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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Listen into all my shows here!

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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

Follow me on Blue Sky
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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