Happy New Year! Back on the air after 3 weeks off.

I've been reading "From the Velvets to the Voidoids", and it's got me all in a tither about music from the East Coast and Midwest, circa 1969-1979. I've always enjoyed this era, but haven't known too much about the inner workings and incestuousness of it until now. WOW! Get this book. Starts with the VU, heads over to Detroit to cover the MC5 and the Stooges, before heading down to Cleveland, and back to NYC. So much to enjoy. And with that, it got me wanting to share the music of this time and place with you.

I've also got a few SF garage rockers for good measure. There was a recent story in the SF Weekly (a rag I used to hardly touch, but since the way the Guardian has gone down hill since their sale, AND because my dear friend Sherilyn Connelly writes for them, I give them a chance to win me over. Covering Radio Valencia in a recent issue helped) about the garage rock scene in SF (or what's left of it since Ty Segall left for LA, and Thee Oh Sees are on hiatus). Anyway, the article reminded me of a few other fine bands still rockin' it out in SF, including CCR Headcleaner, who I play tonight.

This show rocks, and I think you'll agree.

I was thinking about the "Velvets" book I'm reading and it reminded me of a few other books that you should have in your library, if you enjoy rock-journalist biographies by era. I recommend that you check out the following:

"Our Band Could Be Your Life", by Michael Azzarad
"England's Dreaming", by Jon Savage
"Please Kill Me", by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain

These are all excellent and essential reads, and you'll run out to grab all the music that you read about and (re)listen to it all with fresh ears.

A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

Enjoy.

jh

It's Hard To Be Humble: Mac Davis
Is It My Body: Alice Cooper
Five Years: David Bowie

Satellite Of Love: Lou Reed
Land: Patti Smith

Rocket Reducer #62: MC5
TV Eye: The Stooges
Jet Boy: New York Dolls

Marie Marie: The Blasters
Electricity: Captain Beefheart
I'm Gonna Dig Up Howlin' Wolf: Mojo Nixon
It Ain't Going to Save Me: Jay Reatard

High School: Ty Segall & Mikal Cronin
Fixx the Fan: CCR Headcleaner
Maze Fancier: Thee Oh Sees
Jugband Blues: Pink Floyd

Crystal Liaison: The Fugs
California Sun: The Dictators
Hong Kong Garden: Siouxsie and The Banshees
Talk to Me: Pere Ubu
Religion: PIL

Dozen Girls: The Damned
Touch My Evil: Lydia Lunch
Hang onto your Ego: The Beach Boys

Heartbreaker: Motorhead