Hell's Kitchen Radio #561: Set The Knight On Fire

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I think I'm finally getting a handle on this radio thing. I mean how hard can it be? 

I had a recurring dream about dead air. And what DJ hasn't had that dream? It's the worst! A song is quickly ending and I have nothing cued up. In reality I am the king of the last second cue. It's happened too many times to count.

That being said, 90% of the time I have many songs cued and ready to go. In my earliest days of radio I was trained to have a safety track ready just in case a song ends and I have nothing else set. At Radio Valencia we have two turntable, two CD players, and two aux cords, which most hosts use for their laptops. I use the Mixxx app with four channels. This means at any one time I can have eight songs ready to play.

There really is no excuse for dead air. 

I spent a couple years at KALX leading up to COVID. I recall heading into the studio one night. I had a graveyard shift that I thought was running 1-3am. I was told to arrive at midnight to cover a pre-recorded show, just to be told by a staffer who was there when I arrived that my show actually starts at midnight and not 1am. It was about 11:57 at that time. I calmly seated myself, cued up a song and started the show. 

The young staffer was anxious about me not being able to start on time. When I did she noted how calm I was about the whole thing. This is what experience gets you. Just chill out and drop the needle. 

As for this show I dropped the needle on some killer tracks by amazing artists. 

I quickly pay tribute to the late David Johansen of the New York Dolls who passed away last week. I was lucky to see a late version of the NY Dolls in Washington DC in 2008. It was Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain backed by a young rhythm section, but they were incredible!

I saw some incredible modern country/western at The Ivy Room last week with local guitarist and singer Mitch Polzak, and Portland's Jenny Don't and the Spurs were in town. That was one helluva show! I spoke to Mitch after his set and he listens to Radio Valencia! Thanks Mitch. What a pleasure. I'm going to have him on my show soon. I also got to speak to Jenny Don't after her set. She was kind enough to record a station promo for me as well. What a doll! Both bands are incredible. I strongly encourage you to check them out when they hit your town.

As always there's lots of new music tonight. Check out Ty Segall's new side project Freckle. Ambrose Kenny-Smith of King Gizzard also has a new side project that I was happy to get recently. New Population 11, Lambrini Girls (I'm really loving this band), and KnightressM1 featuring metal violinist Emily Palen now living in Paris. I miss my friend, but luckily she's continuing to record incredible music to share with the world.

I bought a bunch of records over the past week so tune in Monday to hear where John Hell's paycheck goes.

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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Trash: New York Dolls
Hate The Police: The Dicks
Twilight (Elliot Smith cover): Barbara Manning

Lonesome, On'ry and Mean: Mitch Polzak

Judgement Day: Jack O'Fire

Gimme A Penny: Big Mama Thornton

Swordfishtrombones: Tom Waits

Sun Rise: Rolf Harris
Steal Softly Through The Snow: Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band

Chinese New Year: Mulatu Astatke and The Heliocentrics

One More Night: Jenny Don't and the Spurs

Louie Louie: Thee Headcoats

Dark Horse: LA Witch
Shameless Imposter: Terry Gross
Anlatmam Derdimi: Altin Gün
Let Me Be Your Ragdoll: Barbara Dane

Who's Sitting on the Moon: Freckle

TV Glotzer (White Punks on Dope): Nina Hagen

Axis: KnightressM1

1970: Boris

No Home: Lambrini Girls

The Gloater: GUM, Ambrose Kenny-Smith

The Wheel: King Tuff

Le The Est Pret: Population II

From The First Hello To The Last Goodbye: Jane Morgan and the 450 Collegians

Hell's Kitchen Radio #465: We Love You EB

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Well my dear friend Eric "EB" Brown passed away on Monday morning. What a dear man he was. Always ready with a smile and a quick retort. I appreciated him in more ways than I can count. I'll miss you, dear friend. My heart goes out to your wonderful wife, Cat, and your entire family. My heart also goes out to our large circle of friends, who have lost countless lives over the past decade. 

Fuck cancer. 

Do you ever think about how you're going to die? I think I'm going to be stabbed to death. Isn't that a lovely thought? I've thought about this more times than I care to admit; almost always when I'm walking in a compromised neighborhood, late at night. "Will I make it out of here alive" is usually the question I ask myself. So far, so good. 

Don't be so nihilistic, Mr. Hell.

I have no death wish. I would love to be happy and healthy deep into my senior years. I want to see my kids grow up, reaching their dreams, or at least finding stability. That would be nice. And there's too much music to enjoy. I need to be spinning records for a few more decades, thank you very much.

But when I think about who we've lost, I fairly confident these very active and creative people also wanted to keep engaging and producing for many more years. They didn't ask for this. And they fought against it, tooth and nail. 

Fuck cancer.

I think about what Jerry Garcia said about how he was going to live this life: "I choose fun". He died young, only 53. And he died with a smile on his face. Of course it was the drugs and diabetes that did him in. Luckily I have no drug addiction, and I'm healthier than I've been in many many years. 

I'm reminded what Miles Davis said about drugs: "When you're rich, cocaine ain't a habit." Thanks Miles. 

This show wasn't meant to turn into a memorial, but many of the songs have that flavor. New music from Eric McFadden, Death Valley Girls, Le Butcherettes, Brigid Dawson, JD Pinkus, Pedro Connect, and red Fang.

Thanks as always for your support. We honestly couldn't do what we do if it wasn't for the monthly dues from our station volunteers, and it's not enough to keep us afloat. We're going to start an online fundraiser soon, letting you know what we need and how much it's going to cost. Anything you can send our way is appreciated. Click on the PayPal link below to help out your favorite San Francisco community radio station.

Enjoy and please share.

Oh, and fuck cancer.

jh

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

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Eagles Over America: ShitKit
Ballad of Dwight Fry: Eric McFadden

Sun Goddess: Earth Wind and Fire (For EB)

Dread Lion: The Upsetters

When I'm Free: Death Valley Girls

Alone and Stoned: King Tuff

Ra Wah Wah: Psychic Ills

Heartbreak Jazz: Brigid Dawson and the Mother's Network

Hummingbird: Bob Seger

Fungus Shui: JD Pinkus
Across the Universe: The Space Lady

The Universe: Le Butcherettes

Pedro: The Toulon - Pedro Connect

Last Of His Kind: Neil Young

Parchman Farm: John Mayall with Eric Clapton

Kicked Out: Dead Moon

Unreal Estate: Red Fang

Hell's Kitchen Radio #394: Live From Hell's Lounge

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WOW, this show sucked. And let me tell you why.

I had this grand idea to stream from my backyard, where we have new patio furniture. I thought, how fun is this? I get to chill out in Hell's Lounge and play my favorite music just for you. But it didn't take into consideration a few things:

1. My neighbors can hear everything I'm saying on my show, and they think I'm talking to them and keep asking me what I'm doing.
2. The mosquitoes want to be in on the act. OUCH!
3. It got dark and I have poor lighting out there.
4. It took me 10 minutes and three tries to connect to our server and it dropped me about 30 minutes into the show, the moment I went inside to grab an extension cord.
5. My external hard drive was on its last legs and any sudden micro-movements would disconnect it, leaving me with dead air. 
1. It turns out that it was a combination of a dying hard drive AND a dying USB port.

I sure wanted to enjoy this show. The playlist is diverse and dynamic, but alas the mic breaks are lame. 

Seriously though take a look at that playlist. Damn. 

My upcoming show is all about revolution. You really should tune in wearing all black.

Try to enjoy.

jh

PS: I purchased a new WD 5TB hard drive last week. Everything is transferred over and ready to rock! 

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
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Let's Start: Fela Ransome-Kuti And The Africa '70 With Ginger Baker *Not on the broadcast
Zombi: Fela Kuti *Not on the broadcast

Always Flying: Thee Oh Sees
Fucked Up Motherfucker: Ty Segall
Fell In Love With A Girl: White Stripes with Steven McDonald

Paint It Black: The Avengers
If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up: Betty Davis
Jack the Stipper/Fairies Wear Boots: Black Sabbath

Something I Learned Today: Husker Du
River Deep Mountain High: Tina Turner
Get Down Moses: Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros

I'm Free: King Tuff
El Fugitivo: Grupo Fantasma
Black Heath: Melvins
Their Helicopters Sing: Godspeed You, Black Emperor!
Run Run Run: Velvet Underground

Terraplane Blues: Robert Johnson
Nowadays A Woman Gotta Hit A Man: Captain Beefheart
Earache My Eye: Alice Bowie

I Ain't Marchin' Anymore: Phil Ochs
The Fish Cheer: Country Joe and the Fish
Keep On Keepin' On: Curtis Mayfield

Aliens: Dr. Octogon
I Ain't New To This: Ice T
Rapp Snitch Knishes: MF Doom

Hell's Kitchen Radio #372: Revolting Chihuahua

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This is embarrassing. I haven't posted a show in months!!! What you must think of me. The setlist sure looks good. I have no idea what the hell I was talking about, but it was summer, so I'm hoping my spirits were high.

Take a listen and comment.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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In Heaven There Is No Beer: Polkacide
Louie Louie: The Sonics
Chow: Hepa/Titus

Control: Amyl and the Sniffers
I Have A Radio: David Lynch

Tattooed Love Boys: Melvins/Shitkid
Theme: PIL
Gobbing on Life: Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias
Mean Disposition: Muddy Waters

Punk Fucking Metal: Zig Zags
Hey Brother Roll A Joint: Three Stoned Men
Your Ass Is Next In Line: The Mummies
Black Moon Spell: King Tuff
Grinder Man: John Lee Hooker

Multiple Tracks: Melt Banana (October 3, 2001 John Peel Session)
Four Women: Nina Simone (July 13, 1990 Montreux Jazz Festival, Casino, Montreux, Switzerland)
Chainsaw/Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue/We're A Happy Family: The Ramones (January 24, 1979 NEW ORLEANS, LA @ OLE MAN RIVERS)

My Favorite Things: John Coltrane (November 4, 1963 Liederhalle, Stuttgart)

What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

Hell's Kitchen Radio #370: DLBs Represent!

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Not your average show this week. I welcomed two fabulous friends, Chel and Mel into Hell's Kitchen to share stories from their "Dirty Little Bitch" days. Before you get offended, you should really give it a listen. The future is female!!! Indeed.

I've known these two for quite a while, so I'll admit we get a little roommate radioish at times. Deal with it; the stories are good.

As for the music, it's what you have come to expect, which I hope is to expect the unexpected. My, how cliche of me.

As James Brown said "Get Up, Get On Up!"

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Get Up Get Into Get Involved: James Brown
Lesson One: Stone Cold Boners

The Wizard: Brown Sabbath
Wiggle Stick: Reverend Horton Heat
Little Bird: Jenny Lewis

Raindrop Blue: King Tuff
Congo Call: Prince Lasha and Sonny Simmons
You Shouldn't Do That: Hawkwind

Ashes Ashes: Eric McFadden
Saviour Machine: Redd Kross
Orgasm Addict: Buzzcocks
Do You Take This Man: Diamanda Galas

Black Sabbath Meets The Temptations
Jesus Was Way Cool: King Missile
I Call My Baby Pussycat: Parliament
Moon Bog: Oh Sees
Mademoiselle Mabry: Miles Davis

What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

Hell's Kitchen Radio #353: I Can Taste It

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It's December so it's time for my obligatory BEST of show...kinda. If anything it's a chance to play great music! And isn't that why you tune in week after week? You do tune in, don't you? That's interesting. I just realized that I asked "don't you", and not "do not you". Huh.

My show isn't all about 2018 music, however. Just take a gander at the playlist below and you'll note the diversity in the sets. Yes folks, we here at Radio Valencia believe the only good radio is diverse radio. Why I play all kinds of diverse genres: metal, heavy metal, death metal, speed metal, stoner metal, and doom metal. Don't be fooled by our competitors, they only program to the lowest common denominator. We have discovered a way to much much lower.

That being said, there was a lot of great music in 2018. Albums by King Tuff, Oh Sees, Mudhoney, Sleep, and of course a few by Ty Segall, are just a glimpse into what was another stellar year for the indie rock/garage scene.

I encourage you to tune in to Radio Valencia throughout the rest of 2018 for more Best of shows from some of the finest DJs west of East Orange, New Jersey.

I'm taking the next two weeks off to celebrate family and friends. I suggest you do the same. I'll be scheduling some of my favorite Hell's Kitchen Radio programs to play in my absence. I encourage you to have it playing in the background during your family celebrations. I'm available for Bar Mitzvah's too!

Happy Holidaze to you and yours from me, and all of us at Radio Valencia. See you in 2019!

jh

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

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Why Can't I Touch It: Buzzcocks
The White Man's Got A God Complex: Last Poets
Inner City Blues: Grover Washington Jr.

Birds of Paradise: King Tuff
Keep on Knockin': Death
No Air: Red Fang
Drown in my own Tears: Ray Charles

Moon Bog: Oh Sees
Motion Pictures: Neil Young
By The Time I Get To Arizona: Brownout

My Wild Sweet Love: First Aid Kit
Isolation: John Lennon
Low Rider: Ty Segall

21st Century Pharisees: Mudhoney
Devil Woman: Charles Mingus

Hillbilly Math: Dale Crover Band

Lady in the Front Row: Redd Kross
Staring at the Sun: Wooden Shjips
The Big Gundown: Ennio Morricone

Pre Strike Sweep: Goggs
Marijuanaut's Theme: Sleep

Teardrops From My Eyes: Ray Condo

Hell's Kitchen Radio #347: Distracted By Your Charms

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Sometimes when I'm hosting my show in the studio it actually feels like you are right there with me. I feel like I'm talking directly to you! I see you on the couch across from the console, watching me watching you, and I get excited to share my music with you, right then, right there.

That's how it felt on Monday night.

Starting off with the some contemporary genius' of the garage/punk world: Thee Oh Sees and Ty Segall, both live from The Chapel in SF. These two tracks, back-to-back show you me current mood: kinetic and frenetic. I've got a lot of energy to shed and share.

Throughout the night it's a mix of old and new, punk, funk and junk. You know, just as always. And only two cover tunes this week!

I was considering hosting a power trio special, but I want to take a few more weeks to prepare. Stay tuned. I'm also reminded that November is coming, which means my 8th annual Annual Annual is right around the corner. Which year should I focus on this time around. If you want to see my previous Annual Annual shows take a look here. Scroll down that page and find the links you seek.

In the meantime I'm just going to relax and picture you on the couch in front of the console doing lovely and nasty things to yourself as I play DJ.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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I Come From the Mountain: Thee Oh Sees
Feel: Ty Segall
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: Gil Scott-Heron

Rave Down: Swervedriver
Emmaline: Urge Overkill
Goodbye: Emmylou Harris

Helter Stupid: Negativland

Semi Crazy: Junior Brown
Birds of Paradise: King Tuff
Unfinished Instrumental: Parliament
I Don't Want To Pray: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Jesus Was Way Cool: King Missile
Higgs Boson Blues: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Step Right Up: Tom Waits

The Wizard: Brown Sabbath
Portland, Oregon: Loretta Lynn
If I'm Lucky I Might Get Picked Up: Betty Davis

Trickle Down System: Giant Sand
Sun Cycle: Blue Cheer

I Want To Talk About It Now: Bongwater
Happy Boy: Beat Farmers

Hell's Kitchen Radio #346: Why I Do What I Do

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How old were you when you fell in love with music? Do you remember your first love? Who was it? The Beatles? Sinatra? Led Zeppelin? Patsy Cline? Who spoke to you? What did they say? Why did it resonate so deeply?

When I was eight years old in 1978, my aunt bought me four KISS LPs: Rock and Roll Over, Love Gun, Alive 2, and Double Platinum. I was hooked from the first grunt. I couldn't get enough of the imagery and the riffs. And yes, I fantasized that I was Peter Criss singing "Beth" to my imaginary girlfriend. I joined the KISS Army, dressed as either Gene Simmons or Paul Stanley for consecutive Halloween's, and overjoyed when I found a discarded copy of Destroyer laying on the street, still in playable condition (playable for a ten year old, anyway). I had posters that covered my walls, and like all of my friends, strongly anticipated the broadcast of "KISS Meets the Phantom Of The Park".

They are the first band that I wanted to know everything about. Where they were from? What they did before they were a band (Gene Simmons was a school teacher!!!)? Why they chose KISS as a band name? Why they didn't stick with Wicked Lester? Of course everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of them out of makeup. But I could not hide my disappointment when they decided to ditch the makeup altogether in 1983. What the hell was that all about? Even before the unmasking, the band had moved so far away from their riff-centric rock, full of stories about partying down and getting the girl, and I had discovered another band that would hold my attention, and continues to do so.

When I was 8 or 9, around 1978 or 1979, I was introduced to The Beatles. I was floored. I jumped ship a year or two later from KISS to the Fab Four, and honestly I felt like I was breaking up with someone. I didn't know at that tender age that I was allowed to have more than one favorite band. Shortly thereafter I added Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead to my ever-growing list of faves. After that the flood gates were open. I started buying my own records when I was 13, and my collection grew by leaps and bounds.

Though much of my record library consisted of what would be "classic rock" by today's standards, I was really proud of what I had amassed in just a few short years. It wasn't just quantity in my mind, it was quality too. I joined KFJC in late 1988 and tired very quickly of what was sitting, collecting dust, in my own library. I hungered for more. More genres, more obscure artists, more "classics" waiting to be discovered. In 2010 I purged about 5000 LPs that were taking up too much space in my home and my psyche. Most of this music could be heard on any commercial radio station anyway, so why would I hold onto it all? What I kept (about 1000 LPs) and what I continue to purchase is inspired by my time in non-commercial radio and local artists.

There are too many musical gems waiting to be encountered by the masses. I continue to be involved in radio to share my discoveries with you. Take a look at the playlist below, and all of my playlists. Much of what you see, you have never heard before. Give it a listen. If I play it that means I like it enough to want to share it with you. Hopefully you will like it enough to support that artist. Buy their music. See them live.

Enjoy...I know I do.

jh

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

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When You Get It Grunt If You Can: The JBs

Researching the Blues: Redd Kross

Chicken A La King/Bad Move: Dale Crover

Love How In Love With Love You Are: Adam Mackintosh with Storm Large

I Shot All The Birds: Blind Shake

Apache: Link Wray

Come On Over, Turn Me On: Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan

Psycho Star: King Tuff

You Are What You Love: Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins

Feel: Ty Segall

Otis Rush Tribute (1935-2018)

I Can't Quit You, Babe: Otis Rush

Double Trouble: Otis Rush

Little Red Rooster: Otis Rush

Southern Politician: Willy Deville

Am I Black Enough For Ya: Schoolly-D

Round and Round: OP8

Lord of Lightening: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

Revolution Blues: Neil Young and Crazy Horse

Please Mr. Gunman: Mudhoney

Some Velvet Morning: Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra

Roscoe: Midlake

Pent Juri Hati: Koes Barat

This is my favorite scene from Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park. That Paul Stanley is a real thespian.

Hell's Kitchen Radio #284: No One Ever Listens

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Thanks for tuning in every Monday night at 8. I never mention this on the blog, but it's always fun to chat folks up during my show, so please if you're listening take a second to say hi on the Radio Valencia Chatterbox, or if you're a FB friend, then on there.

Another show, another tribute. What's up with this friggin' year? I have done more tributes in this single solitary year than in my first 25+ years in radio, combined! Greg Lake of King Crimson and Emerson, Lake and Palmer fame passed from cancer at the age of 69 last weekend. Best known for his days as bassist/vocalist for ELP, he was also a co-founder of the seminal prog-rock band King Crimson, where he performed on the first record and toured for their first two LPs before going on to start ELP alongside the late great Keith Emerson, who died in March of this year, and Carl Palmer who still has a few weeks left before something horrible happens to him. ugh

Much of the first hour is actually down right danceable. There are some seriously funky-ass tracks in here. Do me a favor and get your groove on until it's too late.

The second hour features a dive into my live music vault. And what a vault it is. You know, when I started doing the community radio thing a while back I committed to playing an hour of live music each week. I've sort of slacked off on that one, and for good reason. There are so many great releases I want to play with you week in and week out that the live music thing has had to take a back seat. Well not tonight. Take a look at the second half of the playlist and you can see that it's all over the damn place, and worth every second of your precious time.

I know the world has totally sucked this year. Who will it take next? Alan Thicke? Meredith Baxter (formerly Meredith Baxter-Bernie)? The election will still be with us. Syria will still be with us. Your job will still be with us...er, you. Maybe we just need to put some of this aside and enjoy the music for a little while.

enjoy.

jh

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

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Winter in America: Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson
Power to the People: Curtis Mayfield

I'm So Bored with the USA: The Clash
The Candidate: Urge Overkill
Smokin' Cheeba Cheeba: George Benson

The Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson
Black Enough: The Pharaohs
Home Affairs: Osibisa
Since You've Been Gone: James Brown

Dip Stick: The Perfect Circle
Tidal Wave: Thee Oh Sees (Live at The Chapel, SF, CA - 2015)
She's On Fire: King Tuff (Live at Pickathon - 2013)
You Got It: Mudhoney (2001-01-13, Knitting Factory, LA, CA)

I've Been Loving You Too Long: Otis Redding (1966-04-10 Whiskey A-Go-Go, Hollywood, CA)
Toussaint L'Overture: Santana (1973-02-26, The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA)

Dance to the Music: Sly and the Family Stone (1970-10-09, Piknik Kasteel Groeneveld Baarn)
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed: The Allman Brothers Band (1971-03-13 Fillmore East, NYC)

Waiting for the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago: ZZ Top (1980-04-15 Pine Knob, Clarkston, MI)
Big Chief: The Meters (1976-10-01 The Kingfish Lounge, Baton Rouge, LA)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #257: John Is Going To Hell

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From last Monday night: "This is it! My very last show. I'm having knee surgery on Wednesday and I may not make it back alive. This is your very last chance to hear my voice LIVE on the radio."

So it appears that I made it through the surgery, and I'm alive to tell the tale. Not much of a tale to tell. I have a new ACL, a cleaned up meniscus, and I'm laid up on the couch on lots of meds, healing, listening to music, reading books, watching movies, including the Zappa Roxy film. DAMN! I'm on lots of meds. Did I mention that? I can't recall. I also can't see very well because of said meds, so I don't know if there are any typos. I'm happy I know how to type when I'm not on meds. This may help the current situation. When I was in grocery I used to 10-key like a mo-fo! Seriously, I was the fastest one on the line. I was like a blur. I would talk to customers while I rang them up, and they would be all nervous that I would accidentally charge them the incorrect price for something. I assured them that everything would be spot on, and if it wasn't then I would purchase them a tin of Altoids. I was never off, ever!

The meds also make me stray off topic.

Since last Monday was going to possibly be my final radio show, I pulled out many, but not quite all the stops. Much of the playlist for the night was my typical favorite fair. There are some surprises within, that I didn't mark down. And the witty banter is worth the price of the free admission.

If you are ever in a place where you believe that you are soon going to pass away off this mortal coil, then I encourage you to pull out all (or most) of your favorite anything and enjoy it to the very end. Now that I'm healing, on my couch, on lots of meds (did I mention the meds), it's all about the music and films and books that I get to enjoy. It's about taking a breath, and realizing that we really only do live once, so we better live it up, or get busy dying. We don't often get the opportunity to sit on our asses as prescribed by our doctor. So, when you do have those rare moments, take full advantage of them. Enjoy the arts like you haven't done before, reach out to family and friends and let them know you care, meditate, stare out the window into the wild world, and look forward to eventually rejoining that space, but do it with your newly found appreciation of what it means to take that well-deserved, if not prescribed time off.

Back to healing. Did I mention the meds?

Enjoy.

jh

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

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In The Flesh: Pink Floyd
God of Thunder (DEMO): Kiss
High Roller: Cheap Trick

Chocolate Jesus: Tom Waits
Mercy Seat: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Mudride: Mudhoney
1970: The Stooges

Block of Ice: Thee Oh Sees
Jack the Maggot: FUZZ
Rollin and Tumblin': Baby Face Leroy Trio

Bring It On Home: Sonnyboy Williamson
Headbanger: King Tuff
I'm In Your Mindfuzz: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

***SET OF THE WEEK***
Bang Bang: Nancy Sinatra
Jump In Line: Harry Belefonte
Lexicon Devil: Germs
Happy Boy: The Beat Farmers
Sonic Reducer: Dead Boys

She Belongs To Me: The Nice
Interstellar Overdrive: The Melvins

Yatzar: John Zorn's Electric Masada

ACDC: Sweet
Magic: Zig Zags

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