Tune into Hell's Kitchen Radio, with John Hell, every Monday night 8-10PM (Pacific), on Radio Valencia (https://radiovalencia.fm) in San Francisco. You can find my playlists and links to the podcasts right here.
These two shows are sure to get your toes a-tapping. the first 90 minutes feature one of the best live stage shows in the past 50+ years: Mad Dogs, Englishmen and Joe Cocker, live at the Fillmore West in San Francisco. You really need to watch the film of this tour to get the entire story, but I can tell you that nothing like this show has happened since, and for good reason. Enjoy every moment.
The last 30 minutes or so features a group that has a lot of cross over with the Mad Dogs tour. Delaney, Bonnie and Friends features the charismatic couple at their finest, along with stellar guitarist Duane Allman and horn man King Curtis. This is the band that inspired Clapton to create Derek and the Dominos. Yep, I just grabbed a bunch of you right there and for good reason. What an amazing show this is.
I really wish I could be any of you who have never heard these shows. My hair stood on end the first time I heard these two bands.
Stick around 8-10PM Pacific Monday night for Hell's Kitchen Radio. Lots of new sounds for you to consume.
Stream the Tribute, HERE! Download the Memories, HERE! Listen into all my shows here, or just scroll down
Will this madness of 2016 never end.
Guitarist and singer/songwriter Eric McFadden and his Queen delphine joined me in the studio Monday night to pay tribute to two greats of the music world who recently passed on to the great beyond.
While I was never a big fan of the way Leonard Cohen phrased his own tunes, I was a huge fan of the many covers of his classics. I believe I first was turned onto the brilliant songwriting of Mr. Cohen through the Joe CockerMad Dogs and Englishmen version of "Bird on a Wire". I was hooked from that moment on the storytelling and eagerly sought out other covers. Easily my favorite cover of his was "Hallelujah" by the late, great Jeff Buckley. "I'm Your Fan" is a great tribute record to Cohen, which was released in 1991, featuring REM, Nick Cave, The Pixies, and John Cale. Check it out!
Leonard Cohen died November 7th of cancer at the age of 82. I appreciate that he was buried in a simple Jewish ceremony next to his parents in Montreal.
The piano player on the Mad Dogs record was none other than my other featured player for the night: Leon Russell. Russell's stride piano playing and exaggerated vocal style helped him stand out from others during his high profile era of the 1970s. Starting with the Mad Dogs record I spent many hours enjoying his early 70s solo efforts. Though he wasn't as often covered as much as Cohen, Russell made a profound impact on many songwriters that followed him. His birthplace, Tulsa, Oklahoma, named a street after him in 2010. He died this past Sunday after a few years of failing health. He was 74.
Listening to music is supposed to be a joy. Even when the artist we love and respect has passed to the great beyond we have their songs to carry us through to our own old age. I've told my friends and family if I ever get to a point where they have to prop me up in a corner just place some headphones on me and place my iPod on shuffle. Losing Cohen and Russell is indeed sad, but it also will lead to a renaissance of their music. Perhaps your favorite band will cover their songs. Maybe, like after Jerry Garcia died, there will be a huge outpouring of new versions of some of their deeper album cuts that you never knew they wrote. From loss comes inspiration. Through grief comes resilience and vision.
At this writing Mose Allison has passed away at the age of 89. I can't host enough shows to pay tribute to all the musical greats who we have lost this somber year.
Take heart my friends, and hold each other closer. We're going to need all the good love and strength we can muster.
Girl From North Country: Leon Russell (02-05-1971 - Baarn, NL)
The Partisan: Leonard Cohen
Bird on a Wire: Joe Cocker
This Masquerade: Leon Russell
Hummingbird: B.B. King
Dream a Little Dream of Me: Cass Elliott
Chelsea Hotel No 2: Lana Del Rey
A Song for You: Donny Hathaway
Everybody Knows: Leonard Cohen
Who By Fire: Coil
Avalanche: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Alcatraz: Nazareth
Back to the Island: Toots and the Maytals
First We Take Manhattan: REM
Roll Away the Stone: Leon Russell (11-20-70 Fillmore East, NYC)
I Can't Forget: Pixies
The Partisan: Eric McFadden
Delta Lady: Joe Cocker
Hallelujah: Jeff Buckley
As I said above the Joe Cocker Mad Dog and Englishmen tour and record made a profound impact on me as a youth. Luckily for us YouTube has much of the film to share. Below features a rather fun version of Space Captain. Sing along with all the "oohs" and "ahs".
Time to fight it out - Stream it HERE! Rock out with your download out - HERE! Listen to all my shows by going HERE! Links to all previous ROCK FIGHTS are below! Subscribe to my shows via iTunes
Too much has been written in the annals of mythology about the many Rock Fights which came before, but no one could have prepared any of us for what was about to come on this holiest of holy Rock Fight nights.
Each hour progresses with guests, amazing live tracks, and brilliant banter that will leave you in stitches, and quite possibly paralyzed from the neck down.
John and Ron are in fine form for much of the evening (I repeat MUCH of the evening), the guest interviews are a perfect addition to what is already an institution in radio land. The music selections, mostly focused on Rock, also feature a Black Metal set, and a wonderful Blues set; taking us from the roots of Rock to wear Rock has certainly come.
In the second hour author Linda Kelly joined us at to talk about the upcoming release of the new edition of her 1995 Grateful Dead-themed book: "Deadheads", just in time for the 50th anniversary of my favorite band.
Sound Engineer John Karr joins us in the third hour to talk about all the many bands he's worked with over the years. John has worked regularly as an engineer in many recording studios around San Francisco, and has worked the sound board at pretty much every club in San Francisco for over 20 years. He's got great stories and has brought along excellent, stellar live recordings from shows where he is manning the board.
Metallica fanzine editor Steffan Chirazi joins us for the fourth hour to play us BLACK (metal) Christmas. You know, an anti-christ/mas thing. All Black Metal, with some road stories. Great road stories. Steff is always ready with some of the best stories from the road. He's been doing it for over 25 years so he knows his stuff.
We're doing a blues set the fifth hour. It makes sense. All live versions you've never heard before. Eric McFadden called in this hour. He's in Albuquerque, New Mexico right now, and shared his history of listening to live music, and his own memories of his favorite bands growing up.
Play the game "Where is Ron". Where oh where could he be throughout the program? Is he on Mic? Is he lost in the mission? How many songs did Ron actually play on Rock Fight 14? Tune in and play along with rest of us.
Finally we close the show the way we opened the show: with a tribute to the late great Joe Cocker. Joe died on Monday at the age of 70 years old. Anyone who's listened my show over the years knows that I am huge fan of Joe Cocker, he's always been an absolute inspiration to my growth as a music fan. The Mad Dogs Englishmen Tour from 1970 is by far the greatest series of shows that I have ever heard in my long tenure of collecting live music. It is my dream and aspiration to one day front of band in much the same manner as Joe Cocker did with that tour. It's an understatement to say that you will be missed, Joe. RIP to a man who taught me more about music than most people I have ever known, personally.
Enjoy.
jh
PS: It would appear this is actually Rock Fight 13. This is what I get for not going back and actually looking at the most recent show we did. HA!
Hour one:
Something: Joe Cocker (San Francisco, April 26, 1970) - JH
Kick Out The Jams: MC5 (01-01-70 Saginaw, MI) - JH
Guns of Brixton: The Clash (Akron, OH 08-17-82) - JH
Jailhouse Rock/Don't Be Cruel: Elvis Presley (Las Vegas 1969)
Cafe Latte: Limbomaniacs (iBeam - SF 09-01-90)
John The Fisherman: Primus (Haight Street Fair 06-10-90) -JH
Feeling Alright: Joe Cocker (10-19-69 Fillmore West, SF, CA) -JH
Sin City: AC/DC (Oakland, CA 07-21-79) - RD
Hour two:
Songs Remains the Same/Rain Song: Led Zeppelin (01-07-73 - Oxford, England) - JH
Closet Queen: James Gang (07-15-71 Frisa, Holland) - JH
Summertime Blues: Joan Jett (Firemen's Memorial Park, Hempsted NJ, Aug. 8, 1981) - JH
Love Gun: Kiss (Selland Arena, Fresno, California November 27, 1979) - JH
Youth of America: The Melvins (Capitol Theater, Olympia, WA March 9, 2004) - JH
Interview with Linda Kelly
Hour three:
China Cat Sunflower - I Know You Rider: Grateful Dead (Assembly Hall, Umiversity of Illinois,
Champaign-Urbana, IL 73-02-21)
Interview with John Karr - John brought a bunch of recording he made while doing live sound for these bands. He's not certain of the song titles or exact dates. We'll forgive him this one time.
Death Cab For Cutie: Bottom of the Hill, SF, CA 1999
Fucking Champs, Bottom of the Hill, SF, CA 09-13-2000
Rumah Sakit: Bottom of the Hill, SF, CA 03-04-2000
Cosmic Slop: P-Funk, Yoshi's SF, CA 2012
Mastadon, Justice League, SF, CA 2001?
Mirv, Great American Music Hall, SF, CA 12-28-2002
Hour four:
Mermen SF, CA
Interview with Steffan Chirazi
Black Metal Special
In Nomine Satanas/Black Metal: Venom
Gorgorath: Wacken Metal Fest 2012
Confessional Rape: Diecide
Hour five:
Necrolust: Mayhem
Ground: Celtic Frost
Blues set:
Shotgun Blues: Blues Brother (12-31-78 Winterland, SF, CA)
Boom Boom: John Lee Hooker (03-30-85 The Stone, SF, CA)
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed: Allman Brothers Band (07-03-70 Atlanta Pop Fest, Byron, GA)
Blues at Sunrise: Stevie Ray Vaughn and Albert King 12-06-83 CHCN Studios, Hamilton, ON
Interview with Eric McFadden
Hour six:
D's Diner: Eric McFadden, Les Claypool, Paulo Baldi (2007 The Independent, SF, CA)
I'm A Howlin' Wolf: Muddy Waters (11-04-76 Blues & Jazz Festival Geneva, Switzerland)
Trouble No More: Junior Wells and Buddy Guy 12-03-85 Dingwalls, London, England
Waiting For The Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago: ZZ Top (04-19-80 Grugahalle, Essen, Germany)
I'm Waiting For The Man: Lou Reed (12-26-72 KLIR, Hempstead, NY)
Redondo Beach: Patti Smith (01-30-76 The Roxy, LA, CA)
The Letter: Joe Cocker and The Grease Band (10-19-69 Fillmore West, SF, CA)
Let art be your guide and stream this show. Download this exhibition into your portfolio here. Or perhaps you wish to listen to all of my shows? Good choice. Go HERE!
It's rare that I have two guests in one night but tonight that's what it's all about. Long time listeners of my show know that I always enjoy supporting local artists, So tonight two local artists! In the first hour Julie Anderson of Altered Barbie is back once again to talk about the all Barbie exhibition happening at Shotwell 50 Gallery located at of all places 50 Shotwell in the Mission. If you haven't seen this you're really missing out. Just picture it, hundreds of Barbie dolls all altered for your perverse delight. It's truly a wonder of nature. The gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday noon to 7 PM, And Sundays noon to 5 PM. There is a poetry reading Thursday night and the closing gala is a week from Saturday, November 15th. Click on the link for more details.
Many of you may be aware that I used to MC Power Tool Drag Races at Ace Junkyard here in San Francisco. What you may not be aware of is that the landlord pulled the rug out from under Bill "The Junkman" Kennedy and closed the junkyard a few short years ago. Bill was a long time facilitator of the underground art scene here in the city, and Ace was the prime location for artists such as SRL, Life-Size Mouse Trap, Cyclecide, Seemen, and other metal obscurists to obtain those hard-to-find pieces which made their creations come to life. In the studio tonight filmmaker Yasi Mak talking about her documentary: Ace in the Hole, about Ace Junkyard and Bill "The Junkman" Kennedy. Bill is in the studio as well, telling great stories about his years at Ace. There is a Kickstarter campaign that ends today at 3PM to raise money to support the film. Please consider donating.
Channel Zero: Public Enemy
Wild and Free: Curtis Mayfield
Interview with Julie Anderson of Altered Barbie
Since You've Been Gone: James Brown
Interview with Julie Anderson of Altered Barbie
Lesson One: Stone Cold Boners
By Any Means Necessary: Steinski
The Art of Getting Jumped: Steinski
Watermelon Man: Herbie Hancock
Sunflower: East New York Ensemble de Music
Interview with Yasi Mak and Bill "The Junkman" Kennedy
Darkest Light: Lafayette Afro-Rock Band
Hands of Time: Perfect Circle
Rastaman Chant/Conquering Lion: Bob Marley (April 30, 1976 - Beacon Theater, NYC)
Feeling Alright: Joe Cocker (October 19, 1969 - Fillmore West, SF, CA)
It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry: Leon Russell (February 5, 1971 - Baarn, The Netherlands)
Stream the this forgotten masterpiece, HERE! Download your past, HERE! Listen into all my shows here, or just scroll down
Here's a show from February of 2014, that for some reason I neglected to post. What the hell is wrong with Hell? Anyway, just take a look at this amazing playlist? I was obviously in a folksy mood. This is PERFECT for your Saturday afternoon.
Up in Smoke: Cheech and Chong
Gut Feeling: Devo
Ain't That A Kick in the Head: Dean Martin
A Change is Gonna Come: The Gits
Satisfaction: Cat Power
Dragonfly: My Brightest Diamond
The Runaway: Danny O'Keefe
Chase the Blues Away: Tim Buckley
I'll Be Your Lover Too: Van Morrison
***Set of the Night***
Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings: Father John Misty
Love Fuzz: Ty Segall
Douchebags on Parade: Mudhoney
Fat Old Sun: Pink Floyd
Drown in my own Tears: Ray Charles
Sticks and Stones: Joe Cocker
Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again: Bob Dylan
Cocaine Blues: Johnny Cash
Graveyard Shift: Uncle Tupelo
I Want to be your Dog: Uncle Tupelo
Tiger Mountain Peasant Song (Fleet Foxes cover): First Aid Kit
Time Has Told Me: Nick Drake
The Step and the Walk: The Duke Spirit
You Can't Catch Me: Chuck Berry
B Movie Boxcar Blues/Flip Flop and Fly: Blues Brothers
