Hell's Kitchen Radio #357: Diggin' Deeper In The Soulful Well

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When I started Radio Valencia, my objective was to bring in quality talent who could produce two hours a week of stellar programming, to knock your socks off. We have been lucky to have recruited some veteran DJs, but some of our finest have been folks who haven't spent much, if any time behind the decks. On my most recent show I had the pleasure to welcome and to train a potential new voice on Radio Valencia, Dirty Harry. Harry has a sweet collection of African funk, soul, pop, disco, and rock, and he shared quite a bit during his 45 minute set during the show.

Often times I get more influenced by those sharing the studio with me, than by what I hear on the air. Tonight was no different. Harry made me dig deeper.

Take a look at the funk sets below, and click the links above to dig the groove we've got layin' down just for you.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Telephone Girl: Assagai
Investigation: Carl Holmes
Cotati Funk: Qunitessence

Who's Gonna Help A Brother Get Further: Lee Dorsey
My Friend: Ricardo Marrero
***Dirty Harry's set***
Heat of the Wind: Roland Bautista
One Note Samba: Sergio Mendez

Nizaka Panga Ngozi: Ngozi Family
Yeke Yeke: Mory Kante
C'est Bon La Musique: Uta Bella

What Do You Want (The Question): Tambu
Lipstick (Shout): JM Black
Mini Pads: Jack McDuff
***Back to John Hell***
Lickin' Stick: James Brown

Maggie's Farm: Soloman Burke
Bang Bang: Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood
Emma: Hot Chocolate
Queen Bitch: Green River

Love Addict: Honey and the Bee
You Can't Love Me If You Don't Respect Me: Lyn Collins
A Quick One While He's Away: The Who
Sweat Loaf: Butthole Surfers

Ramblin (Wo)Man: Cat Power
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

Hell's Kitchen Radio #249: Rebel Rebel RIP

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Magnificent artists are all around us. Have you taken the time to look and see? Do you make the time to enjoy the arts? Do you go to museums?  To the cinema? To the clubs? Do you support local bands? Do you see one-person stage shows? Do you fReaK the scene? When did you stop being an artist? Was it in elementary school, when the teacher told you to stop doodling and start paying attention? What did you aspire to be when you were a child? When did that stop? Why?

And then there's Bowie. He taught me that art is all around you. He showed me that everyone can be a part of the show. Life is drama. Life is high and low art. Art is what you make of it. He wrote about the highs and lows of life; what it is to be alone; what it means to want to be loved. He took risks. My father always told me that to live is to takes risks. 

And then there's Bowie.

When I heard the news on Sunday night, I was in disbelief. I thought, like many, that his Twitter feed had been hacked. That would be cold, but not impossible. I decided to sleep on it, but in the morning the sad truth rang all too true. The rest of my Monday was sleepwalking through the day, scrolling through my Facebook feed. I have about 1300 "friends" on FB, and over 90% of the posts throughout the day were about Bowie. How do you like that? I've never seen anything quite like it in my 9 years on FB. It was wonderful. No politics. No race issues. No economic crisis. It was all about the celebration of an artist, that we were lucky enough to exist on the same planet with at the same time. 

Tonight on my show I pay tribute to Bowie by playing some of my favorites, as well as some excellent live cuts, and some co
vers and a recent mashup featuring Bowie and Lemmy.

In the first hour I am seriously excited to have in the studio a true up and coming band, Unlikely Heroes, fronted by phenomENON Gaines. This eclectic group are synthesizing HipHop and Punk with beats and melody that is fresh, exciting, and long waited for. I saw a street performance from this young band over the summer, but I'm anticipating seeing them at the club level. They will get the room jumping like the way Gogol Bordello had the Catalyst jumping for three hours a few years back. This band has energy, and the beats and words to back it up. They've played 30 shows since last April, and for a new band that is unheard of. Once you give them a listen, and hear the interview from the show, I think you'll understand the attraction. Enon is an excellent front-man, and they'll be gracing bigger stages in the near future, if there is indeed a God of music justice.

Next Monday on my show, I'm thrilled to have Bay Area club DJ Rasta Cue-Tip aka: RasCue of Cali Agents, and Various Blends. You can check him out on Urban Umpires, or his Soundcloud page before next Monday. He'll be guest DJing for the entire show, 8-10. Tune in.

Also, don't forget to get me your celebrity death list for my 2016 Run for the Lilies. You choose 10 famous people (famous in any way), that you believe will meet their demise by December 31, 2016. The only rule: you may not, in any way, be involved in how they meet their maker. Send your list to mrjohnhell@gmail.com by February 4, 2016. Winner will be announced January 2017.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Life on Mars: David Bowie
She Shook Me Cold: David Bowie
China Girl: Iggy Pop

Interview with Unlikely Heroes

Young Skywalker: Unlikely Heroes
Gold Rings: Unlikely Heroes

Interview with Unlikely Heroes

For You: Unlikely Heroes

Lazarus: David Bowie
Heroes: David Bowie

***Set of the Night***
Louis Louis Go Home: Davy Jones and the King Bees
Golden Years: Marilyn Manson
Under Pressure (a cappella): David Bowie and Freddy Mercury

"Ace of Dance": Lemmy Stardust Commemorative Mashup
Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy: David Bowie and Bing Crosby
London Bye-Bye: David Bowie

Queen Bitch: Green River
Rebel Rebel: David Bowie (Dallas, TX April 27, 1983)
Young Americans: David Bowie (Tokyo, Japan May 16, 1990)
Hang Onto Yourself: David Bowie (Santa Monica, CA October 20, 1972)

Station to Station: Melvins

Bowie's in Space: Flight of the Conchords

Hell's Kitchen #202: Grunge vs. BritPop

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It's all Grunge vs. BritPop tonight on Hell's Kitchen with John Hell and David Fraser.

It's hard to believe that the 90s ended 15 years ago. It's even harder to believe that Grunge started more than 25 years ago. That's just ridiculous to me. What's even more ridiculous to me is that I was in my 20s that long ago. Like many, I too was smitten when I first encountered the early sounds of Grunge and Britpop and Shoegaze, starting around 1989. And who wouldn't you be? The distorted guitar, the pounding rhythms of the drums and the bass, the lyrics so full of angst and Generation X-style miasma. Everyone called us Slackers, but I never saw us like that. There was some serious talent coming out of that time. I remember so many friends being into bands like Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice In Chains, and of course Pearl Jam. I couldn't stand any of those bands. I remember asking all of them, out of all of these bands that you love so much who will you remember, and which will be played regularly on the radio 20 years from now? I correctly predicted that Nirvana would stand the test of time, and not because they were so brilliant, which I do think that they were, but mostly because they borrowed from heavy hitters, such as the Pixies and the Beatles, and also because Kurt Cobain was really an amazing songwriter.

My favorite band of the time and still in my top five today, is Mudhoney. And why not? What an amazing band. If you know your history, then you know that Mark Arm and Steve Turner only started Mudhoney as a bit of a joke and a side project. They never meant for it to go as far as it has. And though it's hard to see how the Melvins are considered the godfathers of Grunge, I can appreciate their obvious influence on the genre, while still recognizing that there really isn't any grunge in them at all.

As for Britpop, there are a few bands in the genre that I took two. Mostly Swervedriver to be honest. I also like The Vaseline's, and My Bloody Valentine. But I mostly looked at Britpop as a genre that was trying to rip off what was happening in Seattle. I may get hate mail for that, which is fine, but I standby it.

This show reminded me so much of my early days at KFJC. David was a great co-host too! David grew up in Seattle during the Grunge heyday and knows his music history. We both soon realized that this is obviously part one in an ongoing series. Listen for David's return in the months to come. He may even take a shot at joining the ranks of great Radio Valencia DJs. Excellent!

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Show Me The Way: Dinosaur Jr.
Rocket Reducer #62: The Melvins
Dies Iraea: Melvins
I Wanna Be Adored: Stone Roses

D7: Wipers
In And Out Of Grace: Mudhoney
Son of a Gun: Vaselines
Grease Box: Tad

Only Shallow: My Bloody Valentine
Revolution: Mudhoney
Song 2: Blur
Backwater: Meatpuppets

Lady Killers: Lush
I Like Fucking: Bikini Kill
Seaweed: The Gits
Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam: Nirvana
Queen Bitch: Green River

The Scratch: 7 Year Bitch
Rave Down: Swervedriver
I Hate Rock and Roll: Jesus and Mary Chain
Mousetrap: Ride
Black Metallic: Catherine Wheel

Dollar Bill: Screaming Trees

Fade Away: Oasis

A Season in Hell #176: Loster Than Lost

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Holy Hell it's hot in here. That's what we get for being above a hot yoga studio. DAMN! That must mean a HOT SHOW! And hot it appeared to be. This is one more of those lost shows where I neglected to share it following broadcast. It's like finding some gem at the bottom of the ocean!

And hot damn, check out that playlist. I think I'm going to dive right in right here, right now!

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Follow Radio Valencia on Twitter
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Up in Smoke: Cheech and Chong
Rebel Girl: Bikini Kill
Heartbreaker: Motorhead

High Roller: Cheap Trick
Spear and Magic Helmet: The Gits
Working Man: Rush (Live 07-14-02)

Iron Swan: The Sword
Statement: Boris
Ragdoll: Glitter Wizard

The Man Who Sold the World: David Bowie
Queen Bitch: Green River
Back of the Car: Big Star
A Quick One (While He's Away): The Who

Chewin' George Lucas' Chocolate/Goofy's Concern: Butthole Surfers
Yoga is as Yoga Does: Elvis Presley
Sister Mary Motorcycle: Girl Trouble
Into the Open: Heartless Bastards
Muswell Hillbilly: The Kinks

El Paso: Marty Robbins
The Knealing Drunkards Plea: Johnny Cash
You Win Again: Jerry Lee Lewis
Run Devil, Run/Big Guns: Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins

More Than This: Nora Jones and Charlie Hunter
Oh, To Feel Your Arms Around Me: Father John Misty
By The Time I Get to Arizona: Public Enemy/Tijuana Brass