Hell's Kitchen Radio #609: Mitch Polzak Moseys On In To The Show

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When I prepare for an interview with a musician, it's mostly based on their music that I craft the questions. I want to know where the ideas for the stories came from. I want to know how they crafted the song, where the melody came from. Then I start to dig. I need to know their influences, musical and otherwise. 

This is when it gets fun. 

Tell me where you grew up. What was the first music that caught your attention? Who in your life do you credit with turning you on to the music that helped define your own journey? 

Once in a blue moon do I interview someone I've only met a few times but feel a quick kinship with.

Mitch Polzak is one of these people. I've seen Mitch play at the Ivy Room in Albany a few times, and once on his home court in Port Costa, where he once was mayor. 

Mitch will look you right in the eyes when he's playing, and you know he's playing just for you. And he is! He told me this himself last Monday when he was my guest. I told him that he had to guest DJ with me, and he did not disappoint! He brought 33 LPs along with him and everything that aired on Monday night was his choosing, except for my opening set and the single Mitch Polzak tune that I pulled out, and it's thanks to his delightful partner, Amanda, that "Sugrarfoot Rag" was chosen.

We caught each other saying "you too?!?!" a lot during the show, and a lot of laughter throughout. The

music ranges from delta blues, bluegrass, folk, Bakersfield Country, train songs, trucker songs, and honky tonk. 

What a magnificent night this was. 

I hope you take the time to listen into the music and enjoy our banter. Better yet, please take yourself and a loved one out to see Mitch perform live. You'll find Mitch was looking for you all along.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

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Honky Tonk Blues: Hank Williams
Wham Bam: Buck Owens
It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels: Kitty Wells
Cannon Ball: Merle Travis

Watch My Fingers: Lightning Hopkins
Cumberland Gap: Flatt and Scruggs
Ballad of 40 Dollars: Tom T Hall
Road Runner: Blackie Forestier

Sugarfoot Rag: Mitch Polzak
Sad Hour: Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
Randall Collins: Norman Blake
The Longer You Wait: Merle Haggard

Let The Good Times Roll: Buck Owens
Nitro Express: Redd Simpson
Bucking Mule (Piano): Uncle John Patterson
Tombstone Every Mile: Dick Curless
Caffein, Nicotine, Benzedrine: Gary Stewart
For A Few Dollars More: Ennio Morricone

Cause of it All: Howlin' Wolf
I Got Love If You Want It: Slim Harpo
Fire On The Strings: Joe Maphis
Stone Walls and Steel Bars: Jimmy Martin and Ralph Stanley

This Time: Waylon Jennings
Rain: Charlie Feathers
Alabama Jubilee: Roy Clark

Graystone Chapel: Johnny Cash

Hell's Kitchen Radio #502: A Tribute For My Father

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Well, here's a show I knew I would have to host eventually. I just didn't think it was going to be so soon. My dear father, Harvey Rosenberg passed away on Monday, December 26, 2022, after over ten years surviving Parkinson's Disease. I was lucky to have spent a few days with him just before he passed. It was unexpected. He had been fairly stable and mobile just a few days before he passed on. Then something happened, that we're hoping to find out, and he took a serious turn for the worse; he never recovered.

To say I'm going to miss him is a massive understatement. 

I have spoken about my dad on this show numerous times over the years. There were a lot of dad-isms I have imparted to you, my kids and my students. So many great words to live by. Here are a few:

There's no reward without risk.

Always check the oil.

Pay your taxes.

And then there were the cars. My dad owned a lot of cars. It was his hobby: buy a car, fix it up, sell it. I think if he wasn't a watchmaker and in the jewelry business, he would have been a mechanic and race car driver. He must have owned at lease one Chevy model from 49 - 68, including four Corvettes: '60, '64, '66, and '68. I was lucky to be alive to enjoy the '66 and '68. I even snuck the '66 out a few time. Sorry dad.

Anyone who knew my dad liked him. He was a great guy. He never judged anyone, and never spoke ill of

anyone. If I needed advice, he would never tell me what to do, only what he would do. I lived with him through high school, after my parent's divorced. They gave me the choice, and it was the best choice to make for a young 13 year old boy, hungry for male energy only a dad can offer. I will always cherish our hours-long evening conversations about life. He was a great listener and a good storyteller. I'll miss those talks. They helped form who I am today. 

My love of music started with my dad. I don't think he was as interested in music as I came to be, but he was the first to play me music that wasn't on the pop radio stations. He enjoyed Chicago-style electric blues, bebop-era Jazz, 50s and 60s R&B and Rock & Roll. Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, and the Blues Brothers were always favorites. I feel like he handed me the baton and I kept it going.

Dad took me to some fun concerts in the 80s: Bruce Springsteen (Born in the USA Tour), Bob Seger, Robert Plant, and the Doobie Brothers. I loved seeing music with him. He turned me onto great films too. The Godfather was our mutual favorite. We also loved Mel Brooks films, Abbott and Costello, and the Marx Brothers. So much of my humor is because of these films. Dad started me young. I am forever grateful. 

I was honored to host a tribute to him on Monday night. The music I chose is music he would have loved. I tell a bunch of stories about him, and was happy to have my sisters Julie and Tracy keeping me honest with the live fact checking, via text. Thanks to my step-sister Dayna (for whom I've known since she was five and consider her my sister) and her loving husband John for being in the studio with me. A huge thanks to my wonderful daughter, Lauson for being with me as well. It was so special to share this night with them and with everyone who tuned in. 

I don't believe in an afterlife, or religion, or any of that, so I can't tell you where dad is, or if he heard the

show. I'm hoping if there is something that comes after this, then he's living it up. I don't want dad to rest in peace, because he wouldn't want that either. I want him having fun, racing cars with his friends, watching a great football game, eating the juiciest steak and hanging out with the people that mean the most to him. I hosted this show in his memory, so those who are alive can feel the love that we felt for such a wonderful person.

I love you dad.

Your son.

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
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Intro - Hey Bartender: Blues Brothers
Blazing Saddles Trailer
Mack The Knife: Louis Armstrong

Manish Boy: Muddy Waters
Shaving Cream: Benny Bell

Marx Brothers' Duck Soup Trailer

The Runaway: Danny O'Keefe

Birthday: The Beatles
It's Hard To Be Humble: Mac Davis

Who's On First: Abbott and Costello

Bony Maronie: Larry Williams
Little Red Hen: Taj Mahal

The Godfather Trailer
Theme from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Ennio Morricone

My Sick Mind: The Roaches

Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey: Paul McCartney

My Ding-A-Ling: Chuck Berry

Roll Over Beethoven: Rolling Stones

Boom Boom: John Lee Hooker
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

Hell's Kitchen Radio #400: Who's Counting?

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Another round number show in the books. 400 shows is nothing to sneeze at, and looking back at my 30+ years in radio it's more like 1200 I'm guessing. That's something to be proud of, and I am. I love having this platform to share my love of music with you all. Thanks for tuning in when you do. You do tune in, don't you?

I was looking back at shows 100, 200, and 300 to get an idea if I did anything "special" for those shows, and what I found didn't surprise me at all. They were just ordinary shows, with my playing new music and music that's new to you. Therefore I present you my most recent show that just happens to have a nice large round number associated with it.

Also, looking at my actual show count on Radio Valencia I see that I have hosted over 400, because I don't number the many specials I host. It's all good. Who's counting?

New music from Marissa Nadler, Psychic Ills, and Flesh Eaters. RIP to Ennio Morricone. Cover tunes you didn't know you needed. And so much more.

Tune in Wednesday noon-2PM (PDST) for my next Live Bootleg Bonanza show. This is my third week hosting this. I dive deep into my vast live bootleg library to share a treat with you. And this week I have two shows to share: Allman Brothers from 1970 and a Peel Session featuring T Rex also from 1970. This is going to be great! 

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Fairies Wear Boots: Brown Sabbath

This Is Not A Song, It's An Outburst_ Or, The Establishment Blues: Rodriguez

For My Crimes: Marissa Nadler

Parchman Farm: Mercury Rev ft. Carise van Houton

I Don't Wanna Grow Up: Tom Waits

I'm A Man: Ty Segall

Something In The Air: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

I Don't Mind: Psychic Ills ft. Hope Sandoval

Mellow My Mind: Josh Tillman

Fourth of July: Negativland

Teenage Kicks: The Undertones

Black Temptation: Flesh Eaters

Buy Her Candy: Sleater-Kinney

Southern Girls: Cheap Trick (Steve Albini mix)

Fourth of July: Dave Alvin

Back in the USA: Chuck Berry

The Big Gundown: Ennio Morricone

I'm So Bored with the USA: The Clash

The Sicilian Clan: John Zorn

Cross the Breeze: Sonic Youth

The Boss: James Brown

Are You Glad To Be In America: James "Blood" Ulmer

Wild America: Iggy Pop

Gimme Shelter: Grand Funk Railroad

White Punks On Dope: The Tubes

What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

Hell's Kitchen Radio #345: Wild and Cheap

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Do you have any idea how much I love you? I don't think you do. OK, perhaps I just lust for your ears. That being said, can you blame me? I have total and complete respect for you and your ears, and I would never maliciously put you in harms way. On the contrary, I hunger to care for you and to turn you on...to amazing music.

I also love tamales. What's not to love? Last week Virginia "Tamale Lady" Ramos passed away at the age of 65. I spent many a Friday and Saturday night enjoying TL's delicious tamales. She may have loved us all, but you didn't want to get on her bad side. I once saw her rip into some drunk asshole outside of Zeitgeist babbling incoherently in front of her. Seriously dude, do you have any idea how lucky you were to even get a whiff of her amazing fare? Tamale Lady, you will be sorely missed. Raise a tamale in tribute, tonight! Did you know that the remarkable local band Rube Waddell composed a song in her honor? It's true, they did. Now you know. Midway through the show I play this just for you. I cannot imagine any other radio show has done the same.

Music-wise you get another musically-diverse program, with a little something for everyone. Go ahead, take a chance on love...or lust, a lust for quality music. As for the DJ, I'm merely a conduit, a paintbrush for this two hour empty canvas, curated for your pleasure. And only nine covers tonight!

And it's all about your pleasure.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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21st Century Pharisees: Mudhoney

TV Eye: Wylde Ratz

Bring Me The Head of the Preacherman: Siouxsie and the Banchees

Barstool Blues: Neil Young and Crazy Horse

Connection: Montrose

Big Chief: Professor Longhair

Frankie and Albert: Taj Mahal

Got My Mojo Working: Ann Cole

Who's Going To Help A Brother Get Further?: Lee Dorsey

Hey Joel, Where You Going With That?: Ty Segall and White Fence

Tamale Lady: Rube Waddell

Eating Food/Listening to Music: A Children's Garden of Grass

I Get A Kick Out Of You: Tony Bennett

Teeth: Oregon with Elvin Jones

The Mouth Won't Stop: FEAR

I Like Fucking: Bikini Kill

The Story of a Soldier: Ennio Morricone

Lilin: Electric Masada

3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds: Jefferson Airplane (February 1, 1968 The Matrix, SF, CA)

Ziggy Stardust: Bauhaus

Cymbaline: Hawkwind

Stuck Inside Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again: Cat Power

Wild and Crazy: Dr. Octogon

Life is Cheap: Flipper

Return of the Grievous Angel: Gram Parsons

Hell's Kitchen Radio #255: Are You Still Talking?

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It's LEAP DAY!!! I just thought I'd shout that out. Happy 7th birthday to my friend Drea, and 13th to my friend Paul. You're both so cute, but you look really old for your age.

I recently added the Drumpf extension to my Chrome. that means even if I type Trump into this blog, when I see it on my computer it'll say Drumpf. HA! Love it. I also added the Kardashian blocker, which kindly also blocks all-things Kanye, Kimye, and Jenner, and whatever other terms I add to it. I don't need the heartburn, knowhatimean? I can even add "John Hell" to it, and it'll block me! Wait, I don't mean to give any of you some wild idea. You need me. You need me to educate you on quality radio programming. You need me to school you on the newest of the new sounds going down in the uptown. I offer for your consideration the following playlist below.

Check out the first hour! So much classic rap and hip hop. I don't play nearly enough of this. I also feature legendary local hiphopsters: Kalri$$ian!!! They are blazing hot, and I cannot wait to get them into my bed, er...I mean, back in the studio. Yes. That is what I meant to say. Studio. Ahem. Check out their Twitter stream too. It's often NSFW, so you've been warned.

There's some good ol' fashion punk rock, Americana, psycho-swing, psychedelia, doom metal, spaghetti-western soundtrack music, new garage rock, and classic Ray Charles just because I can.

Tune in for the music, stay for the witty banter. I can't recall everything I said, but I'm fairly certain there's a quality rant in the somewhere.

Do you tune in for just the music? I want to know. Leave a comment about why you listen, what you enjoy, and what you would like more of (and yes: less of). I'm thinking of creating a simple survey for you all to take. Thanks for your input. I want to make this a show you look forward to each and every Monday night. Or perhaps you can just make a John Hell Blocker and then you won't have to worry about seeing anymore of this drivel.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Burn Hollywood, Burn: Public Enemy
Spoonie's Back: Spoonie G
Am I Black Enough For You? Schooly D

High Plains Drifter: Beastie Boys
Medicine Cabinet: Kalri$$ian
The Gong Show Theme: Chuck Barris and Milton DeLugg
Damballa: The Pharaohs
Fried Pies: Wes Montgomery Trio

Hedges: Naked Lights
Like Calling Up Thunder: Gun Club
I'm So Bored with the USA: The Clash
Something I Said?: Ray Condo and his Ricochets

King of California: Dave Alvin
March of the Beggars: Ennio Morricone

Dead or Alive: Dale Crover
Mortal Fire: Black Elk Medicine Band
New Trawgs III: Sic Alps

Most Anything You Want: Iron Butterfly
Run Run Run: White Fence
Whipping Post: Frank Zappa (live)

Kofuku - Now, Apocalypse: Low Flying Hawks

Shrinking Moon For You: Wooden Shjips
Greenbacks: Ray Charles

Have you been following the clown car that is the GOP debates? Then you have to see this!!!

Hell's Kitchen Radio #218: For Your Consideration

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Radio is an art. I don't care what any of those fascist general managers say, who wouldn't hire me back 2000, even though I already had 12 years experience AND a BA in radio broadcasting, saying that I was "over-qualified", and it's too difficult to "mold" college DJs into the sheep that they need to hawk their wares on the commercial spectrum. Whatever. I'm not bitter, even though my plan was to eventually become a GM, and change the format to be freeform, and actually give the hosts more power in programming decisions, possibly ostracizing the advertiser.  It's all good.

I actually thanked the music director from KLLC-AliceFM when she told me that the person I was filling in for was coming back from maternity leave...after a year, and they actually never telling me that I was filling in for anyone. I thanked her for opening my eyes to how absolutely lame commercial radio is. I thanked her for the opportunity to play the music to the lowest common denominator, basically making me some kind of Big Brother to the listener, who will follow my every lead, showing them the light, and teaching them what is, without a doubt, the most important and relevant music of the day. I then proceeded to tell her that in no way would I EVER spend another moment in a commercial radio station studio. I told her that radio is supposed to be an art form. That radio is about the segue. Radio is about challenging the listener. Radio is about finding music that is relevant. Radio is NOT about playing the same song over and over again. I can understand how a child enjoys hearing their favorite song replayed over and over, but similarly how our pallet opens up as we age, first loving milk chocolate, then indulging in dark chocolate, music appreciation should be the same way.

Why are we insulting our listeners? If I hear one more Eagles song, I'm going to shoot myself.

Want to check out what  REAL playlist looks like? See below. Take a listen too. There are a few "Easter Eggs" embedded within. Also, I'm starting to mark what I consider to be "BEST SET" of the show, based on song selection and segue.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Tractor: Monster Magnet
The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly: Ennio Morricone
Wave Goodbye: Ty Segall Band

Floating Head: Wand
Are you There?: Mono
Oil: Jonny Greenwood (There Will Be Blood SDTK)
Mercy Seat: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

***BEST SET***
Antitoxidote: Melvins
Who Stole the Soul?" Public Enemy
Am I Evil?: Metallica
The Thieving Magpie: Gioacchino Rossini

Careful with the Axe, Eugene: Pink Floyd
Sadio Witch: Electric Wizard
Riot: Dead Kennedy's
Can't Find My Way Home: Swans

S.O.L. '07: Wooden Shjips
Graveyard: Butthole Surfers

Scavenger: Zig Zags
She Shook Me Cold: David Bowie

A Season in Hell #121: Call Me Balloonatic

We should really consider placing cameras in the Radio Valencia studios. You wouldn't believe how amazing our new place is. I just want to show it off to everyone I know. We spent our first two years in a 35 square foot rat hole. Now we're feeling like we're flying high in 600 square feet of AWESOMENESS!!!

Tonight I just had to share my love of all things radio with my good friend, and KFJC alum, Andy Cadaver. Andy is a filmmaker, writer, world-traveler, and the most original balloon twister I have ever met. That's right, balloon twister. Andy traveled around the world for over two years, twisting thousands of balloons for thousands of people. His stories, and the pictures, taken by his good friend Charlie Eckert, are priceless.

While Andy was guesting on the Martha Stewart show, she asked him if he would do an event at her home, which he gladly accepted. While he was at her home, twisting hundreds of balloons, he got a tick bite, which led to Lymes Disease. Fun! In bed recovering for many weeks, Andy created the balloon bass. This quirky idea led to his collaboration with musicians Nels Cline, Ralph Carney and Kenny Wollesen. Obviously Andy is doing something right.

Andy shares some stories and plays some music, live and recorded, on the show this evening. Oh yes, and Andy's real name is Addi Somekh. He's wonderful and talented, and the world is a better place for having him here. Thanks Addi...or Andy.

You can find his music here.

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Enjoy.

Do It: Rollins Band
That Woman's Got Me Drinking: Shane MacGowen & the Popes
There She Goes, My Beautiful World: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Interview with Andy Cadaver

Trickle Down System: Giant Sand
Nailing Honey To The Bee: Brian Jonestown Massacre
Una Pistola Per Gringo: Ennio Morricone
Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad: The Clash
Because: Alice Cooper & The Bee Gees
Blue Jay Way: The Beatles

Interview with Andy Cadaver

National Anthem:Unpopable
Master Blaster (dub): Stevie Wonder
Lament: Lenny Soundtrack
Hikky Burr: Quincy Jones
St Ides Commercial: Ice Cube and the Ghetto Boys

Interview with Andy Cadaver

Little ol' Country Boy: Parliament
Every Day I Love You Less and Less: Kaiser Chiefs
Doin' That Rag: Grateful Dead

Interview with Andy Cadaver

Sgt. Pepper Instrumental: The Beatles
Deep Soul Diving: Don Laurie
One More Cup of Coffee: The White Stripes

My Way: Sid Vicious