another. My dad always said there's no reward in life without risk. I have always taken that to heart, in ways I'm not ready to discuss on this blog. I can attest to the fact that taking a risk on music is always a good thing. Except that hair metal band, Cinderella. There was no redeeming qualities in that band, none. Winger either. Nope. Sorry. None.

As for this show right here, I think the sets speak for themselves. I was in a real dance mood in the first few sets; really funky. If you haven't heard Mdou Moctar, then you haven't heard one of the all-time greatest guitarist there is, alive or dead. Seriously, he's up there with Hendrix and Van Halen. There's new music from Japan's Kikagaku Moyo, who are on their final tour right now. A show I cannot attend because I'm going to be in Yosemite. Lucky me. I gave tickets away in the second hour to Diane Coffee. You really need to check them out. The entire lineup is in the last half hour.

Lots of new music for you that isn't much of a risk. Perhaps I need to get a bit more edgy next week? Tune in.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Give It Up Or Turn It Loose (Remix): James Brown
The Hands of Time: The Perfect Circle

Funeral Solution: Oh Sees
See You In The Boneyard: The Flesh Eaters

Gnekelhe Mohi: Orchestre Massako
Lungs: John Abercrombie

Chrismiten: Mdou Moctar
Over and Out: Sex Mob

Monaka: Kikagaku Moyo
Fulton Street: Eddie Gale

Salt Peanuts: Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Max Roach, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus
Do Not Go Gentle Into the Good Night: Iggy Pop

When My Day of the Crone Comes: Brigid Dawson
Before I Ask: Negativland
Secrets: King Crimson

Forecast: Diane Coffee
Get Out: Jackie Cohen
Chestburster: Mary Claire

Pick A Bale of Cotton: Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder
In That Great Getting Up In The Morning: The New Gospel Keys

Hell's Kitchen Radio #473: Keeping Clever Pennies On Your Eyes

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Holy Hell did tax day give me a swift kick in the pants. I really needed this show to distract from the pain. That being said, I'm not against paying taxes; not in the least. I want my children to have great parks, and schools and roads. I want water and air to be clean, and I do not trust the private one iota to care for any of this. So I'll pay the bill. And I won't complain about it. 

And I won't tell you how to feel about it.

You came for the music. And so did I.

I saw the best show last weekend: Scott H. Biram along with JD Pinkus and Shovelman. I was a Radio Valencia co-presents, which I MCd with Ace from RV. We had the Geezer spinning tunes between acts. What a fabulous show filled three solo acts, each remarkable in their own way. Seeing Pinkus was great, since he and I chat it up a lot on Instagram. It was like visiting an old friend. Shovelman is a local boy, as far a Willits is concerned. But he also used to perform with the Vau de Vier Society, as have a number of friends of mine, so I felt kinship with him right away. And that damn shovel! Who knew?

If you haven't seen Scott H. Biram, then do yourself a fine favor and get out to the show when he's in town. He's got fire and brimstone burning in his soul, right along side the fire of the lord themselves. he can go from gospel blues to Slayer in the same stanza! What a treat!

I really enjoy the co-presents we've been doing at Bottom of the Hill. Come on out Tuesday. April 26th to see Jon Spencer and the HITmakers. It's sure to be a treat. I played some new Jon Spencer later in this here show.

What else did I play? I played music from both Pinkus and Biram, so you'll get a taste of what you missed. There's some African guitar wizardry from Mdou Moctar, new Pink Floyd (yes, I said NEW) featuring Ukranian singer Andriy Khlynyuk, Swedish psych from Dungen, schizophrenic rock from Wesley Willis, 25th anniversary tune from Sleater-Kinney, classic Primus, and re-released The Fall, live from 1981.

You just can't get this in too many places. Allow me to be your one stop musical shop.

See you at the next show. Speaking of next shows, Radio Valencia is gearing up for another live fundraiser at Make Out Room in late June. Stay tune for details.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

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Tax Man: The Beatles
Wake Up The Sun: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Been Down Too Long: Scott H. Biram
He's Doing Time In Jail: Wesley Willis with Wesley Willis Fiasco

Is The Season For New Incarnations: Brigid Dawson and the Mother's Network
Tala Tannam: Mdou Moctar
Ljus In I Min Panna (Light in my pan): Dungen

Hey, Hey Rise Up: Pink Floyd ft. Andriy Khlyvnyuk
I Belong To The Beat Generation: Bob and Don
Kyiv Calling: Beton

You Look Funny When You Cry: JD Pinkus
Miss You: The Concretes
March of the Cicadas: Carlton Melton

Dig Me Out: Sleater-Kinney
John The Fisherman: Primus
Dawn of the Falconer: Hot Fog

Junk Man: Jon Spencer and the HITmakers
Enemy of My Enemy: All Them Witches
O.G.: Big Business
Totally Wired: The Fall

Boungoumoune: Orchestre Massako
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

Hell's Kitchen Radio #466: We Put the Fun in Funds

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I brought so much fabulous vinyl into the studio tonight, just to find the turntables were out of service. Ugh. No bueno. luckily I also brought a handful of CDs and a packed hard drive. Not to worry, I'm always prepared.

I'm reminded of my earliest days in radio, starting at KFJC in late 1988. I was trained by the magnificent and wacky Hell 'n' Hairspray. She alerted me to the need to always be prepared. Have a few CDs cued up, just in case what you want to play doesn't. Good advice. 

On Monday night I still found a way to share lots of new music, including Iggy Pop, Death Valley Girls, Psi-Psonics, and Brigid Dawson. I also pay tribute to the Funk Goddess, Betty Davis, who passed away last week at the tender age of 77. Did you know she wrote a new tune back in 2019? This was news to me. Listen to it in the second hour.

I was also excited to find some music I haven't listened to in quite a while, as I was hunting through my CD collection for a few items. You'll really get a kick out of "Tommy In Seven Seconds" by the Vital Records gang. Thanks to Jim Fourniadis who ran the label and was also guitarist/singer for the New Jersey punk outfit Rats of Unusual Size. What a mench! 

There's something here for everybody. You really do need Radio Valencia in your life. Turn off that commercial radio dreck. It'll take years off your life.

Radio Valencia gives tickets away to shows at Bottom of the Hill every week. Tune into my show and many others to get a chance to go see some great music at a great venue.

We're also hosting a live fundraiser at next door neighbor's place, Make Out Room on Sunday, March 27th. Details coming soon. We need your funds to keep up the fun.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Radio Valencia is a self-funded endeavor. If you are enjoying our shows, I'd like to ask you to donate a few dollars our way. This link will take you to our PayPal, which is hosted by SFIndyMedia, our non-profit benefactor. All donations go to Radio Valencia. Thank you in advance.

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

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James Bond: Iggy Pop
When I'm Free: Death Valley Girls

Revolution: Night Beats
Money: The Flying Lizards
Mad Moth: The Bobby Lees

Tommy In Seven Minutes: Vital Records Comp
Can't Call You: Rats of Unusual Size
Teardrops From My Eyes: Ray Condo and His Ricochets

White Linen: Blüchunks
The Cradle: Psi-Psonics
Broadway Sam: Iceberg Slim
My Wild Love: The Doors

Saeta: Miles Davis
The Special Trip: Embryo

Uptown: The Chambers Brothers
Anti Love Song: Betty Davis
He Was A Big Freak: Betty Davis

Get Ready For Betty: Betty Mabry
Born on the Bayou: Betty Davis
Shut Off The Light: Betty Davis

A Little Bit Hot Tonight: Betty Davis/Danielle Maggio
Serenade to a Cuckoo: Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Trixxx: Brigid Dawson and the Mothers Network
In That Great Gettin' Up In The Morning: The New Gospel Keys

Hell's Kitchen Radio #465: We Love You EB

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Well my dear friend Eric "EB" Brown passed away on Monday morning. What a dear man he was. Always ready with a smile and a quick retort. I appreciated him in more ways than I can count. I'll miss you, dear friend. My heart goes out to your wonderful wife, Cat, and your entire family. My heart also goes out to our large circle of friends, who have lost countless lives over the past decade. 

Fuck cancer. 

Do you ever think about how you're going to die? I think I'm going to be stabbed to death. Isn't that a lovely thought? I've thought about this more times than I care to admit; almost always when I'm walking in a compromised neighborhood, late at night. "Will I make it out of here alive" is usually the question I ask myself. So far, so good. 

Don't be so nihilistic, Mr. Hell.

I have no death wish. I would love to be happy and healthy deep into my senior years. I want to see my kids grow up, reaching their dreams, or at least finding stability. That would be nice. And there's too much music to enjoy. I need to be spinning records for a few more decades, thank you very much.

But when I think about who we've lost, I fairly confident these very active and creative people also wanted to keep engaging and producing for many more years. They didn't ask for this. And they fought against it, tooth and nail. 

Fuck cancer.

I think about what Jerry Garcia said about how he was going to live this life: "I choose fun". He died young, only 53. And he died with a smile on his face. Of course it was the drugs and diabetes that did him in. Luckily I have no drug addiction, and I'm healthier than I've been in many many years. 

I'm reminded what Miles Davis said about drugs: "When you're rich, cocaine ain't a habit." Thanks Miles. 

This show wasn't meant to turn into a memorial, but many of the songs have that flavor. New music from Eric McFadden, Death Valley Girls, Le Butcherettes, Brigid Dawson, JD Pinkus, Pedro Connect, and red Fang.

Thanks as always for your support. We honestly couldn't do what we do if it wasn't for the monthly dues from our station volunteers, and it's not enough to keep us afloat. We're going to start an online fundraiser soon, letting you know what we need and how much it's going to cost. Anything you can send our way is appreciated. Click on the PayPal link below to help out your favorite San Francisco community radio station.

Enjoy and please share.

Oh, and fuck cancer.

jh

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

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Eagles Over America: ShitKit
Ballad of Dwight Fry: Eric McFadden

Sun Goddess: Earth Wind and Fire (For EB)

Dread Lion: The Upsetters

When I'm Free: Death Valley Girls

Alone and Stoned: King Tuff

Ra Wah Wah: Psychic Ills

Heartbreak Jazz: Brigid Dawson and the Mother's Network

Hummingbird: Bob Seger

Fungus Shui: JD Pinkus
Across the Universe: The Space Lady

The Universe: Le Butcherettes

Pedro: The Toulon - Pedro Connect

Last Of His Kind: Neil Young

Parchman Farm: John Mayall with Eric Clapton

Kicked Out: Dead Moon

Unreal Estate: Red Fang