Monday, March 24, 2025

Hell's Kitchen Radio #563: The Eighth Wonder of Hell

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Let me be your (un)healthy distraction. I know Mondays can be heavy, so that's why I'm here to lighten the load. It's kind of like bran for your brain. Think of it as super colon blow for your earholes.

I've got a good amount of tunes you've never heard, and possibly a few you forgot you loved.

I also was training a new DJ, David Fraser, who is going to be hosting a new show on Mondays noon-2pm. He took over the show for about 30 minutes. I labeled his set with "DF". Good music choices all the way!

New music from Alit Gun, Melvins, GOAT, Ty Segall, and Rickshaw Billy's Burger Patrol (who I saw at The Stork Club the previous weekend). Also, there's a new 50th anniversary Rush compilation out. I played an alternate take of The Trees. You're welcome. 

So much good music out there, I'm in tears overjoyed that I get to share all of this with you.

For years now I've listed my playlist the way you see it below. What do you think of it? How can I improve it for you? Leave a comment.

Hell is love.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Some Velvet Morning: Vanilla Fudge
Two Headed Dog: Margo Price

Badi Sabah Olmadan: Altin Gun
Magool: Sahra Halgan

I Want You (She's So Heavy): Eddie Hazel (Album: Games, Dames and Guitar Thangs 1977 Reissue)
I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier: John Lennon 

King of Rome: Melvins (Album: Thunderball 2025)
The Trees: Rush (50th Anniversary Super Deluxe)

Ugly Truth: Soundgarden - DF
This is Music: Verve - DF

Wires: Voyager One - DF
Set The City On Fire: Here Come The Saviors - DF
Hallowed Out: Ducks Ltd. - DF
War Cry!: Jenny Don't and the Spurs

Dead Babies: Alice Cooper
Wild Love: James Williamson (with Alison Mossheart and Mark Lanegan)
Whoopie Chateau: Sgt. Splendor
Clown Town: Rickshaw Billie's Burger Patrol
The Wizard: Brown Sabbath

Nimerudi (Salmagundi Version): GOAT + Mc Yallah
The Payback Mix: James Brown

Coconut: Ty Segall
I Bid You Goodnight: Joseph Spence
Good Night: Lawrence Welk Singers

Monday, March 17, 2025

Hell's Kitchen Radio #562: No Good At All

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Sadly, because of DJ error (mine own, ugh), this show is not playable. Dang! This was a fine one as well. I almost feel like doing it all over again just so I can play these funs sets of music for you.

Oh well, next time I promise to click the right button...probably.

See what you missed below.

Sorry.

Tune in Monday 8-10PM Pacific when I actually do broadcast live!

jh

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

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Do You Like To Eat A Cow: Paul Leary
Rejoice Unto Yourself: JD Pinkus
Flyin' High: Jenny Don't and the Spurs

The Irish Rover: The Pogues
I've Been Working: Van Morrison

Walkin' The Streets of Love Alone: Mitch Polzak
The Streets of Baltimore: Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels
The Waitress Song: First Aid Kit
Parchman Fram: Mercury Rev ft Carice Van Houton
Wake Up The Sun: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Coconut: Ty Segall
Carletta's In Hats Again: Brigid Dawson and the Mother's Network

California Dreaming: Eddie Hazel
Somaliland Ani Adi: Sahar Halgan
Badi Sabah Olmadan: Altin Gun

Nimerudi (Salmagundi Remix): GOAT and MC Yallah
Empire: Frankie and the Witch Fingers

The Smokey God: Glitter Wizzard
Bring Me Coffee or Tea: Can

Verwanlung: Embryo

Monaka: Kikagaku Moyo

Monday, March 10, 2025

Hell's Kitchen Radio #561: Set The Knight On Fire

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I think I'm finally getting a handle on this radio thing. I mean how hard can it be? 

I had a recurring dream about dead air. And what DJ hasn't had that dream? It's the worst! A song is quickly ending and I have nothing cued up. In reality I am the king of the last second cue. It's happened too many times to count.

That being said, 90% of the time I have many songs cued and ready to go. In my earliest days of radio I was trained to have a safety track ready just in case a song ends and I have nothing else set. At Radio Valencia we have two turntable, two CD players, and two aux cords, which most hosts use for their laptops. I use the Mixxx app with four channels. This means at any one time I can have eight songs ready to play.

There really is no excuse for dead air. 

I spent a couple years at KALX leading up to COVID. I recall heading into the studio one night. I had a graveyard shift that I thought was running 1-3am. I was told to arrive at midnight to cover a pre-recorded show, just to be told by a staffer who was there when I arrived that my show actually starts at midnight and not 1am. It was about 11:57 at that time. I calmly seated myself, cued up a song and started the show. 

The young staffer was anxious about me not being able to start on time. When I did she noted how calm I was about the whole thing. This is what experience gets you. Just chill out and drop the needle. 

As for this show I dropped the needle on some killer tracks by amazing artists. 

I quickly pay tribute to the late David Johansen of the New York Dolls who passed away last week. I was lucky to see a late version of the NY Dolls in Washington DC in 2008. It was Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain backed by a young rhythm section, but they were incredible!

I saw some incredible modern country/western at The Ivy Room last week with local guitarist and singer Mitch Polzak, and Portland's Jenny Don't and the Spurs were in town. That was one helluva show! I spoke to Mitch after his set and he listens to Radio Valencia! Thanks Mitch. What a pleasure. I'm going to have him on my show soon. I also got to speak to Jenny Don't after her set. She was kind enough to record a station promo for me as well. What a doll! Both bands are incredible. I strongly encourage you to check them out when they hit your town.

As always there's lots of new music tonight. Check out Ty Segall's new side project Freckle. Ambrose Kenny-Smith of King Gizzard also has a new side project that I was happy to get recently. New Population 11, Lambrini Girls (I'm really loving this band), and KnightressM1 featuring metal violinist Emily Palen now living in Paris. I miss my friend, but luckily she's continuing to record incredible music to share with the world.

I bought a bunch of records over the past week so tune in Monday to hear where John Hell's paycheck goes.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

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Trash: New York Dolls
Hate The Police: The Dicks
Twilight (Elliot Smith cover): Barbara Manning

Lonesome, On'ry and Mean: Mitch Polzak
Judgement Day: Jack O'Fire

Gimme A Penny: Big Mama Thornton
Swordfishtrombones: Tom Waits
Sun Rise: Rolf Harris
Steal Softly Through The Snow: Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band
Chinese New Year: Mulatu Astatke and The Heliocentrics

One More Night: Jenny Don't and the Spurs
Louie Louie: Thee Headcoats

Dark Horse: LA Witch
Shameless Imposter: Terry Gross
Anlatmam Derdimi: Altin Gün
Let Me Be Your Ragdoll: Barbara Dane

Who's Sitting on the Moon: Freckle
TV Glotzer (White Punks on Dope): Nina Hagen

Axis: KnightressM1
1970: Boris
No Home: Lambrini Girls

The Gloater: GUM, Ambrose Kenny-Smith
The Wheel: King Tuff

Le The Est Pret: Population II
From The First Hello To The Last Goodbye: Jane Morgan and the 450 Collegians

Monday, February 24, 2025

Hell's Kitchen Radio #560: Hell Gone Wrong

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Well hot damn that was a fun show to host. If you know me, then you know I don't much planning more than bringing a stack of vinyl that's calling my name, along with a ear worm or three I've had throughout the week. There's also that strong desire to play something that may be brand new to you.

You get all of the above for this show. I start out with some funk and soul, having just viewed that latest documentary about Sly Stone, brought to you by Questlove. Highly recommended. I get into some dub and jazz, before going the 60s strip/bachelor pad music. This takes us into some garage punk, and then we get even louder!

I travel two at least four continents on this show. I wasn't close to done when the two hour mark hit. Maybe you should tune in this coming Monday night to see what I have in store? What a fine idea. See you then.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

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I Ain't Got Nothing: Sly and the Family Stone
Full Experience: Aura with Lee Perry

Dread Lion: The Upsetters
Seconds Away: The Scientist

Congo Call: Princa Lasha Quintet
Hot Cha: Roland Kirk
Wowsville: Bob Taylor
Give Her The Axe, Max: Art Roberts
Rosie: The Mummies
Bring Her The Mirror: Shannon Shaw

I Wanna Lose: LA Witch
Magic Powers: Death Valley Girls

Taraval: Freckle (Ty Segall side project)
GFY: Amyl and the Sniffers
Company Culture: Lambrini Girls
Mad Moth: The Bobby Lees
Sister Dynamite: Alice Bag
Acetone: Mudhoney

Sharaf: Sahra Halgan
Ouroboros: GOAT

Area 51: Dead Moon
Danny: Heavy Blanket
Sweet Jane (live): Lou Reed

Whiskey In The Jar (acoustic): Thin Lizzy
Back In Judy's Jungle: Brian Eno
I Am Damo Suzuki: The Fall


Monday, February 17, 2025

Hell's Kitchen Radio #559: Not My President Special

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Well, you know, it's always a protest, even in the best of times. Use it, or lose, amiright?

Having a radio show on a Monday means I get to host a lot of national holidays. This isn't my first go-round on President's Day, but it sure feels like an extra special one, if you ask me. And it being Black History Month I felt that I could do a pretty good mash-up to boot.

Folks, it's official, we have a fascist for president. You can't say we don't. Even when people were claiming Shrub (George W. You, know: little Bush) was one, I was always quick to point out that he didn't fit the definition well enough, but if we aren't careful he'll set the stage for some else to come in who truly is one. Well, what do ya know? 

You disagree? That's fine. Tell me all about it in the comment section. I've been teaching history, civics and law for over 20 years now. When you have seen and taught what I have, the boxes get checked.

So luckily I have this here radio show that I can use, until they pry away from my cold, dead hands, to play you the music and share the commentary that you just aren't getting on other radio stations. Even the non-comms like KEXP, KFJC, WFMU, aren't talking openly about the politics of the day. And though Radio Valencia does not endorse a specific political point of view, we allow our DJs to share how they're feeling about the issues of the day. Just offer the disclaimer in there somewhere.

As for the music, it's a fabulous grab bag of funky, punky, junky and political delights.

And thank you all once again for contributing to our first ever "on air" fundraiser. We raised just short of $3000, all of which will go right into operations including a new and improved website coming soonish.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

Follow me on Blue Sky
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If There's A Hell Below: Curtis Mayfield
I'm A Conservative: Iggy Pop

Democracy: Leonard Cohen
This Is Not Normal: Negativland

My Favorite Mutiny: The Coup
The Pusher: Nina Simone
Prison Song: System of a Down
Nazi Punks Fuck Off: Dead Kennedys
Eric B Is President: Eric B and Rakim

Funky President: James Brown
When The Revolution Comes: The Last Poets
It Is What It Is (remix): Drumpf
I'm So Bored With the USA: The Clash

The American In Me: The Avengers
Freedom of Choice: Devo
Fascists Eat Donuts: Pop O Pies
Blowfly for President (feat. Afroman): Blowfly

My Uzi Weighs A Ton: Public Enemy
Rocket Reducer No. 62 (fa la la la la): MC5
Liilalaw: Sahra Halgar

For The Last Time: Freckle
As Tears Go By: Marianne Faithful

Talk To God: GOAT
Good Night, Sleep Tight: Lawrence Welk