September 3, 4pm
Hey there, hi there, ho there. (no offense to any ho’s out there).
Tonight on A Season in Hell, 8-midnight on PIrate Cat Radio 87.9fm in SF and LA, 104.8 in Berlin (no kidding), and online at http://piratecatradio.com, we’ll be having the sound engineer from SF, Lindsey (I don’t know her last name). She does sound for a few SF clubs, including Thee Parkside and Cafe duNord.
We’ll be talking about the world of live music, how and why she got into this career, and some great club stories as well. This will be at about 9 tonight.
From 8-9 you can hear new music, and 10-midnight I’ll be stretching out in the aural sense of the word.
As always, we welcome your requests. Tune in for the phone number, it’s something I haven’t written down as of yet. Also, you can always email me during the show.
Ice Cream Lopez will be taking the controls for a while tonight, so she can get her radio stripes down before she begins a PCR show of her own.
Thanks for your support.
If you, or someone you know would care to be interviewed on my show, or any show on PCR, please send me a shout.
Enjoy.
jh
August 29, 6pm
A Season In Hell, on Pirate Cat Radio 87.9FM, Monday’s 8-Midnight (PST) This week was too much fun. I had on as special guests, Ron Donavan and Chuck Sperry of Firehouse Custom Poster Art, in San Francisco. They brought along with them Reese, Matt and Jamie, of B.R.A.G. Art, three aspiring poster artists from across the pond: England. What ensued should have been captured on film. At least Ron couldn’t put down his iPhone. They arrived around 9pm, the show having been on since 8. Ice Cream Lopez let them in, and once the beer was flowing, we got down to brass tax. I asked them to bring music, which they did. They offered to bring posters to give away over the air, which they did as well. Attempting to do an actual interview while Ron was on the prowl, proved to be a task, but one I was ready to be challenged with. One issue I have encountered at Pirate Cat Radio is the fact that the three mics are all tied into one chanell, with one mic being very “hot”, and the other quite “cold”. In laymen terms, that means I havee to keep my hand on the volume knob at all times. While I was interviewing the Brits, Ron kept jumping in with some rather entertaining comments and questions. You must listen to the podcast of this show to understand what I’m talking about. I’m a collector of all things concert poster since I was 14 years old, and I bought a 1st edition Lee Conklin Grateful Dead poster, from 2/27-3/2/69. That’s the run of shows featured on the classic “Live Dead” release. I have quite a few Firehouse posters as well, so getting to know Ron and Chuck personally has been quite a treat. I’ve known Ron for about a year, and I can tell you he’s your best friend. He’ll go far out of his way to collaborate on the most fun activities with you. Chuck is a true friend. He’s interested in what you’ve got to say, and he’s so excited to share his ideas with you too. It’s no wonder they work together. There is a ton of energy between the two of them. They made the poster for this weekend’s Endless Strummer show at Bottom of the Hill, in San Francisco. The show is a tribute to the late great Clash singer/guitarist, Joe Strummer. It’s also a benefit for Strummerville, The Joe Strummer Foundation for New Music. The show begins at 9pm. If you’re in the SF Bay Area, come on out for a great show. Pirate Cat Radio will be broadcasting the entire show as well, and I’ll be the MC for the night. Tune in online here, to listen live. As for the music on this fine SF night, it’s all over the map. Check out the links, and as always, support live, local music.
Finklestein Shit Kid
Up In Smoke: Cheech and Chong
James Bond Theme: Naked City
Almost Ready: Dino Jr.
Blood Witch: Melvins
32 Mouths Gone Dry: Slim Cessna
Alcohol: Gogol Bordelo
You’re Gonna Miss Me: Roky Erickson
High Roller: Cheap Trick
Cocaine: Johnny Cash
Police & Theives: The Clash (03-08-80)
Wiggle Stick: Rev. Horton Heat
Earthquake: Butthole Surfers
Interview
A Children’s Garden Of Grass
Skotoseme: Diamanda Galas
Rock Fight: Cheech & Chong
Interview
Where is the Future: Mudhoney
Mote: Sonic Youth
Guitar: Prince (7-7-07)
Interview
Marquee Moon: Television
Hellphone: The Elderberries
It’s Hard To Be Humble: Mac Davis
Interview
Hitler’s & Jews: Part Chimp
Lucinda: Yuuki
Earth People: Dr. Octogon
?: the Sticks
I Love Livin’ In The City: Danko Jones
Interview
Wasted Life: Uncommon Men From Mars
Stay Free: The Clash (09-21-79)
The Way: Bonnie Prince Billy
Interview
Up In Smoke Reprise: Cheech & Chong
August 26, 3pm
So I should have known it was too good to be true. My first show at Pirate Cat Radio (http://piratecatradio.com) proved to be a fine one, with many lessons. The best part was hosting the wonderful and humble Scott Beale, of Laughing Squid (http://laughingsquid.com). He was kind enough to post some pics from the show. Take a look here: http://laughingsquid.com/a-season-in-hell-on-pirate-cat-radio/
Yeah, that’s me. I need a haircut.
The lessons were numerous. First, get the keys. I showed up at the station an hour early, but no one was on the air. I had to drive to get the keys. I showed up with 15 minutes to spare. Secondly, get a working doorbell, or at least a cell phone that works. The ringer and vibrate on my phone don’t work, neither does the station door bell. Hmm…. Finally, don’t bring so much damn music. That one will be the hardest. I may have reached for that one. You can never bring too much music.
I asked this week’s special guests to bring music. Speaking of this week, my special guests are none other than world-renowned concert poster artists Chuck Sperry and Ron Donovan, collectively known as Firehouse. http://www.firehouseposters.com/index.html
We’ll be talking about the life of a poster artist, how they started, who they have done work for, which they like, and hopefully some trash about those they don’t. Supposedly, they’re bringing some folks who are apprenticing for them, too.
After my first show, I though about how I want the show to look after the four hours are over, week to week. The first hour will focus on new music in the indie vein. The second hour will focus on the interview. The final two hours is where you will find me stretching out. I love to take risks with music, mixing genres, and throwing caution to the wind, by disregarding music length.
I’ll take your calls, and definitely take requests (I may not play it, but you can always try). Take a risk on me, and tune in every Monday night, 8-midnight on Pirate Cat Radio, 87.9FM, http://piratecatradio.com
All shows are archived as well. Yippee!!!
Enjoy.
John Hell
http://myspace.com/mrjohnhell
http://johnhell.podomatic.com
August 21, 9pm
Dick Cheney is truly the most remarkable guy in the world. How did he know as far back as 1994, that we would be in a quagmire if we went into Iraq? Now, someone go into the past and tell the old Dick to talk to the new Dick.
August 21, 5pm
A Season in Hell, Episode on Pirate Cat, 08-20-07
My first show on Pirate Cat Radio, and my first radio show in four years. To say I was excited and anxious to get started is a true understatement. I prepared all day for the show.
When I arrived at the station though, the doors were locked, and no one was answering. I finally got in with fifteen minutes to prepare before I went on the air. I was a bit annoyed, and a bit frazzled to boot. On top of this, I agreed to train my friend Ice Cream Lopez on the board, which I had never used before, and I had an interview to host. Every board is similair, so once I organzied my music, I could relax.
I opened the show with the first two tracks from the Cheech & Chong “Up In Smoke” soundtrack. It’ll work as my theme for a while. I’m one to change up my theme songs every few months. I close with “Up in Smoke Reprise”.
the interview with Scott Beale of Laughing Squid went incredibly well. I’ve been friends with Scott since my early Burning Man days. My first year was 94, his was 95. He used to come and hang out with me in the Radio Free Burning Man studios. It was an air-conditioned studio. He took a ton of video, and was certainly looked at as the BM archivist for a few years. He ran their website for three years too.
We spoke about his path over the years, in terms of his interests in technology. Scott and I both have a tendancy to go off on tangents, and we did just that. Luckily, I have the experience of a veteran interviewer to bring it back around. I think I did a good job of that. You be the judge.
Scott posted pics from the show here.
As for the music, I plan on making the first hour all new music, of multiple genres, but never commercial pop. The second hour will be the interview. The final two hours will be more on the experimental/avant garde/spacey/noisy realm. I feel that late night shows have a responsibility to stretch out aurally.
Send me an email if you have any comments, questions, or even requests. mrjohnhell@yahoo.com
Finklestein Shit Kid: Cheech & Chong
Up In Smoke: Cheech & Chong
Complicated Life: The Kinks
Three Bobs: National Hardwood Floor Association
Shit Luck: Modest Mouse
Dazed & Chinese: Bongwater
Lickskillet: Radio Moscow
Nice, Nice, Very Nice: Ambrosia
Killer Sound Waves From Outer Space: Turn Me On Dead Man
—Scott Beale Interview—
New Resolution: Heartless Bastards
Sand: OP8
—Scott Beale Interview—
Powderfinger: Neil Young
Satisfaction: Cat Power
—Scott Beale Interview—
Waiting for my Man (live): Lou Reed
The First and Last To Love Me: Kip Hanrahan
—Scott Beale Interview—
Freedom Day: Max Roach
Collegno: Revolutionary Ensemble
—Scott Beale Interview—
Candle (live): Sonic Youth
C Visar Vagen: Dungen
—Scott Beale Interview—
Tibet: Don Cherry
I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama: John Lennon
Sweet No.1: Boris w/ Michio Kurihara
Leave Your Perch…: Wooden Wand
Creole Love Call: Roland Kirk
She Shook Me Cold: David Bowie
I Can See For Miles: Petra Haden
Way Down In The Hole (live): Tom Waits
Simple Twist of Fate: Bob Dylan
My show is every Monday night, 8-midnight (PST). Tune in online at piratecatradio.com
If you live in San Francisco or Los Angeles you can tune in your radio
to 87.9FM
See you on the radio.
Image by Scott Beale and can be found here.
May 28, 9am
I haven’t written on this site for a very long time, and there is a link below for my “new” blog place, but I wanted to leave a note regarding my podcast.
Check out my podcast: “A Season In Hell” here.
Tell your friends, hell is here to stay.
Enjoy.
November 5, 9pm
Not that I have anything against this site, it’s just that I’m doing a new radio show on Free Radio SF, and the website has a blog available. I just want to support my new home.
Enjoy.
See the Free Radio SF site here.
December 13, 1pm
Wow! I have been searching high and low for this Misfits 7″ for my wife forever. Only 500 were pressed, and it’s still one of their best releases overall IMHO.
Thanks to 7InchPunk for posting this. I cannot urge you enough to get over there and DL this thing while it’s still available. Good luck finding the 7″ though. Amoeba doesn’t enve have it on their walls.
Enjoy.
Misfits: cough/cool
Misfits: she
December 5, 9am
My old friend Hawkeye Joe, whom I did radio with for many years at KFJC, now works in a very underused, and I’m sure, underaprreciated way at SF radio station KBLX: “The Quiet Storm”. For years his monday morning radio show at KFJC, “The Breakfast Club” was considered one of the best shows at KFJC and in the Bay Area. He has attempted to make it in the commercial realm, but like me, has realized it would compromise his integrity way too much. He runs the board at KBLX.
Yesterday I recieved an email from him that appeared to be from an in-house KBLX memo, sent to all air personalities and staffer at KBLX, stating what they believe their on-air personalities need to do to maintain their employment. There are some amazing comments in here, leading me to believe that the future of radio is one of more consolidation, more syndication, and less diversity.
The memo is as follows:
“To: All Announcers
The following is a synopsis of the discussion at a full-time announcers meeting which we had two weeks ago. There is information you should know and if you have any questions, please call me.
Announcer’s Meeting
November 15, 2005
** This meeting is to discuss the changes in the industry in general, and focus on what will make us continue being a viable commodity.
Ratings come out this Thursday. It is a trend, but ratings information is crucial because of the intensity of competition we are experiencing. Technology and market pressures have changed the industry in a very short time and we can expect these changes to directly affect decisions we will make.
**As an announcer you are well aware of the tenuous nature of being an announcer. Your career is based on ratings and you know that public opinion can change within one ratings period. Every announcer has been let go from a position at one time or another.
This is not to scare anyone, but this is the nature of the business. What determines the viability of keeping on-air talent is a numbers game which means ratings and revenue potential will be scrutinized. Radio is now controlled by the accountants who scrutinize all day parts.
**The Bottom Line is now the Bottom Line. In other words, the focus has become “does your day part generate income”. Programming, music, and community service are no longer a part of the equation. Your day part must perform in order for you as an announcer to stay viable. If you are underperforming, they will begin to look elsewhere for viable, cost efficient solutions.
**An example of a growing trend is WDAS in Philly. Their morning show is syndicated and it’s the fourth show in their market. The issue here becomes, is it cheaper and easier for a station to broadcast syndicated programming from a fourth place rated show or should they keep a morning show where they have to pay talent salary and benefits.
**The industry will be watching how this plays out, but WDAS is one of several shows syndicated and is a sign of what is to come.
**Voice Tracking, we are all familiar with this mode of operation. One of our colleagues at a competing station voice tracks 8 or 9 stations for about $40,000 a year. This is not unique to our market. Any stations’ management constantly looks for cost-cutting and will implement what they believe to be cost-efficient use of talent.
**Another big change that is coming to our industry is the “People Meter” which will track every radio station a participant encounters. That means it doesn’t matter if you are in your car, in your office wherever there is a radio signal broadcasting, the meter will record it and credit will be given to your station.
Obviously, it will change the entire buying landscape and ratings system. Unfortunately, that means if a listener is stuck in the office where the office dictates his/her listening choice, it will register in the meter. The flipside is that the technology can actually track listening patterns and supposedly give us a more accurate accounting of listenership, but this remains to be seen. There is already discussion of how this affects Urban leaning stations and why this will still not give a completely accurate picture. They are still fine tuning the technology but by 2007 this type of measuring will be in place.
**Announcers like we have today will not exist in a few years. Right now we broadcast over the airwaves, but we also stream audio on the internet and we also have a digital channel 982 on Comcast Cable.
**This is a reality of the business that people want choices and can tune elsewhere to get them if we do not provide avenues for them to reach us.
**With the advent of automation, voice tracking, and the choices people have, from ipods, to satellite radio, to internet radio, Broadcast radio is in a state of flux and the industry must make major shifts to survive and be competitive.
**Even with the challenges we are facing, we can still help shape our own destiny and you have the ability and talent to keep the wolves at Bay.
**As an announcer you have to bring your “A” game every time you walk into the studio. You have to do everything in your power to keep people interested and listening. That is your job in a nutshell. It is important for you as an announcer to know that the more you are involved and get to know the audience you are serving, the better response you will receive and the results will be self-evident.
**“Content is King”, and this is a continuing theme at our station. You need to invest time in your show prep and keep yourself well-informed.
**Every time you crack the mic it has to be relevant. You have to have a beginning, middle and end. If you refer back to an old announcer tip sheet Kevin sent out. The Bits you do have to have a Billboard, Details, and the Kicker. The end of your bit must have that impact and must either make the listener laugh, or make them think.
You need to make the bit relevant to the music, to what the station is doing and you have to be concise. There is a plethora of information at your fingertips with the internet available in the studio. There are sites that can provide you with daily facts, music and artist facts and news. Use this tool to your advantage. Do the surfing for the listener who is at work and can’t spend time looking up information on his/her favorite artist.
This will encourage listeners to want to come back for more because you are the one providing that information.
**While this is certainly an opportunity for your personality to shine, it is just as important to be concise with your bits. Edit yourself, think about what you are going to say and edit it as many times as you can without losing the impact. The more you prepare the better your bits will be. Write down what you are going to say and edit again. Once you are in the habit of doing this it will come naturally.
**If you read the PD Advantage handouts, where listener comments can be reviewed, there are two themes that are prevalent when asked what it is about KBLX that keeps people coming back and one factor is definitely the music but another important factor that the listeners noted were “DJ comments.” Please keep that in mind when you are searching for material.
**Liners will be changing, and again this is another area where you can let your personality work to your advantage. The liners are guidelines with pertinent elements that you should use, but you most certainly can put your own style into your delivery.
**A few ways to keep your day part viable is by keeping yourself accessible to listeners, and station appearances are a great way to involve yourself with the community. Product endorsements are also a way to relate to the audience by sharing your experience and how a product can be useful to the listeners day to day activities.
**You have eight station appearance that are pro-bono to fulfill. As for paid appearances, it is your call if you decide to appear at an event. Keep in mind that your decision to appear or not appear is an important one that can have an effect on other departments as well as your day part.
When you are out at an event you not only represent the station but you also represent yourself. Relating to people will get them to tune into the station to listen to you. Again it is to your advantage if you put your best foot forward, with listeners and with our clients.
**One of our major events is the Oakland Holiday Parade and all Full-time announcers will be on the float this year. Look for emails/memos for updates.
**Changes are coming and we must take the challenges we face seriously and thoughtfully and we can continue to be successful if we keep to our game plan of being relevant, concise and relatable to our listeners in a positive manner.
**If you have anything you would like to discuss please see Kevin.”
November 30, 12pm
I’ve been a Deadhead since I was about 12 years old, back in 1982. My father bought “Skeleton’s From the Closet” and I just fell in love with the band from that moment on. I didn’t attend my first show until 12-30-85 (first Mighty Quinn btw), and I was truly on the bus forever. Today, I always carry at least one show in my cd case, one never knows when the opportunity will arise to listen to favorite gem through their 30 years.
To see my catalogue of live music check out my list on etree.
So, when the Live Music Archive (LMA) began uploading Grateful Dead shows a couple of years ago, I was more than stoked. I, like so many others around the globe, began furiously downloading all those tasty bites from shows we had only read about in Deadbase, or seen on others lists for so long. I had collected/traded tapes since 1985, and I have over 1000 hours. When LMA put the Dead up, I had a pretty repectable collection on CD, but I truly took full advantage of what they had to offer.
What did they offer? Not only the shows themselves were available in soundboard or audience, but also a place to comment about the show. Whether you were there, and wanted to share what it was like when Jerry grinned after singing “test me, test me. Why don’t you arrest me?”, or you’ve had this show on tape for 20 years, and thank the good gods for LMA.
The day before Thanksgiving, the Dead decided to pull all of the soundboards off of LMA. They haven’t, as of today, stated their reasons for this. Many are calling the Dead greedy. I consider these people to be the one’s who showed up for the shows just to hang in the parking lot, never intending to go inside. You ruined the scene, btw.
I think the Dead have generally been poor businessmen through the years, and they know this. They have trusted many people, from Mickey Hart’s own father, Lenny Hart, who robbed them of thousands of dollars, to Ron Rakow, who had bad ideas, and also bilked the band out of much hard earned money.
After Jerry died, it was obvious the band as a business would have to downsize. And downsize they did. Today they don’t tour as much. They live off of royalties (they sure didn’t have much luck with their studio albums), and of course anything they make off of the road, after the over head is paid.
If the band wants to keep the soundboards off of LMA so they can package them themselves, it’s their right to do so as the intellectual owners of the works. Yes, Jerry said many times once they’re done with it, it’s ours. But the band needs to survive into their old age as well. They recently laid off more GDP employees, including Ram Rod, one of the original roadies from 1965. That was not an easy decision to make.
One thing that disturbs me though is what GD publicist, and acquaintance of mine, Dennis McNally said regarding the trading community. He didn’t see LMA as a community at all, just the high powered internet allowing folks to horde as much music as they can, as fast as they can.
I disagree. I did enjoy the idea of searching people’s lists and making the trade, and going to the post office too, but i see little difference with what LMA offers. If LMA didn’t offer the an area to discuss each show, then perhaps Dennis has a point, but this is an area where we can all get together and SHARE the music. The band does not exist anymore. The technology of today dictates that we will move at a faster rate. To disallow the music to be shared in this way is to only postponing the inevitable.
I miss seeing the boys live. I love pulling out a show from any era and being magically transformed to that place above the clouds, where only the Grateful Dead can take me. The trading will live on. The band can package all the music they like. Some will purchase it. Others will boycott it. Either way, as Jerry told us, “Once we’re done with it, you can have it.”
We’ll take it any way we can get it.
The Grateful Dead are dead. Long live the Grateful Dead!
