Hell's Kitchen Radio #574: Now Dig This

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Another Monday night and the world isn't completely burning yet. 

We all need an escape from time to time. I take Monday nights seriously. This is like taking a shower: don't bother me while I'm doing this. 

I don't paint or sculpt, but I do consider hosting a radio show like creating an art piece. I have an empty two hour aural canvas that I use to weave music through, hoping to be pleased with the final result. And this is a real challenge. I hope you enjoy what I bring you, but is that my responsibility? I choose music that I think you need to hear. I've been doing this long enough to know that too many people are still only  listening to the music they listened to in high school, as if that was the best music ever produced?!?!?

Many of you don't have the time to do the deep digging that I, and the other Radio Valencia DJs take to find the tastiest of musical treats for you. That's one of the reasons I love to do this show. I eat, drink, and breathe music. It's on right now, as I'm writing this. I read music blogs, artist biographies and memoirs. You need a music nerd like me in your life. 

And let's look at what I offer you on Monday night, shall we? I started with some early folk blues, move to a Bob Dylan outtake that may be one of his greatest songs ever written! You have a brilliant Roland (pre-Rahssan) Kirk cover of a Duke classic. Some brand new Public Enemy that will kick your ass! Then we jump back for a Janis-loving seasonal classic, before I give you two jazz treats you didn't know you needed (but you do). There's some brand new Osees, live Hawkwind, local luminary The Space Lady, new A/lpaca (I have no clue why they spell their name that way?), Japan's Kikagaku Moyo (including a story I share following this about my Sunday motorcycle ride...blissful). Following this I pull out a 20th anniversary release of Japan's Boris (how the Hell has it been 20 years?!?!?!), Texas' Psychic Ills, and Mott the Hoople (a brilliant segue, btw), and local lass Barbara Manning, who all of you must listen to all of the time. I close out the show with new King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, featuring an orchestra (what will they think of next?), Tom Waits covering Kurt Weill, and complete the show with some new Ty Segall (I still have a boy crush on him).

Whew.

That's a lot to throw at any canvas. 

I don't normally go into such detail in these posts, but I wanted to give you an idea of the many cups I'm pulling from when I host a show. I'm not a specialty show, where a host focuses on one genre, week-to-week. I like it all. I love playing new releases for you, and I also enjoy scouring my library at home to pull music I haven't played in a while. There's always an itch that needs to be scratched. 

Take this. Make it yours. Share it. Dig the artists? Go buy their music. See them live. Share it with your friends. 

I think this is what makes Radio Valencia a truly special radio station.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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How Do You Want Your Rollin' Done: Louie Lasky
Got Me Religion: Scott H. Biram

Blind Willie McTell: Bob Dylan

Creole Love Call: Roland Kirk

Siick: Public Enemy

Summertime: Big Brother and the Holding Company

China: The Visitors

Super Bad: Idris Muhammad

Fight Simulator: Osees

Seven By Seven: Hawkwind

Radar Love: The Space Lady

Laughter, Us Us: A/lpaca
Meu Mar: Kikagaku Moyu

Pink: Boris

Back To You: Psychic Ills

All The Young Dudes: Mott The Hoople

Twilight: Barbara Manning

Phantom Island: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

What Keeps Mankind Alive: Tom Waits

Fantastic Tomb: Ty Segall

Hell's Kitchen Radio #337: Dub This!

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Sometimes taking a few weeks off leaves me feeling a wee bit rusty. Not tonight! I came out of the shoot all guns blazing hot! Something for everyone in the first hour. Lots of dub in the second. I close out the show with a tasty 13 minute live Jimi Hendrix jam from New Years Eve 69/70 that you are sure to enjoy.

I spent a little while at Econo Jam Records in Oakland today. This was a first for me, but I can promise you it will not be my last. Living in San Francisco for most of my life got me used to the many fine vinyl establishments on that side of the bridge (I actually types "this side of the bridge", forgetting that I don't live in SF now): Amoeba, Stranded, 1234Go, Thrillhouse, just to name a few. But living in Berkeley has opened my eyes to more more MORE!!!!

We truly are living the dream, aren't we.

Hey, I hear WAND is playing this Thursday at Starline Social Club in Oakland. All ages. Make this happen.

I have thread on my Facebook page about music you hate. It's pretty hilarious. Like my page and add your comments.

Also, Flint still has no clean drinking water, and Puerto Rico is mostly out of power.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Mondo Bondage: The Tubes

Road Runner: Chris Spedding

Shotgun Blues: Blues Brothers

The Bit: The Melvins

Sonic Titan: Sleep

Overthrown: Oh Sees

Oh Man: Spacin'

Down Home Girl: Betty Davis

Power of Soul: Idris Muhammad

Cloak and Dagger (Version 3): The Upsetters

Sin Semilla Dub: The Upsetters

Kasha Macka Dub: The Upsetters

I Am Not Ashamed: The Mighty Two

Get Movin': The Last Poets

Under Surveillance: The Scientist

Soul Revel: Bob Marley and Lee Perry

Wake Up The Sun: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Shhhhhh (For A Little While): James Brown

Machine Gun: Jimi Hendrix (January 1, 1970 - Fillmore East, NY, NY)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #291: Have You Seen This Man?

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Have you heard the news, it's all over town. If you ain't heard it boy, you better sit down. Er, um...sorry about that. I shouldn't use 70s-era Bob Segar lyrics to draw your attention, even though it sure got the boys to take note of Betty Lou; amIright?!?!?!?! Of course I am.

This year I have recommitted to featuring my ever deepening obsession with live music. The second hour features live tracks from Dylan. Garcia, Bob Marley and more. Also, some brand spankin' new Ty Segall. I counted and I see that I now own 20 Ty Segall LPs and 8 45s. Do I get a medal for something like that?

If you've never heard of Wylde Ratttz before, then join the club. I just "discovered" this super group recently and I really have to wonder what rock my head was under when these guys appeared 20 years ago. In short, the band was a side project featuring Mark Arm (Mudhoney), Thurston Moore and Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) Mike Watt (Minutemen), Ron Asheton (Stooges), Don Flemming (Velvet Monkeys), and Sabir Mateen. They mostly covered Stooges songs, Pretty Things, and couple of originals. The music was also used for the movie Velvet Goldmine, with Ewan McGregor taking on the lead vocals. There was some hype about the fact that on the original soundtrack Mark Arm's vocals were replaced with McGregor's to the dismay of the band. You can read about that here. Again, where the hell was I in 1998 when all of this was happening? Oh right, I remember. Ugh, that's for another post, on another blog, in another universe, in another dimension.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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I like To Rock: April Wine
TV Eye: Wylde Ratttz

Eric's Trip: Sonic Youth
Blood Like Cream: Red Fang

Maybe I'm Amazed: The Faces
Stars and Stripes of Corruption: Dead Kennedy's
Get It Together: James Brown

A Song for Europe: Roxy Music
Loran's Dance: Idris Muhammad

One Too Many Mornings: Bob Dylan (Royal Albert Hall 1966)
Friend of the Devil: Jerry Garcia and John Kahn (May 5, 1982)

Warm Hands: Ty Segall
War/No More Trouble - Running/Crazy Baldheads: Bob Marley (08-05-78 Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida)

Stone Cold Bush: Red Hot Chili Peppers (03-01-90 Palatrussardi, Milano, Italy)
Walk on Hot Coals: Rory Gallagher (02-05-73 Tommy Vance Show)

"Velvet Goldmine" only received a 56 on Rotten Tomatoes. Enjoy the trailer.

Hell's Kitchen Radio #272: We Are The Dreamers Of Dreams

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Well 2016 continues to be a shit show when it comes to amazing
entertainers who have influenced so many lives. This week we say goodbye to the great Gene Wilder, star of so many great movies from my childhood; and recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder, who was at the controls of thousands of legendary jazz recording sessions, that it's fair to say the his ear was as important as the musicians and the producer in creating some of the most memorable tunes from the 1950s up until just a few short months ago. Both we be missed, but luckily for all of us we have more than enough material to enjoy them for decades to come!

Enjoy.

jh

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

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The Wonderous Boat Ride: Gene Wilder
Loran's Dance: Idris Muhammad

Locomotion: John Coltrane
Tequila: Wes Montgomery
I Got A Woman: Jimmy Smith

The Turnaround: Big John Patton
Blues March: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
Love for Sale: Cannonball Adderley

For Mods Only: Chico Hamilton
Maiden Voyage: Herbie Hancock
Evil Eye: Clifford Jordan and John Gilmore

The Sidewinder: Lee Morgan

Warsawng: Glitter Wizard
Disorder: Meatbodies
The Sadist: Zig Zags

Dead Man's Gun: Thee Oh Sees
Pure Imagination: Gene Wilder

Hell's Kitchen Radio #240: A Rainy Night At Radio Valencia

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It's Sunday night, and I realized that I have yet to post my blog from last Monday. What the hell was I thinking?!?!? It's been one busy week, I can assure you. But that is no excuse for not getting the people what they want. And you want quality radio podcasts, don't you? Don't lie to me. I know how much you enjoy my well-considered playlists. I know you wait with baited breath for my mic breaks, where I'll wax poetic about the San Francisco of yore. Or perhaps, I'll bitch and complain about the cost of rents? Last Monday I think I went on a bender about a former student of mine (I'm a local SF public school teacher, but you knew that, because you tune in regularly and listen to me talk about my kids), and how falsely (?) blamed him for stealing my door stop, which just so happened to be a plastic baby's arm.

Now you too can stream or download this show and relive that fabulous story, and many more. This show also featured a tribute to the great jazz engineer, Rudy Van Gelder, on his 91st birthday. I played a few rain songs in celebration of the fact that it rained in SF for the first time in about 6 months, and I played a few songs to get you ready for our crappy election, where our lame "I'm never going to run for mayor" Mayor won a second term. Douchebag.

There's a very slowed down Alvin and the Chipmunks song, some classic rock you may or may not have ever heard before, new music from noteworthy local bands, and more.

Check out the playlist below.

This Monday night I'm excited to have local rockers Happy Fangs in the studio, where I won't ask them one damn question about themselves, their new record, or their tour. No I won't. Nope. Instead, they're guest DJing, which means I get to kick back and let them make the playlist.

Tune in every Monday night from 8-10PM for the finest in the fine sounds going down in the downtown, with me, John Hell. You can also subscribe to my iTunes podcast link and get the show downloaded to your iTunes every week. You can find the link above. Thanks to the over 300 of you who subscribe already!

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Billie's Bounce: Charlie Parker
Status Quo: Cliff Jordan and John Gilmore

Ease Back: Grant Green
Loran's Dance: Idris Muhammad

Rain: Bernadette Seacrest and her Yes Men
See The Sky About To Rain: Neil Young
Make it Rain: Tom Waits

Rainy Night in SOHO: The Pogues
I'll Be Your Lover Too: Van Morrison
Every Mother's Son: Traffic
What Do You Want From Life: The Tubes

Southern Politician: Willie DeVille
Elected: Alice Cooper
Call Me (slowed down): Alvin and the Chipmunks

Paranoid: Golden Void
Headbanger: King Tuff
We Are What You Are: White Hills
Careful With That Axe, Eugene: Pink Floyd

European Son: Thee Oh Sees

Cold, Rain and Snow: The Grateful Dead

A Season in Hell #184: Farewell Captain, My Captain

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Happy 4th anniversary to Radio Valencia today!!! It's all about tragi-comedy tonight. And what a day to celebrate. I should be writing about how exciting it is to be celebrating four awesome years, and what is certainly the best "radio" station in San Francisco, and one of the finest in the Bay Area, but this day will be forever connected with the passing of a talent among great talents, Robin Williams.

Instead of waxing poetic about what a great cultural loss, and preaching about the need to open our hearts to those experiencing depression, I'm going to let my show speak for itself. Every set has some live stand up from the late Mr. Williams. I'm sure you'll agree he was a master of his craft, and we won't see another like him in our lifetime.

His passing does remind me of this old "joke" however:

In the year 1806, a well-dressed man in his twenties visited a doctor who was renowned throughout London for being able to treat what nowadays we'd call depression, but back then was called melancholia.

The patient explained that he felt overcome by a terrible sadness, that he didn't want to get up in the morning. He could not see any point in his existence.

"With your condition I would normally prescribe a course of my patent powders," said the doctor, "but it so happens that I have recently come across something which will alleviate your condition much more quickly.

"You must," he continued, "go to the Covent Garden theatre to see the pantomime, Harlequin and Mother Goose. This is the happiest thing I have ever seen performed on a stage, tears of laugher ran down my face. Why, sir, I can almost guarantee that watching Grimaldi the clown will cure you completely!"

"Ah, but doctor," said the man sadly, "I am Grimaldi the clown."

It feels as though you said to yourself "I've done all I can do, and it still isn't enough. When are you people going to start being happy? Forget it, I'm done.".

Enjoy.

jh

A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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Step Right Up: Tom Waits
Alcohol: Robin Williams
Freddie's Dead: Curtis Mayfield

All in a Day: Joe Strummer
Tombstone Blues: Bob Dylan
Cocaine: Robin Williams
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: Gil Scott-Heron

Loran's Dance: Idris Muhammad
Cops: Robin Williams
It's A Man's Man's World: James Brown
Happiness is a Warm Gun: The Beatles

1985: Paul McCartney and Wings
Sailor Song: First Aid Kit
Reagan: Robin Williams
Cassidy: Bob Weir

Wanted Criminal: delphine de St. Paer
N.I.B.: Brown Sabbath
Childhood: Robin Williams
Useless King of the Punks: King Buzzo

Taiyo No Baka: Boris
The Way to Eden: Star Trek Live

A Season in Hell #164: Good God No, Another Lost Show???

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This time I actually brought a computer but failed to actually post this show!!! WTF, John Hell? WTF indeed. The music speaks for itself. I yell a lot. I think I'm just excited that I had a computer with me to document all of this. 

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Stormy Monday: Allman Brothers Band
Loran's Dance: Idris Muhammed

Heartbreak Hotel: Eno, Cale, Nico
Jubilee Street: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky: Lou Donaldson
I Got My Eyes On You: Buddy Guy

Rock Steady: John Lee Hooker
Don't Mess With Me Baby: Howlin' Wolf
Work Song: Butterfield Blues Band
Love of the Common People: Leonard Nimoy

Delta Lady: Leon Russell
When My Baby's Beside Me: Big Star
Warm Beer and Cold Women: Tom Waits

Memphis, Tennessee: Harry Belafonte
One: Fuzz
Ghouls: Wooden Shjips

Young, Gifted and Black: Lee Perry
Gor Det Nu: Dungen
Down at the Rock and Roll Club: Richard Hell and the Voidoids
Caught with the Meat in your Mouth: Dead Boys

Ca Plane Pour Moi: Thee Headcoatees

A Season in Hell #129: Ghosts in the Honeymoon

What a great day. I took the day off because today is the only religious holiday that I celebrate: St. Stupid's Day, brought to you by Bishop Joey and the First Church of the Last Laugh. If you live in the Bay Area, then you have no excuses, you need to join us next year. I love living here.

After a couple of hours parading around the financial district, making fun of the suits, it was time to get ready for the next great event of the afternoon: the wedding of Dominic Trix to his bride-to-be, Alicia.

About a month ago I was asked to officiate their nuptials. Being an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church since 1996, I was only happy to oblige my dear friend from KFJC. I've known the great Dominic since I started their way back in 1988. Trix and Alicia tied the knot at the beautiful Sutro Baths in SF. And what a beautiful afternoon and ceremony it was.

Following the ceremony it was time to get to the studio. Trix and Alicia have a noise duo named Acid Blast. They brought the entire wedding party into the studio, and performed live in the final 20 minutes of the show. It's worth a listen. Turn it up!

In the first hour, Alexis, from The Dark Room Theater, to talk about the upcoming stage adaptation of Ghostbusters Live!. Go here for more information. The Dark Room is known for their colorful performances, from their Twilight Zone episodes, to a great Princess Bride. You'll even catch yours truly co-hosting Bad Movie Night there from time to time. Go to this show!

The music for the first hour is pretty damn funky. Get ready to put your dancing shoes on. 

The second hour features the return to the Radio Valencia studios of my dear friend and talented guitar slinger, Eric McFadden. Eric has a new band, T.E.N., featuring Eric, along with Thomas Pridgen of Mars Volta and Norwood Fisher of Fishbone. They're playing The Independent in SF this Friday. I can tell you where I'll be that night. We played a couple of tunes from the new EP, spoke about the full-length they're about to release, and the upcoming tour. Eric really does need to find some time to sleep. In the meantime, ROCK ON!

In the final 20 minutes or so, the newlywed noise-makers, Acid Blast performed in the studio to a live audience. We had about 20 people hanging out with us. This would have been impossible in our former digs. We love our new home! 

It's almost too much to take.

Don't sell yourself short, celebrate the greatness of this show by streaming it here.
Step right up and download this little baby, today.
Or perhaps you would care to see the entire lineup. You go here, or just scroll down.

As always, enjoy.

jh

Up in Smoke: Cheech and Chong
I Heard About Your Band: Breaks

Interview with Alexis of the Dark Room

Black Room: Field Trip to the Moon
Elanor, Put Your Boots Back On: Franz Ferdinand
George Bush Don't Like Black People: K.O.
Express Yourself: NWA

Am I Black Enough For Ya?: Schooly D
Loran's Dance: Idris Muhammed
Water's Edge: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

If I'm Lucky I Might Just Get Picked Up: Betty Davis
Everything I Do Gonna Be funky: Lou Donaldson

Get Down Moses: Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
I Wanna Holler: Detroit Cobras
Dirt: Iggy & the Stooges

Don't Come Home A Drinkin' With Loving On Your Mind: Loretta Lynn
Do I Look Like A Slut: Avenue D

Interview with Eric McFadden

On A Front: T.E.N.
Asleep in the Ocean: T.E.N.
American Wedding: Gogol Bordello
Transmission: Low

Marlon and Alicia and Acid Blast

A Season in Hell #124: Touch Me I'm Sick!

What a week. You know, I'm never sick, EVER, but over the weekend I attended Wisdom 2.0, a conference that brings Mindfulness and business together. I wanted to see what they had to say about education. I'm a teacher by day, you know. Anyway, I'm at the Concourse Exhibition Center with about 1400 people, and you would think that these adults are all super healthy, with their yoga, and their kombucha. I got sick. WTF? I'm never sick, so I'm not taking this very well. One nostril gets clogged and it's all over for me. Hmm... I don't think I've ever actually typed the word nostril before, let alone written it out. Interesting. Nostril.

In the studio tonight I was super excited to had local alt-country-rockers Vandella stop by to share music from the recent release Fire in the Desert. They're one swell four piece. We talked about their influences, the writing process, who they like to play with, and what they have in store. The playlist that follows will show you the tunes we played. I'm loving "Mother Mississippi", by the way.

Noise Pop is this week, and I totally planned to have a show about it tonight, except I went to this conference over the weekend, and I GOT SICK! I ended up playing a few songs anyway. Enjoy them, and then go see some shows.

The second hour is a miss-mash, but it's totally worth your time. There's some old-school rap, soulful jazz, live prog-rock and some new Nick Cave.

It doesn't get any better than this. Really? Then shoot me. See you next week.

Support live, local music.

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Enjoy.

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Do It: Rollins Band
This Time Next Year: Damien Jurado

Divide by Zero: Ramona Falls
Away For The Weekend: Social Studies

Interview with Vandella

Hurt Me: Vandella

Interview with Vandella

Some Say:

Interview with Vandella

Mother Mississippi: Vandella

Interview with Vandella

Dig: Vandella
Dept. Of Disappearance: Jason Lytle
Automechanic: Jenny O.

Wide Lovely Eyes: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Slow and Low: Run DMC
Supperrapin': Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5

Loren's Dance: Idris Muhammad

Agitation: Miles Davis Quintet: Teatro Sistina, Rome October 27, 1969

Yours is no Disgrace: Yes: The Yale Bowl, New Haven, CT July 24, 1971

My Way: Sid Viscious