July 11, 2pm
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There once was a time when my daughter looked at me like I was a hero. Now she’s 13. Oh well, at least she allowed me to drag her kicking and screaming out of her lair (read: bedroom) to join me in the studio on this fine night. It only took me bribing her with a burrito to make this happen. There was a time when she couldn’t wait to co-host a radio show with me. I guess we all grow up eventually, right? RIGHT?
To my credit, she did acknowledge all on her own, that it’s pretty cool that she’s had this opportunity to be on the radio with me over the years None of her other friends have ever done this before. So there!
Lauson’s musical tastes have grown beyond my tastes, as I’m sure mine did when I was her age. If I recall 13 correctly, I was starting to purchase music on my own on a monthly basis; much of which my father hadn’t ever listened to. So it comes as no surprise that she’s delving deeper into her own interests. And it’s those interests that I encouraged her to share on the show tonight.
Interestingly enough, not only is she into hiphop, but she loves Sinatra and Stevie Wonder, and is discovering more classic soul and funk based on the samples used in contemporary hiphop. We talk about this on the air. It reminds me of how I got deeper into blues, using 60s bands like the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton as a springboard to discover the originals, which I ended up enjoying more than the covers.
The banter is witty, the music is groovy. The talk about attending concerts, in the second hour, is classic! Much of the music is vocalist-centered as you can see by the playlist below. New music by Ty Segall and White Fence.
If you care to check out the previous shows featuring Little Lauson Hell check out the links below:
First show in 2012
Second show in 2014
Third show also in 2014
Fourth show in spring of 2015
Fifth show in the summer of 2015
Sixth show in summer 2016 along with Saucy!
Seventh show was also during summer 2016
Eight show was December 2016
Ninth show was July 2017
Tenth show was in August 2017
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
http://www.radiovalencia.fm
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It’s Hard To Be Humble: Mac Davis
I Get A Kick Out Of You: Tony Bennett
Fireworks: First Aid Kit
Fourth of July: Dave Alvin
A Change is Gonna Come: The Gits
Lauson’s Set
Chicago: Frank Sinatra
I Just Called To Say I Love You: Stevie Wonder
Shadowboxer: Fiona Apple
Only Son Of A Ladies Man: Father John Misty
Drown In My Own Tears: Ray Charles
Ain’t No Sunshine: Bill Withers
Starman: David Bowie
In Every Dream Home A Heartache: Roxy Music
Pray For Me: G-Eazy
Lilac Wine: Nina Simone
Hallelujah: Jeff Buckley
Business: Eminem
Hello Goodbye: The Beatles
Senorita: Ovarian Trolley
Body Behavior: Ty Segall and White Fence
Girls: Beastie Boys
My Thang: James Brown
Happy Boy: Beat Farmers
July 27, 11am
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I grew up wishing I had graduated from a San Francisco high school in 1964 so that by the Summer of Love in 1967 I would 21 years old and able to fully immerse myself in everything that era had to offer. It’s the music of that time that influenced me the most during my adolescent years, when I was moving past what played on the home hi-fi and more into discovering my own likes. It was that swirling psychedelic music and it was that message of change and opportunity that grabbed me most.
My family moved to the Bay Area in late 1982 when I was 12 years and I knew right away what a special place San Francisco was. In our first excursion into the city my parents wanted to tour Fisherman’s Wharf, I wanted to go to the Haight. Of course by 1982 the Haight was long past its hippy prime and deep in its lost years of heroin and speed and closed storefronts. That didn’t stop me from searching this great city and colorful neighborhoods for any crumb that remained from the vibe that the Summer of Love hoped to propagate following 1967. Today the area is inundated by boutiques and way too many Tibetan importers and head shops; not to mention countless tourists, who, like me, are looking for a shred of evidence that there was once an energy of love that attempted to take our nation to a higher level, overcoming war and grief and capitalism. And let’s not forget the number of homeless teens and 20-somethings who have been termed out of foster care, who call the doorways of Haight Street their home.
It was the swirling music, colorful fashion, and risk-taking youth that took precedence at that time. It was the music industry that bastardized it and made way for the punk movement of the 70s/80s. But before
that all came to pass we have to appreciate what the bands of the time were doing. San Fransisco was one hell of a great scene. Great clubs, like the Avalon Ballroom, Carousel, Fillmore, Family Dog at the Great Highway had the bestbands playing their stages night after night. And promoters like Chet Helms and Bill Graham were pairing local rock bands with legendary blues and jazz artists, opening the ears of the audience to sights and sounds they may never have taken the time to check out on their own.
We are all better for 1967 and San Francisco.
Two books I’d like to recommend that will shed much better light on that era include Joel Selvin’s
“Summer of Love”, and David Talbot’s “Season of the Witch”. The latter starts in 67 and works its way up through the first 49er Super Bowl win in early 1982. Both are definitely worth your time, especially if you hold a place in your heart for San Francisco.
As for the music I chose for this show, it’s all from 1967, and most are west coast American bands. in retrospect I could have chosen more obscure acts from that year, or other, more current bands, covering these songs, below. Instead I played music that really moved me as I was growing up. And isn’t that the job of the DJ, to move you the way they have been?
My friend Linda Kelly, managing editor of the local rag Haight Street Voice was hanging out in the studio with me too. She was interviewing me for the August issue. It’s a free paper, so pick it up when you see it, or go online to check it out. I hope she doesn’t make me sound too bitter. It’s been a challenging year when it comes to my love for SF. But isn’t that like all relationships? We’ll see it through to the end.
Wednesday I had the chance to take in the Summer of Love exhibition at the deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park. It was more than I could have hoped for. If you live in the Bay Area make sure you get to this show before it closes, August 20th.
Next Monday night is lots of new music and the return of Little Lauson Hell!!!
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
http://www.radiovalencia.fm
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Time Has Come Today: The Chambers Brothers
Bass Strings: Country Joe and the Fish
Omaha: Moby Grape
Season of the Witch: Donovan
Down on Me: Big Brother and the Holding Company
Plastic Fantastic Lover: Jefferson Airplane
The Golden Road: Grateful Dead
San Francisco Nights: The Animals
You Keep Me Hanging On: Vanilla Fudge
Astronome Domine: Pink Floyd
Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite: The Beatles
Stroll On: Yardbirds
I Feel Free: Cream
Waterloo Sunset: Kinks
Pleasant Valley Sunrise: The Monkees
Dear Landlord: Bob Dylan
I Was Made To Love Her: Stevie Wonder
Cold Sweat: James Brown
Before You Accuse Me: 13th Floor Elevators
Heroes and Villians: The Beach Boys
It’s A Happening Thing: Peanut Butter Conspiracy
Friday on my Mind: The Easybeats
I’m Waiting For The Man: Velvet Underground
Foxy Lady: Jimi Hendrix
Paint It Black: Rolling Stones
I’ll Never Fall In Love Again: Tom Jones
San Francisco (Flowers in your Hair): Scott McKenzie
What a way to start of the Summer of Love but with the quintessential Monterey Pop!!!
June 25, 6pm
Once again it’s time to put everything down, set six hours aside, and listen to John Hell and Ron Donovan butcher each other in a knock down, drag out bootleg battle, of epic proportions!
John and Ron have quite possibly the LARGEST live bootleg collection in the known world (source unknown and possibly nonexistent), and twice a year they share it with you, dear listeners. Why? They don’t have to tell you!
Tonight the focus is on five areas of their deep musical interest and knowledge: British Invasion, Blues, Led Zeppelin, Prince and James Brown. Check out the setlist below for the details.
The best part of this show besides the music, has to be the “witty” “conversation” between Ron and John. Yes, they know what they’re (why am I talking in the third person? Oh well, I’ve already gone this far…) talking about. The two of them have been collecting live music for over 25 years (cassette, vinyl, CD, Flac), and understand the “OTHER” music industry better than most. Lots of discussion ensues.
In the fifth hour, guitar slinger Eric McFadden calls in following his show in Chicago, to share some road stories with us. He has made a number of live appearances in studio for Rock Fight’s past. It’s too kind of him to phone it in this time out.
About 99% are high quality soundboard recordings. Only one Zep tune is from an audience source, but what a show it was!
Who won you ask? It’s possible that for the first time in over six years, it was a draw. We’ll fight it out again in December.
Enjoy.
jh
You can download all the rock goodness here.
Feel free to stream this straight into your brain stem here.
You can check out all of my shows by going here
To check out previous Rock Fights, go here:
Rock Fight 11
Rock Fight 10
Rock Fight 9
Rock Fight 8
Rock Fight 7
Rock Fight 6
Rock Fight 5
Rock Fight 4 – Playlist only
Rock Fight 3 – Playlist only
Rock Fight 2 – Playlist only
Rock Fight 1 – Playlist only
A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF
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Rock Fight 12:
Rock Fight: Cheech and Chong
I Want to Rock: Twisted Sister (Santiago, Chile 04/19/13) -Ron Donovan (RD)
Bohemian Rhapsody: Queen (Buenos Aires 02/28/81) – John Hell (JH)
Fight to the Finish: Gamma (NYC 1980) – RD
Sinner: Judas Priest (The Palladium, NYC 11/4/79) – JH
History of Tenacious D (Higher Ground, Winooski, VT 09/28/01) – JH
Revolve: King Buzzo (Zanzabar, Louisville, Kentucky 03/20/14) JH
Hotter Than Hell: Kiss (Richfield Stadium, Richfield, OH 09/03/76) – JH
Magic Man: Heart (Shoreline, WA 1976) – RD
I Hate Myself for Loving You: Joan Jett (2013) – RD
For Whom the Bell Tolls: Metallica (Zwolle “Ijsellhall”, Holland on 02-08-87) – RD
Ride the Lightning: Metallica (Zwolle “Ijsellhall”, Holland on 02-08-87) – RD
British Invasion Set:
Maxwell’s Silver Hammer (John singing): Beatles 1969 – JH
Piggies: Beatles (White Album Demos) 1968 – JH
Teddy Boy: Beatles (Get Back Sessions) 1968 – JH
5:15: The Who (Spectrum, Philly, PA (1973) – RD
Young Man Blues: The Who (Hull University, Hull, England 02-15-70) – JH
Gimme Shelter: Rolling Stones (Cricket Ground, Perth, AU 02/24/73) – JH
Midnight Rambler: Rolling Stones (LA Forum June 1975) – RD
You Really Got Me: The Kinks (Cobo Hall, Detroit, MI 08/10/79) – JH
Apeman: The Kinks (BBC 12/13/70) – JH
Got To Get Better in a Little While: Derek and the Domino’s (Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN 11/05/70) – RD
Tell the Truth: Derek and the Domino’s (Fillmore East, NYC 10-24-70) – JH
Blues Set:
Baby Please Don’t Go: Muddy Waters (Antives, France 1974) – RD
Got My Mojo Working: Muddy Waters (Blues & Jazz Festival, Geneva, Switzerland 11/04/76) – JH
Forecast Calls for Pain: Robert Cray (Redrocks 1992) – RD
Summertime: Janis Joplin (Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands 04/11/69) – JH
Trouble No More: Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Eric Clapton (Dingwalls, London, England 12/03/85) – JH
Mercury Blues: Steve Miller Band (Matrix, SF 1967) – RD
Boom Boom: John Lee Hooker (The Stone, SF, CA 03/30/85) – JH
Damn Right I Got the Blues: Buddy Guy (Legends, Chicago 2012) – RD
Howlin’ For My Baby: Howlin’ Wolf 1952 – JH
Stormy Monday: Buddy Guy and Junior Wells (Willmantic, CT 1973) RD
I Can’t Quit You, Babe: Led Zeppelin (Fillmore West, SF, CA 01/11/69)
What Is And What Should Never Be: Led Zeppelin (Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, CN 09/04/71)
Celebration Day: Led Zeppelin (Chicago, IL 07/06/73)
Schoolday/Nadine/Around and Around: Led Zeppelin (Tribute To Johnny Kidd And The Pirates Metropolitan Sports Center, Minneapolis 1/17/75)
The Song Remains the Same/Rain Song: Led Zeppelin (Earl’s Court, London, UK 05-24-75)
In My Time of Dying: Led Zeppelin (The Forum, LA, CA 06/22/77)
Achilles Last Stand: Led Zeppelin (Kingdome, Seattle, WA 07/17/77)
Electric Chair: Prince (Saturday Night Live 1989)
Let’s Go Crazy: Prince (Orange Bowl, Miami, FL 04/07/85)
Cold Sweat: James Brown (Dallas, TX 08/26/68)
Let’s Work: Prince (DNA Lounge, SF, CA 04/24/13)
Let Yourself Go/There Was A Time/I Feel Alright: James Brown (Apollo Theater 1966)
Get On The Good Foot: James Brown (Lucerne, Switzerland 1973)
Living in America: James Brown (SF Hilton Ballroom, San Francisco, CA 10/12/92)
April 30, 5pm
What a great night for radio!!! 8-10PM (PDST) tonight, I’ll be featuring some of the finest James Brown in celebration of his upcoming birthday, in the first hour. In hour numero dos, it’s week for of eight (read: 4/8) of my tribute to the 40th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s 1972 European tour which culminated in a fine triple-LP set, “Europe 72”. I have all of the shows and I thought “Hey, let’s make this happen”. Therefore the second hour tonight and the following four Monday nights is all live Dead from the Europe 72 tour.
Also, this Thursday, May 3rd, from 6-10pm I’ll be co-hosting the annual 24 hour “Doin’ it to Death” James Brown birthday special on KFJC, 89.7FM in the Bay Area, http://kfjc.org
To my credit, she did acknowledge all on her own, that it’s pretty cool that she’s had this opportunity to be on the radio with me over the years None of her other friends have ever done this before. So there!
Interestingly enough, not only is she into hiphop, but she loves Sinatra and Stevie Wonder, and is discovering more classic soul and funk based on the samples used in contemporary hiphop. We talk about this on the air. It reminds me of how I got deeper into blues, using 60s bands like the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton as a springboard to discover the originals, which I ended up enjoying more than the covers.
