Hell's Kitchen Radio #428: Sold To Hell

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Well damn if that wasn't fun. During the week I'm always listening to music; my own collection and a lot of non-commercial radio: Radio Valencia, KALC and KFJC mostly. Thankfully the Shazam app exists. I cannot tell you how often I use that app. Personally I believe it to be the greatest app ever made in the history of app-kind. Quite possibly it's the greatest invention since the printing press! OK maybe since radio. What do I know? 

My point: many of the artists I still get turned onto come from listening to quality radio stations, with hosts who really know their music. 

What a time to be quarantined! 

I'm hoping we're allowed into our new studio soon. I miss having people to interview from week to week. And we've got these great new digs on 22nd street, right next door to the Make Out Room. I really hope they're able to survive this pandemic. Word came today that the iconic Revolution Cafe has closed their doors, permanently. I would fly my flag at half mast if I had one. 

Carrying on, here's a bunch of music that will sweep away the ennui, unless you get off on that kind of sensation? I will never yuck your yum. 

Brand new Melvins and Mr. Bungle are in the show, along with a lot of artists I don't think I have ever played on here before. Also some new Iggy Pop where he channels the spirit of a dead Welsh poet. Iggy can gargle salt water and I would still love how it sounds. 

I want to start featuring more local independent artists who I know have suffered through COVID-19. I've got some Kate Vargas and her man, Eric McFadden in the second hour. They could always use your love. 

See you next Monday starting at 6pm Pacific for my live bootleg bonanza, where I play full live shows from my live bootleg library. This blog has posts from the previous shows so you can take a look at what you missed. Then stick around from 8-10PM Pacific for my two hour music mix Hell's Kitchen Radio.

Enjoy.

jh

Fuck Around: Melvins
Gaze the Haze: Watchout!

Fascists Eat Donuts: Pop O Pies
Dead Man Walking: Praxis
Break Your Mind: The Darts

Kicker Conspiracy: The Fall
Colossal Youth: Young Marble Giants
Pool On A Plate: Naked Lights
Son of Mustang Ford: Swervedriver

Loss For Words: Mr. Bungle
Tippi Toes: Primus
The Sun and its Horizon: Bill Orcutt
Chik Chikka: Mulatu Astake and the Heliocentrics

The Partisan: Electrelane
Sold America: Damaged Bug
Kolbasti: Altin Gun
Lonesome Cowboy Bill: Velvet Underground
Panik: Bratmobile
Westgate: Amyl and the Sniffers

Shocks Almighty: Lee Scratch Perry
There's A Party: N.A.S.A. (feat. George Clinton and Chali 2na)
What A Man: Linda Lyndell
Got My Mojo Working: Ann Cole

7 Inches: Kate Vargas
Babydoll: Eric McFadden
Done Got Old: Heartless Bastards
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night: Iggy Pop

Certain Men: Negativland
Talkin' New York: Bob Dylan
Good Night, Sleep Tight: Lawrence Welk Singers

And because you need to watch Iggy deliver this classic Dylan Thomas poem, here it is:

Hell's Kitchen Radio #407: There Is Power In The Union

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This heat is just too much. Plague, fires, and now the heat? What the hell is this about?!?!?! If I believed in God I would think that it's just one huge cosmic joke. And by Wednesday the sky was the color of blood. Where are the frogs?

I wanted to host my annual labor day show, and I was thinking that now with so many office workers working from home, what are they going to do with all of those empty office buildings, like the Salesforce lingham that penetrates the San Francisco sky? I wonder how many homeless people it could house?

And what about all those frontline workers in the grocery stores? Now that we have the world's richest douchebag, Jeff Bezos owning Whole Paycheck, don't you think he can afford to pay them a living wage? I mean, thanks for the banner hanging on the store front telling us how much you care for your workers, but seriously dude, put your money where your mouth is.

And so goes this show. I mix some Labor Day-themed tunes in with few other treats to keep your toes tapping.

Just take a listen to the first daughter, Tiffany Trump (the one Heir Donny-britches forgot he had) singing her autotuned heart out on the dance number "Like A Bird". And then there's our former Attorney General, John Ashcroft, who lost his Missouri governor's bid to a dead guy. True story. He sings a live version of "Let Eagles Soar". To his credit, he didn't need autotune. Watch out Tiffany.

There's some new music from legendary punk vocalist, Alice Bag; something new from the latest acoustic King Buzzo/Trevor Dunn release; new from Japanese power trio Boris, and a whole heap of music that I'm excited to share with you.

I have come to the realization that I have a lot of music. More than I really know what to do with. I guess this is why I host a radio show. I may need two more hours a week though. I'm just getting warmed up after two.

See you this Monday night, 8-10PM (PDST), where I'll be paying tribute to the late, great Toots Hibbert, of Toots and the Maytals, who passed away Saturday, September 11, 2020, from complications with COVID-19. RIP Toots and thanks for the musical memories.

Enjoy,

jh

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

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Take This Job And Shove It: Johnny Paycheck
TV-Glotzer: Nina Hagen
Let Eagles Soar: Attorney General John Ashcroft

Career Opportunities: The Clash
Fried Grease: Greyboy Allstars ft. Fred Wesley
Fire In The Hole: General Patton vs The X-Ecutioners
Old Mary: Dead Weather
I Am A Union Woman: Rosalie Sorrels
Get Back In Line: The Kinks

Gate Crasher: Alice Bag
Like A Bird: Tiffany Trump
Wild Mountain: Itchy-O
San Francisco Bay Blues: Jesse Fuller

I'm Glad I Could Help Out: King Buzzo and Trevor Dunn
Kolbasti: Altin Gün
Rope Burn: Damaged Bug
All Out of Catastrophes: Marissa Nadler

There Is Power In The Union: Utah Phillips
Loveless: Boris
Indian Summer: The Doors
Rolling Thunder/Shoshone Invocation: Mickey Hart

Ace of Spades: Link Wray
Woodstock: Joni Mitchell
Gonna Die With A Hammer In My Hand: The Williamson Brothers and Curry
Working Class Hero: John Lennon

More Than A Paycheck: Sweet Honey In The Rock
Get Behind The Mule: Tom Waits
Mean Old Frisco: John Hammond

Work Song: Nina Simone
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong.

Hell's Kitchen Radio #397: Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time

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I'll admit it, I have been guilty of purchasing an LP from time to time because of the cover. This doesn't mean I didn't want it for the music, it was the cover that pushed me into making the purchase. Recently, my daughter Little Lauson Hell asked me to show her my favorite LP covers. Talk about making her daddy proud! I took my time to consider the criteria: a great cover isn't just the art, it can also be the story behind the music, the artist, that time, etc. It can be a stark, minimalist cover, such as "Something Else", by Cannonball Adderley, or a robust cover like "Bitches Brew", by Miles Davis. 

As I was taking her through the journey, I had to pause and remember this wasn't about showing her my favorite albums, some of which have crap covers. This was about the covers themselves. I spoke to her about growing up buying vinyl, laying on my bed staring at the cover, and reading the liner notes. I get as excited today as I ever have purchasing new vinyl. 

So far her favorite covers were the three picture discs for Altamont (Dale Crover side project).

Which reminds me, even if we can't patronize our favorite local record shop, we can still purchase straight from the labels and the bands. And a reminder that Bandcamp will be hosting their first Friday again, July 3rd, when all proceeds go straight to the artist. They are also having a fundraiser on June 19th (Juneteenth), where all proceeds go to the NAACP. Buy great music, support the artists, and support a great cause. I know I will.

Many of you know that I am a social studies teacher in San Francisco. Specifically I teach Pre-Law, American Democracy, and Economics in a thematic pathway for the past 16 years. I have read and studied the US Constitution for longer than that, and I can attest that it is a comprehensive social contract, that cannot be mastered in one, two, or twenty readings. Before you read a political headline and think you know what the Constitution has to say on the matter, please take the time to do your research, including what the US Supreme Court has to say on the issue. 

In the meantime, take a gander at the playlist below. New music from my dream team Melvins/Mudhoney, a Ty Segall/Cory Hanson collaboration, some Afro-Funk, avant-Jazz, and many local bands. 

Click the link above, sit back, relax, and as always, enjoy.

jh

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

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My War: Mudhoney/Melvins

A.D.D.: System of a Down

All You Fascists: Billy Bragg and Wilco

The Mask (Part 2): Miles Davis

Get Up, Stand Up (Alternate Take): Bob Marley and the Wailers

Milk Bird Flyer: Ty Segall and Cory Hanson

Eggs at Night: Damaged Bug

Theme de Yoyo: Art Ensemble of Chicago

Live at PJs: Beastie Boys

The Great Conspirator: Illogistical Resources Dept.

Telephone Girl: Assagai

The American in Me: The Avengers

American Cars: Useless Eaters

Here She Comes Now: Curtis Harding

Everything I Say Just Goes Right Through Her Heart: Peter Laughner

Complicated Life: The Kinks

7 Inches: Kate Vargas

Mr. Slick: Ken Nordine

Devil Moon: Eric McFadden

Jesus Didn't Die For Me: Rube Waddell

House Hunter: Le Butcherettes

Yes We Can: Lee Dorsey

Supergirl: The Fugs

What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

Hell's Kitchen Radio #299: Radio Junkie

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There's free-form radio and then there's FREE-FORM RADIO! I've been doing this too long to stop now. There are times when I'm driving late at night, pushing the buttons on my FM radio, thinking to myself "why am I hearing the same songs at this late hour that I would hear in the middle of the day? Shouldn't the late hours be the time when radio stations stretch out, try something new, or perhaps even a deeper album cut? Isn't this the time when they can play a 20 minute track? Isn't this the perfect opportunity for them to try out a new, local artist who deserves the airplay? WHY AREN'T THEY DOING THIS? And why haven't I written a letter? Tweeted? Made a call? "

If I was given a chance to program KSAN (aka:107.7 The Bone) I would make "Big Daddy" Tom Donahue proud. That man must be seriously spinning in his grave to see what has happened with his love child. Some say Steven Seaweed is an institution. I say that he's been phoning it in for about two decades now. No offense, Steven. You've made a great career out of being super excited to be playing another AMAZING Van Hagar track, and having people call out the WEEDMAN! I've worked in commercial radio. They hand you the playlist and tell you what you are and are not allowed to say and play. Any deviation from the norm and you're out the door. All to please the listeners. Yeah right. It's all about the sponsors. There is no longer any art or risk-taking in the land of mainstream radio. And it's been this way for a good 25 years now; perhaps longer.

Tonights show is all over the aural spectrum. Brand new music from Boss Hog, and CFM has a new LP out as well. There's some sizzling rock, toe-tappin' country, Japanese Psych, nouveau Americana, Seattle Grunge (I hate that term), and American Punk. I'm sure I left out something. Take a look at the playlist below and click on the stream or download above to enjoy this program, sure to please even the finickiest music lovers in your home.

Next Monday night is my 300th show on Radio Valencia. That's a lot of shows. I have no clue what I have planned, but it promises to be worth your time. Tune in 8-10PM at http://radiovalencia.fm

See you on the radio.

jh

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

Follow me on Twitter
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Way Down In The Hole: Tom Waits
The Deep: Red Fang

Ashes to Ashes: Eric McFadden
White Bird: It's A Beautiful Day

Volunteers: Jefferson Airplane
Sleep Drifter: King Gizzard and the Lizard Gizzard
I'm Sure to Meet You: Angel in Heavy Syrup

Rubber Lips: Damaged Bug
Pretty Bird: Jenny Lewis

Young, Gifted, and Broke: Aura Lewis and Lee "Scratch" Perry
I Fall to Pieces: Patsy Cline
Hey Hey, My My: Neil Young (June 13, 2003 Bonnaroo Music Festival)

Ground Control: Boss Hog
Make it Now: Mudhoney (September 26, 1993 Hollywood Palace)
Let It Bleed: Rolling Stones (November 1, 1981 Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX)

Dead Weight/Message: CFM
Barn Burning: Dave Alvin

Frankie and Albert: Taj Mahal
Ice Water: Ray Condo
Diddy Wah Diddy: Thee Headcoats

American Heavy Metal Weekend: Circle Jerks (February 14-1986 Fender's Ballroom
Long Beach, CA)