Hell's Kitchen Radio #537: Fighting For A Medal

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Have you been enjoying the Olympics as much as I have? 

I am curious though about some of the track and field events. Who wakes up in the morning and decides they are going to put themselves on the world map by throwing the shotput? I'm just curious. In my younger concert-going days (I still go to a lot of live shows) there were moments when the music moved me to jump quite a bit. More pogoing than anything. I could catch quite a bit of air. Maybe I missed my calling?

Either way, the Olympics has been brilliant and a real highlight of my summer break. 

Doing a radio show at a free form station is like a participating in some kind of competitive sport. There's always this need to one up another DJ when it comes to obscure artists. 

I went to the "Art of Noise" exhibit at the SF MOMA a week ago with three KFJC alumni: Dominic Trix, Mark Dharms, and Claud Maul. It is an incredible show, and I encourage you all to go if you live in the Bay Area. At lunch, before we went to the museum, much of the talk was about music, of course. And it was hilarious the obscure artists we brought up. Such is the life in competitive DJing.

As for this show you are about to enjoy (I enjoyed bringing it to you), there are a few spotlights in there. I start off with a tribute to MCA from the Beastie Boys, follow it up with a John Mayal tribute, and then I focus on King Buzzo and Trevor Dunn who I saw at the Chapel last Tuesday night, by playing Buzzo and Dunn-related tunes. 

There is a method to my madness after all.

Where's my medal?!

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

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Darkest Light: Lafayette Afro Rock Band
Live at PJs: Beastie Boys

Loren's Dance: Idris Muhammad
All Your Love: John Mahal and His Bluesbreakers (ft. Eric Clapton)

Got To Better In A Little While: Derek and the Dominos
Heavy Music: Bob Seger

Six Pack: King Buzzo with Trevor Dunn
Let Me Roll It: Melvins
Book 1, Page 4: Fantomas

Eracist: Mr. Bungle
You Look Funny When You Cry: JD Pinkus
I'll Take Your Word For It: Redd Kross

Bean Fields: Shannon and the Clams
Rock n Roll McDonalds: Wesley Willis
Ha Ha Ha: Flipper
The Lady Loves Me: Elvis Presley and Ann Margaret

String Along: Heavy Blanket
Side Two (Themes 2): Psychic TV
Find Me A Woman: John Lee Hooker

Pontiac Blues: Sonnyboy Williamson with the Yardbords
My Way: Elvis Presley

Hell's Kitchen Radio #521: Subscribe Your Soul

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All of this, and I do mean every single, solitary inch of this is a scam. A swindle. A flim flam. You've been had. Grifted. You're a rube. 

Aren't we all?

What are you going to do about it? Just keep scrolling. Nothing to see here.

Monday night was all about pulling a fast one. I started out with some Bay Area punk, leading into a Pinkus-related set that was unintentional, but I really pulled it off. 

With the closing of Mutiny radio, we're bringing on a few new shows. I was happy to have Sean and the Archivist in the studio with me. Sean took on a set of his own (I marked those tunes with a "S"). I spoke to them both about their time at Mutiny and what we're to expect once they join the Radio Valencia family. 

I was once a part of the Pirate Cat community, and I even was instrumental in building their studio on 21st and Florida. I left that station (most do once Monkey gets tired of you), and eventually started Radio Valencia. Monkey left Pirate Cat and comedian Pam Benjamin took over, calling it Mutiny Radio. I prefer to think of other stations as part of the great community network of stations, so it's sad to see them go. I understand you can still hear the live stand up shows Pam is hosting on their site.

In the meantime, let's welcome these new shows. I could not be more excited for the programming happening at Radio Valencia in 2024.

And that's no joke.

Enjoy.

jh 

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

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Sugar Magnolia: Pop O Pie
The Sight and the Sound: Flipper
The Ninth Wave: The Ventures

Whiskey Woman: The Flamin' Goovies
Amazing Grace: Scott H Biram
Woke Up Dead: JD Pinkus

Deezy: Honky
Casino: Altamont
Captain Comedown: Melvins
Housing, Luxury, Energy: King Buzzo

Grizzly Adams/Anarchy Up Your Ass: Mr. Bungle
Drive Fast, Take Chances: Acid King
Sky Saw: Brian Eno - S
Needle in the Hay: Elliot Smith - S

Leipzig: Thomas Dolby - S
Midnight Hour: Wilson Pickett - S
Breakin' Up: Fabulous Continentals
I Need Love: J Michael and the Bushman 
Snitch Baby: Thee Headcoats
Jezebel: The Mummies

Common Man: Negativland
Wouldn't You Miss Me: Syd Barrett

When Fate Deals Its Mortal Blow: The Scientists
You Got It: Mudhoney

Hell's Kitchen Radio #464: You Be The Fish To My Bone

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Fun show, Fun and eclectic setlist. There are times when I blindly choose my records, and play the "how will this sound together" game. It's hit and miss. Tonight was hit! I really had a lot of fun and I think it shows.

Radio Valencia is promoting a lot of co-presents at Bottom of the Hill these days, and Saturday, January 29th is going to be a real winner. Join us for Dr. Madd Vibe, featuring Angelo Moore of Fishbone. Eric McFadden in in support and local rockers Dizzy Twin is opening. I saw Eric and Angelo on Friday night at Ivy Room, and I could not stop dancing and laughing. What an amazing show!!! Tickets are still available.

I'll be you MC for this show, and rumor has it Angelo is hosting a mask making contest! Or something like this. This is a 20+ only show, vaccine proof required, and you MUST keep your mask on throughout the show (other than while you're drinking).

Now, on with the show.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

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Bee Karma: WAND
Verwandlung: Embryo

I Ain't Got A Home: Bob Dylan
Bird Animal: King Buzzo with Trevor Dunn
A Change is Gonna Come: The Gits

The N.W.R.A.: The Fall

Inner City Blues: Grover Washington Jr.

Tree Smoke: Kikagaku Moyo

Corpuscle Through Time: Heavy Blanket

The Circle Game: Joni Mitchell (with James Taylor) 

Saviour Machine: Redd Kross

The Anti-Heroine: Towanda

Party At Ground Zero: Fishbone

Bales of Cocaine: Reverend Horton Heat
My Sick Mind: The Roches

Spoonman: Melvins with Matt Cameron

Canerican: Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Down At The Rock Club: Richard Hell and the Voidoids

Moral Majority: Circle Jerks
Bottle Up And Go: John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat

Beautiful Stranger: Kevin Morby

Hell's Kitchen Radio #419: We Finally Made It To The End And All I Got Was This Lousy Virus

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The end is nigh. And what are your plans? Are you going to head out and revel with your friends, sans mask, giving hugs, kisses, high fives and COVID to each other, and your beloved Nana upon returning home? Good for you for removing yourself from the gene pool. Unfortunately, you're also risking others just to play around on amateur night. 

Stay home, watch a movie, drink a glass of bubbly (alcoholic or non), and head off to bed without anything to regret. We have next year, and all of our loved ones to consider.

Thanks in advance. 

This here is my year-end show. There's a bunch of my faves from 2020, but this isn't a "Best of..." show in the least. There's a bunch of other tunes tossed in from across the ages. In retrospect I really should have played "I Want To Be Sedated". Hmmmmm, just pretend I did, and click on the video link at the bottom.

Let's all just agree that 2020 was relatively bad for everyone around the world, and move on, shall we? I mean really now, a pandemic puts everything else into perspective. You had a bad year? Oh, I am so sorry. WE ALL HAD A BAD YEAR. Your year sucked extra special bad? WOW! You must really want to win some award. This show is for you then. And only you. 

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Little Drummer Boy: Lou Rawls
I Want To Be Evil: Eartha Kitt
Desolation Row (alternate take): Bob Dylan

Gate Crasher: Alice Bag
The Sun and its Horizon: Bill Orcutt
Laugh, Love, Fuck: The Coup

I'm Glad I Could Help Out: King Buzzo and Trevor Dunn
Tougher: Dale Crover
In The Pines: Fantastic Negrito
Abre Camino: Death Valley Girls

Badder Than Bullets: Tommy Guerrero
Wing Ruin: Oh Sees
Lock and Key: KnightressM1
Pull Up The People: MIA
Slavery Days: Burning Spear

Are You Glad To Be In America: James Blood Ulmer
Melvana: East New York Ensemble de Music
Cymbaline: Pink Floyd

Silver Machine: Hawkwind
Ride Your Pony: The Meters
Mr. Tamborine Man: William Shatner
The Hipster Be Bop Junkie: William S Burroughs

Auld Lange Syne: Bob Johnson and the Lonesome Travelers
I Bid You Goodnight: Joseph Spence & The Pinder Family

***Happy New Year to you and yours. Stay safe.***

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 #321: 7th Annual Annual Annual - 1992

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It's that time once again when I get to indulge my inner Dave Morey and focus my show on one special year. This is my seventh annual Annual Annual, and this year it's all about 1992. I turned 22 in late September and was deeply involved at KFJC as well as attending countless live shows around the Bay Area.

The club scene was really good to me too. South Bay spots like Marsugi's and One Step Beyond were regular hot spots for us KFJC folks. I also spent a lot time at The Stone in SF, Paradise Lounge, Above Broadway, Slims, um, er, my brain is hurting trying to remember all the places. I recall The Omni, 924 Gillman Street, Berkeley Square, and Freight and Salvage in the East Bay too. And of course many many Grateful Dead shows up and down the west coast. 1992 was a really fun year for me.

As for the music, the indie scene was at a peak since Nirvana went super duper platinum (is that a ranking?) the previous fall with Nevermind. Major labels were doing everything they could to swipe up the next big thing. Some really horrible knockoff bands were popping up on commercial radio during this time. Some things never change.

I was hosting the 6-10AM morning show on Wednesday's at KFJC. The music below feels like I took it straight from one of my playlists from that time. It's possible I did. Granted we weren't allowed, by FCC rules, to play any music with naughty language, so there are a few tracks on here that I would have loved to have played back then, but could not. Count yourself lucky for the advent of internet radio!

Take a walk down memory lane for the next two hours and enjoy 1992 like it never left us.

Check out previous Annual Annual specials here:

ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1971
ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1972
ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1973
ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1974
ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1975
ANNUAL ANNUAL - 2006

Enjoy.

jh

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

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I Say Fuck: Supersuckers

Spear and Magic Helmet: The Gits

Ghettos of the Mind: Pete Rock and CL Smooth

California Uber Alles: Disposable Heroes of Hiphopricy

Love American Style: Mr. T Experience

Professor Booty: Beastie Boys

I Ain't No Nice Guy: Motorhead

Papa Won't Leave You, Henry: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Skeeter: King Buzzo (Melvins solo EPs)

Suck My Left One: Bikini Kill

Everything's Ruined: Faith No More

Caliente: Supersuckers

Stranded on Death Row: Dr. Dre

Youth Against Fascism: Sonic Youth

Officer: The Pharcyde

Murder in the Red Barn: Tom Waits

Always Something: Yo La Tengo

Sweet Old World: Lucinda Williams

Summer Babe (Winter Version): Pavement

Living Wreck: Mudhoney

Sandusky: Uncle Tupelo

Your Ass Is Next In Line: The Mummies

Merry Muthafuckin' Xmas: Eazy-E

Have A Cigar: Primus

Time Will Tell: Black Crowes

I used to love seeing the Spit Muffins back in the early 90's. Check them out at Marsugi's back in 1992.

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 #178: Blame it on the Bourgeosie

It's time that we let the women speak. It's mostly women-fronted tunes tonight, and an interview with Elizabeth Simon of Bourgeois Productions Presents, talking up what it takes to be a serious business woman in the world of music promotions.

I'm a huge supporter of live local music, and Elizabeth Simon is deep in the heart of it. Her production company Bourgeois Productions Presents promote some of the biggest local acts in the Bay Area, performing at the best venues today. We talk about her history in the music business, her upcoming shows, and why her dog is destroying the pillow on the couch behind her, and what she's going to do about it. Which in the end was nothing at all.

Tune in for the fun, including me being verbally assaulted by her dog.

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Enjoy.

jh

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

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My Biggest Mistake: Joan of Arkansas
Dragonfly: My Brightest Diamond
Do You Take This Man: Diamanda Galas

Not A Pretty Princess Day: Kitten on the Keys
Sweeter: Loop!Station
Waitress Song: First Aid Kit

Interview with Elizabeth Simon of Bourgeoisie Productions Presents

Sink Like Stones: Rich Girls
Charity: Religious Girls

Interview with Elizabeth Simon of Bourgeoisie Productions Presents

Hiya Kaw Kaw: Happy Fangs
93,000,000 Miles: Major Powers and the Lo Fi Symphony

Interview with Elizabeth Simon of Bourgeoisie Productions Presents

Whites: All Your Sisters
Western Addition: Social Studies
Forget the Past:: dotpunto
Young People: Hungry Skinny

Interview with Elizabeth Simon of Bourgeoisie Productions Presents

Penetrating Eye: Thee Oh Sees
Garbage Man: Delphine de St. Paër
Out To Sea: Heartless Bastards

Vanilla: Boris
Pink Frost: The Chills
Everything's Easy For You: King Buzzo
4th of July: X

Wo Ist Zu Ha Mama: Johnny Cash