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.
I swear I didn't mean to play two shows from the same date a day following the anniversary. I really didn't realize this was happening when I chose them both. Obviously it's kismet.
First up is the great John Zorn and his Electric Masadaensemble. I cannot say enough great things about this group. There aren't enough adjectives to describe their brilliance. This is not your grandpappy's jazz. Instrumentation includes: sax, guitar, drums, percussion, electronics, bass and keyboards.
John Zorn often plays festivals with many of his groups. This festival, June 25 - 27, 2007 in Rome was broadcast live on RAI Radio Tre. This particular show is from the final day of Zorn-fest, June 27, 2007, fourteen years ago, Sunday. I edited out the Italian radio DJs commentary between a few tracks.
The second show tonight features the remarkable drummer Tony Williams along with rock guitar GOD, Ronnie Montrose: "The Battle Night", from June 27, 1978 in Tokyo, Japan. Legendary drummer Billy Cobham joins them on the final tune of the night. This is a stellar soundboard recording from this rare lineup.
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Do you have any idea how much I love you? I don't think you do. OK, perhaps I just lust for your ears. That being said, can you blame me? I have total and complete respect for you and your ears, and I would never maliciously put you in harms way. On the contrary, I hunger to care for you and to turn you on...to amazing music.
I also love tamales. What's not to love? Last week Virginia "Tamale Lady" Ramos passed away at the age of 65. I spent many a Friday and Saturday night enjoying TL's delicious tamales. She may have loved us all, but you didn't want to get on her bad side. I once saw her rip into some drunk asshole outside of Zeitgeist babbling incoherently in front of her. Seriously dude, do you have any idea how lucky you were to even get a whiff of her amazing fare? Tamale Lady, you will be sorely missed. Raise a tamale in tribute, tonight! Did you know that the remarkable local band Rube Waddell composed a song in her honor? It's true, they did. Now you know. Midway through the show I play this just for you. I cannot imagine any other radio show has done the same.
Music-wise you get another musically-diverse program, with a little something for everyone. Go ahead, take a chance on love...or lust, a lust for quality music. As for the DJ, I'm merely a conduit, a paintbrush for this two hour empty canvas, curated for your pleasure. And only nine covers tonight!
And it's all about your pleasure.
Enjoy.
jh
Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
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There were so many amazing sets tonight. For the past month or so I've been designating a "Set of the Week" to sets that have the type of character that stands out against the rest of the program. Tonight, I swear there must be at least three sets that I could have given the title to. It was that kind of night. Everything just made sense. Just take a look at the playlist below, and I think you'll agree.
Really, take a look at the Set of the Night™. It's all about T. Rex. First, there's the new LP release from Ty Segall "Ty Rex", which is all T. Rex covers Ty originally released on 7", with the addition of the track I played, for vinyl only. Hell yes! I follow that up with a John Zorn produced track from Zorn's "Great Jewish Composers" series on Marc Bolan. Finally I have to play some T. Rex. Do I play "Bang A Gong"? Fuck no! What radio station are you tuned into? Get your head out of your ass. No. I play "The Motivator" because it kicks serious ass! Now THAT is a quality set.
But later in the night I connected Black Sabbath to Primus. How did I do this? I know you're interested. Get this: The Butthole Surfers track I played, "Dum Dum", uses the exact same drum melody as "Children of the Grave" by Sabbath. I followed up the Buttholes with some Melvins, featuring Pinkus and Leary from the Buttholes, off of the 2015 Melvins "hold it in" release. But wait, it gets better! Dale Crover is the drummer from the Melvins (but you know that). He's also the guitarist/singer for Altamont! GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE! And Altamont is a local SF band, which leads to me playing the next four local bands: Rube Waddell from Oakland; The Mummies from San Mateo (where I went to high school, thank you very much, and saw The Mummies at Pony Express Pizza in Redwood City, when I was 16-18); SF's Polkacide, which if you haven't seen them then you just plain suck, and you know it. Give it up already. Really. Give it up. Finally, South Bay's Primus. They suck, but I still love them. I was at that Berkeley Square shows that turned into "Suck on This". Party. With. Me.
What a ride. If memory serves the banter was humorous at times, and I didn't stick around long enough to make you run away screaming.
There's some very early (1965) Pink Floyd near the end, and an isolated vocal track from a young and wild (though probably not nearly as wild as he would be following the electro shock treatments he received for skipping out on Vietnam) Roky Erickson.
That's probably more than you wanted to read, but aren't you happier for doing so? No? Thanks for being a friend. Can you feel the love? Just feel the love, already.
21st Century Schizoid Man: King Crimson
Starliner: Montrose
Easy Now: Hot Tuna (request)
Into the Sun: Grand Funk Railroad
Give Me Some Skin: James Brown
***Set of the Night***
20th Century Boy: Ty Segall
Children of the Revolution: Arto Lindsey and Marc Ribot
The Motivator: T Rex
Stay Away From Downtown: Redd Kross
Steppin' Out: John Mayal's Bluesbreakers (featuring Eric Clapton)
The Thrill is Gone: BB King
Rubber Biscuit: Blues Brothers
Spazz: The Elastic Band (request)
Baby Let Me Kiss You: King Floyd
Children of the Grave: Black Sabbath
Dum Dum: Butthole Surfers
Bride of Crankenstein: The Melvins
Young Man Blues: Altamont
Boom Boom: Rube Waddell
The Frisco Freeze: The Mummies
Glorious: Polkacide
John the Fisherman: Primus
Africa: Sun Ra
Double-O Bo: Pink Floyd
Below is a great and grimy commercial from Pony Express Pizza's Hair Metal Week. I'm so happy this place existed. We need more all-ages venues for the kids, today.
A couple of years ago I hit on the idea that it would be fun to host a show from 1971. It was an amazing year for rock and roll. Led Zeppelin IV, Sticky Fingers, Who's Next; the rock rolls on and on. Since doing that show in November 2011, I was encouraged to repeat the challenge for 1972 last year. Again, what an amazing year! So it looks like I've hit upon a regular annual feature for A Season in Hell. Last night was all about 1973!!!
When I started the research I was afraid it was going to be wimp rock. I'll be honest, I wasn't as into this one as I was 71 or 72. But upon careful research, from my very large, and very deep library of awesome-ness, I found that indeed, there are some unbelievable tunes coming from this year!
My Best of 2013 is coming up in a few weeks, and on Monday, December 16th, Rotten Ronnie Donovan and I are hosting Rock Fight 11!!!! This time it's all about the Rock Block!
This show is an epic journey. I think you're really going to enjoy this one.
Have fun.
Get into the time machine and stream this show here.
Download this trip down memory lane, here.
Check out my shows from 1971 and 1972, and all of my shows by going here, or just scroll down.
A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Well, here it is, the last night at Chez Poulet, our home for the first two years of Radio Valencia. Talk about punk rock! I'd like to thank Chicken John for his "hospitality". When he came to me two years asking if I would start a radio station here I told him as long as it didn't become "Radio Chicken". So, we're moving. I wonder why? Really though, we've just outgrown the space. All the best to Chicken and all of his endeavors. In the memorable words of the late, great Don Corleone "as long as your business doesn't conflict with mine".
For my last show until my next show next week at our new home, I thought I would do what I like to do best, play lots of new kick ass music in the first hour, and some slammin' tracks in the second, along with some priceless live cuts. Check out the playlist, below.
Here we go again for the last time.
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Scroll down to read all of my witty comments and hear previous shows, or just click here if I sicken you.
Enjoy.
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jh
Do It: Rollins Band
Punk Prayer: Pussy Riot
Derek's Blues: Natural Child
I'm Writing a Novel: Father John Misty
You Smell Like Fish: Nervous Eaters
Nobodies: TV Torso
I Am Not A Game: Ty Segall & White Fence
Summertime Blues: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (08-08-81)
Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury: The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy (06-12-92)
I Don't Want to Pray: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros (05-29-12)
God of Thunder: The Melvins
Moving in Stereo: The Cars (08-19-78)
Space Station #5: Montrose
Whiskey River: Willie Nelson and Family (04-1978)
Stay All Night: Willie Nelson and Family (04-1978)
Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys: Willie Nelson and Family (04-1978)
The Race is On: George Jones (1979)
Wow, Ronnie Montrose dies, Davey Jones dies. Damn. What to play? I know, Afro-Funk and Psychedelia! I bought the new Wooden Shjips Remixes on vinyl yesterday, along with a tasty Afro-Funk record from 1975. I've pulled a lot from both the psychedelia and Afro-Funk parts of my extensive library.
To stream this fabulous show go here. To download this remarkable show and listen to it wherever and whenever you desire, go here. To listen to all of my shows, just scroll down to previous playlists, OR you can go here.
Enjoy.
It's Hard to be Humble: Mac Davis
Crossings (Andy Weatherall Remix): Wooden Shjips Astrophobia: Turn Me On Dead Man
Water Mind: Angel in Heavy Syrup T.F.B.: High Rise with Keiji Heino High in a Flat: Bevis Frond
Some Velvet Morning: Vanilla Fudge
Sand: OP8 Set the Controls to the Heart of the Sun: Pink Floyd
Tei Egwu: Afro Funk You Killing Me: Segun Bucknor Home Affairs: Osibisa
Telephone Girl: Assagai Zombie: Fela Kuti and Afrika 70
Beware: BLO Keleya: Moussa Doumbia
I Don't Want It: Montrose (04-21-73) The Man Who Sold the World: David Bowie (Davy Jones)
