Hell's Kitchen Radio #354: See Through The Haze

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It's nice to have a few weeks off to recharge one's batteries, but considering my weekly show is exactly what I use to recharge my batteries, I felt more empty than ever stepping into the studio on Monday night. True story. I had a few weeks off from work, since I'm a teacher, and you would think I would be traveling the southern continent, or spending many relaxing hours at home, sleeping in late, taking leisurely strolls in my hood. Yeah, you would think that. The truth could not be farther from this. Who am I to complain?

I did buy some tasty vinyl over the break, however. Some rare Grateful Dead, released between 71-75, and some blues LPs that I needed. Yes, needed. I need music. It's my drug of choice. I was thinking of buying some much-needed shoes over the holidays, but instead I bought a Muddy Waters LP, and a Sony Terry and Brownie McGhee LP. Priorities.

I don't have any resolutions for the new year. Resolutions are for suckers. I just keep on keepin' on and let choice be my voice. I should probably cut down on the sugary sweets. Sure, why not? I have switched to black coffee though. No more mocha's for John Hell! It's saving me money, which I can put towards my vinyl addiction, er...um obsession.

Speaking of obsession, my playlist is below and the links to the stream and download are above.

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

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Enjoy.

jh

Mean Mistreater: Muddy Waters
Backdoor Medley: ZZ Top
Get It While You Can: Janis Joplin

There It Is: James Brown
Louder Than A Bomb: Brownout
Black Mountain: Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan

Supermarket Nightmare: Victim's Family
Time Axe Bag Dad: Clubfoot Orchestra
Theme de Yoyo: Art Ensemble of Chicago

Femme Fatale: Big Star
Grave Robber: WAND
Little Green: Joni Mitchell
Back to New Orleans: Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee

Shotgun Blues: Downchild Blues Band
Come Back Baby: Aretha Franklin
Stop Dragging Me Down: Monomen
Winter In America: Gil Scott-Heron

Right On For The Darkness: Curtis Mayfield
Tiger Mountain Song: First Aid Kit
Redemption Song: Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer
South of Heaven: Modest Mouse and Califone

I Can See For Miles: Petra Haden

Hell's Kitchen Radio #341: Wait For It

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Once again I have outdone myself. Even after almost 30 years I still have the ability to put a set together that continues to prove that commercial radio has, does, and always will suck.

The legendary record label and recording studio, Fantasy Records, is closing. I pepper in a few artifacts in tribute, including some CCR, Lenny Bruce, Rancid, and Primus. I took a few requests, one of which is a brilliant 20 minute long devotional Sufi piece, and some Flo and Eddie in the form of a live Zappa/Mother's from 1970.

But that's not all! You also get the shortest, yet most inspiring version of the (almost) entire Tommy LP, an electronic-voiced Eric Clapton side project, and two horny drunk women pissed off at their even more drunk boyfriend. Oh yes, and a really pissed off preacher.

What will I do next Monday to top this one? Tune in Monday 8-10PM to find out.

Monday, August 20th, my brother from another mother, Eric McFadden will be in the studio to co-host our 3rd (non-consecutive) Steel Bridge Special. This is always a hoot.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Suzie-Q: Creedence Clearwater Revival

Now Ah Lissen: Southern Preacher

Lost On You: LP

Grapevine: The Slits

How To Relax Your Colored Friends at Parties: Lenny Bruce

Roots Radicals: Rancid

Call Any Vegetable: Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention (February 13, 1970 Fillmore East, NYC, NY)

Chinatown: John Zorn's Naked City

Layla: 386DX

2 Drunk 2 Fuck: Avenue D

Here Come The Bastards: Primus

Hot Rod Lincoln: Commander Cody

Sex and Money: Iggy and the Stooges

How's Never: Gateway

Mainu Yaar Di Namaaz Lain Dey: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Tommy in Seven Minutes: V/A

Toumast: Tinariwen

Atomin Punk: Cherry 2000

Relax: Petra Haden

Hell's Kitchen Radio #332: Won't You Come Home?

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It's another one of those nights where I just have to do a deeper dive into my cast library of music. There's something old, something new, something ripped off, something I don't think I've ever actually listened to before.

That's fair, isn't it?

Should a DJ give a listen to EVERYTHING before they play it for you? How much preparation do you require from your DJ? How OCD are you, anyway?

I used to know a DJ at a former station I was at who would spend hours writing out his playlist. We hosted four-hour shows at this particular station. I would watch him work meticulously on his playlist. Draft after draft. He would write down songs/artists, and then scratch some out and and fill it in with another. I would tune in from time to time and could really appreciate the effort, but it also felt a little stiff. Maybe it was his mic breaks, but it never felt that authentic to me.

More often than not I'm inspired by the events leading up to my show, and I pull my music a few hours beforehand based on this. I enjoy playing new music more often than not, but I also love peppering some older "library" tracks in for good measure. Some shows, like the one from two weeks ago, take on a life of their own, and I get inspired during the show itself. Thank goodness I bring along my trusty external HD with 100GB of music.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up: Betty Davis

I Get A Kick Out Of You (Frank Sinatra cover): Tony Bennett

T.V. Eye: The Stooges

Astronomy Domine: Voivod (Pink Floyd cover)

Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac: Dizzy Gillespie

Got My Mind Made Up: 2Pac

High Heeled Sneakers (Tommy Tucker cover): The Mummies

Love Buzz: Shocking Blue

You Can't Lose What You Never Had: Muddy Waters

Red House: Jimi Hendrix

Hillbilly Math: Dale Crover

Revolution Blues: Neil Young

Satan is a Bummer: Bush Tetras

Tattoo (The Who cover): Petra Haden

Life on Mars: David Bowie

Tangled Up In Blue: Bob Dylan

Dimples (John Lee Hooker cover): The Allman Brothers Band

Straight to Hell: The Clash

The Devil's Chasing Me: Reverend Horton Heat

Joset of Nazareth's Blues: Titus Andronicus

Diamonds on my Mind: Tom Waits

Hell's Kitchen Radio #259: Sweatin' To Hell

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Hot times in the ol' studio tonight! Radio as the premier aural artform. Some classic covers on this night, some deeply hidden live tracks, some jazzy goodness, perfect for the hot night that it was. Plenty of witty banter that will tickle your funny bone as well as clue you in to the back story of many of these timeless tunes.

Have you tuned into the "new" KFOG? And I thought they were bad before! Seriously, it does not appear that they have evolved into anything fresh and new! Good job, Cumulus. You fired DJs who cared about the local listeners, all the while playing crappy, lowest-common-denominator pablum, that they had no choice over. I swear I would LOVE for any GM to call me up and ask me to program a station for just one day. ONE DAY! There is too much quality music that KFOG has continuously passed by. Father John Misty? Jenny Lewis? Dave Alvin? COME ON! Lame KFOG has just proved once again why you NEED Radio Valencia. You already knew that though.

Let's start a petition to get KFOG to hire John Hell for one day to do its music programming. If they hate it then I'll quietly leave. If they love it, then I'll have my lawyers call theirs.

Next Monday you just know I'm going to have a lot of rare Prince to play for you. RIP Purple One.

Enjoy.

jh

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

Follow me on Twitter
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Follow Radio Valencia on Twitter
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In The Flesh: Pink Floyd
California Sun: The Dictators
Rich Brat: Redd Kross
Surfin Bird: The Ramones

Double Fine: Honky
This Never Happened To The Other Feller: Sex Mob

When It's Sleepy-time Down South: Gaucho
Fiesta En El Solar: Marc Ribot Y Los Cubanos Postizos

Lilin: John Zorn's Bar Kokhba
Drugs: Talking Heads

New Carrion: Naked Lights
Stronger Than Dirt: The Traditional Fools
Andalusia: The Phantom Surfers

My Man: Delaney and Bonnie and Friends (WPLJ July 22, 1971)
Black Magic Woman: Fleetwood Mac (BBC March, 24, 1968)
Blue 'N' Boogie: Miles Davis

Bronx Blues: Stan Getz and The Oscar Peterson Trio
Tattoo: Petra Haden

Tape Kabob: Can (BBC 73-75)

Ruins: Low Flying Hawks

NOW, LET'S GET SWEATY!!!