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.
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I had a conversation with a friend online recently, who was listening to a previous show of mine. She commented that it felt like I was speaking directly to her when I said that you may not be listening live, but perhaps somewhere in a distant time?
It's true, you know? I often imagine you listening to these shows many decades (or centuries?) into the future. Once it's out there, it's out there forever. Every word I have spoken, every song I have played. It's all there. I was about to type "do anything you want with it. It's not mine anymore". But then I got to thinking about this world of ours where intellectual copyright and identity theft is a real thing. So go ahead and listen to these old shows, and my comments from those times, but do take it all in context, ok? Thanks.
I also know that my two darling children will possibly read these posts and listen back to my old shows. Anything's possible, right?
Not a lot of new music tonight. Ty Segall has a new release on the horizon: "Three Bells", and I have something off of that. New Beatles. Yes, you heard that right. And it's pretty good. The video almost brought me to tears.
I'm heading to Bottom of the Hill Saturday night to see Radio Valencia's DJ Doug in his quartet 9 Dog Dick. It's their album release party. The headliner is St. Louis' Drunks With Guns. They're loud and the rock! I played them in the second hour tonight. Come on down and rock out with me.
As always, there's something for everyone here, as long as you enjoy 60s psych, 70s soul-jazz, 00s South-Asian garage-revival, 00s subversive hiphop, prog-metal and more.
Have fun and share.
jh
Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Pacific Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
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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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Another winner of a broadcast for this week. I think I'm finally getting the hang of this. Lots of tasty library choices on this night. For you not used to the library lingo, "library" means older releases. Some older tunes, some afro-funk, stoner-rock, alt-country, live Iggy and live Dead! What else could you ask for? A few long jams? Sure, I've got that in the show as well. Some jazz and blues? Why not?! Some prog-rock and English punk? Ok, if you say so.
Happy Forfa to all of you. Please celebrate responsibly as you blow up a little bit of our nation, and perhaps a small part of your body.
See you Monday night at 8.
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
Lauson spent the night in Hell's Kitchen this past Monday night and was more than her usual kooky self. Little Lauson Hell is about to enter 8th grade and I'm not really certain how I feel about all this growing up stuff. She knows that when it comes to the playlist to make make her choices a wee bit more left of maintstream. That being said, she's her father's daughter: she just knows what she likes. Almost all of her selections (designated by "L") are fairly outside the norm of what a 12 year old probably listens to. Does your kid flip for Nina Simone?
Some new music from Ty Segall from an oddly digital-only release (where's the vinyl, Ty?), and Dale Crover has graced us with what he claims is his first full-length solo effort, Fickle Finger of Fate, but I consider the classic Kiss-style Melvins solo EP of his to be his real first solo release. Whatever. Speaking of the Melvins, their documentary, Colossus of Destiny is now out on DVD and Blu-Ray and we're all better for it. I saw the film at a s showing at the Swedish-American Hall in SF last Fall and the boys performed an acoustic set and did a Q&A following the film. It's chock full of great interviews and music. Check it out!
I've got way too much music to share with you this coming Monday night. Two hours really isn't enough time, but it'll have to do. See you on the "radio".
If you care to check out the previous shows featuring Little Lauson Hell check out the links below:
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Did you know that I am hip with the progressive political crowd here in San Francisco? It's true. Case in point, my guest tonight was not other than San Francisco's District 11 supervisor, John Avalos. John has been on my show before as have a few other County supervisors, and mayors. Tonight John spoke about his proposed Bike Yield Law, lowering the voting age to 16, and affordable housing.
He also spoke quite a bit about the history of our current mayor, And his thoughts about the backroom dealings here in San Francisco. You might find out of interest.
Take a look at the playlist below. John offered number of tunes that he brought with him, which she believed to be apropos for the evening.
My birthday was last week. None of you send me chocolate. You're all fired.
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We're half way through the year, so how about we check in with the great music we've heard so far in 2015? Tonight's show is all about new releases, and a few re-issues that caught my eye. Check out the amazing Hawkwind cut in the second hour. New music from LA bands Wand, Thee Oh Sees and Ty Segall, as well as some sizzling tracks from Bay Area groups Rin Tin Tiger, Tiger Honey Pot and Queen Crescent.
If you like what you hear, then go out and support these bands by purchasing their vinyl or MP3s. And for Christ's sake, go see them live!!!
And continuing with my celebration of the 50th birthday of the good ol' Grateful Dead, there's a sweet treat at the end of the show for you. Check out the playlist below, and please share with your music-loving friends.
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After one week off, and spending time on the humidity East Coast, I am back in the saddle for two hours of heatseeking musical entertainment for your ear holes.
In the first hour I interviewed Dan Menapace, bassist for local prog-metal group Illogistical Resource Department. They have their second release out, "Transmission Cinema". Expect great thing from this veteran three-piece.
The second hour is chock full of craziness. Some recent releases, and some from my vast and deep library. Take a look at the playlist below.
Tonight I have Robin Coomer of Loop!Station and Shake Well on my show. She's funny, artistic, creative, and has a great face for radio. Tune in 8-10 on Radio Valencia.
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Some nights I'm not super inspired when I walk into the studio. That doesn't mean I don't want to be on the air. Au contraire, there's nothing I love more. It's more like, I have a ton of music and I'm not certain exactly what I'm going to play and when I'm going to play it. It's a first world problem.
Yesterday was James Brown's birthday, so it was apropos that I threw on some live JB in there. Also it was the third anniversary of the passing of Adam "MCA" Yauch of the Beastie Boys. I cannot believe that it's been three years already. Really, that's just crazy.
