Hell's Kitchen Radio #602: Tell Me Lies

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Hosting bands is a real treat when you're in radio. I remember being young in the radio game and getting nervous whenever I knew I had a recording artist coming onto my show. I did not want to mess this up. In those days at KFJC, most of the artists I would interview were either big names (George Clinton), or no names (you name it, they probably aren't around anymore). Either way I needed to be prepared.

And preparing pre-Internet was a chore. If the name was known (James Brown), the prep was simple (a brief history and mostly current project, tour, etc.). If they were a younger band with an album out, then I hoped there was enough bio info on the sleeve to help me prepare. Maybe the label would send something over?

The biggest lesson I learned about interview was to be a better listener. The best interviews are the ones where the follow-up questions are relevant and strong. I want to probe; get to the root. You will know the answer to my questions, but I want you to pause and reflect before you respond. My favorite response will always be "that's a really good question".

Over the years I've taken pride in how well I facilitate an interview. I've had many of my subjects state this was the best interview they've ever had. That's incredibly flattering. I love having my guests, famous or not, feel completely comfortable behind the mic. Some interviews I've hosted with bands have been so good I've invited them back with the caveat they need to guest DJ with me the nest time they're in. They love that, and many have taken me up on it.

Tonight I had Roman from P.O.S. in the studio promoting his upcoming show at the Mabuhay Gardens (FabMab) where he'll be turning 19!!! This was his first radio show, and I loved the conversation. He was so honest and vulnerable, and present. I could not ask for a better subject to talk with. 

Roman has a deep thrash metal pedigree. His father and uncle were in Death Angel, and band I loved while growing up in San Mateo in the 80s. Roman continues this tradition of quality thrash, with blinding-fast guitar, pounding rhythms, and timely lyrics about what it is to be a youth in today's society, living at the end of gangster capitalism.

They have a Bandcamp page where you can find their demo, which we played all four songs on the show. See the playlist below.

Come to Roman's birthday show this Saturday at the FabMab. You may just see me in the pit!

Do you have a band you want interviewed on Radio Valencia? Hit me up via email with music attached and I'll get in touch.

You may have heard the news that Jello Biafra suffered a stroke on Sunday. We're looking into the possibility hosting a fundraiser for him, but want to talk with him first. Stay tuned to the Radio Valencia socials for this.

We're also working on a summer show at On Broadway with their amazing crew, two of whom were in the
studio with me Monday night. Daniel "Asterisk" Haver, and Empress Katrina Zanotto hung out to talk music and running the most important club in San Francisco music history (IMHO). Daniel admitted to two things that you'll need to listen into to find out about. 

There's much to enjoy about this here show, even if there was a bit more roommate radio than I prefer. We laughed a lot, and that's what's most important.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

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Green Green Grass of Home: Tom Jones (Greatest Hits - 1967)
Stars and Stripes of Corruption: Dead Kennedys (Frankenchrist - 1985)
The Money Will Roll Right In: Fang (Land Shark - 1982)

Interview with Roman of P.O.S.

Deceiver: P.O.S.
Isolation: P.O.S.
Inhumanity: P.O.S.
Mauled: P.O.S.

Interview with Roman of P.O.S.

Rebel: The Viletones (7" - 1977)

Sit on My Face Stevie Nicks: The Rotters (7" - 1978)
You Say You Love Me: The Headcoatees (Here Comes Cessation - 1997)

Love Whip: Reverend Horton Heat (Smoke 'em if you Got 'em - 1990)

Cornfed Dames: The Cramps (A Date with Elvis - 1986)

She's The One That's Got It: Allen Page (7" - 1958)

The Girl Can't Dance: Bunker Hill (7" - 1963 with Link Wray)

Do You Have A Job For A Girl Like Me: The Delinquents (7" - 1973)

Your Ass Is Next In Line: The Mummies (Never Been Caught - 1992)
Batman and Robin Over The Rooftops: Sun Ra (Batman & Robin - 1966)

Would It be Worth It: Hands of Time (7" - 1969???)

Sloppy Drunk Blues: Big Joe Williams (Tough Times - 1960)

John The Relevator: Scott H. Biram (Sold Out To The Devil - 2019)
You Got Me: Theoretical Girls (7" - 1978)

Mexican Radio: Wall of Voodoo (Call of the West - 1982)

White Girl: X (Wild Gift - 1981)

Tell Me That You Love Me: James Brown and His Famous Flames (7" - 1966)

Egyptian Shumba: The Tammys (7" - 1964)

What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong (What A Wonderful World - 1967)

The Way We Were: Wild Man Fischer and Mark Mothersbaugh (1989 for Pee Wee's Playhouse's final episode)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #601: What You Leave Behind

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And the hits just keep on rolling.

Following our exciting Saturday at the FabMab and On Broadway, celebrating the 50th anniversary of punk rock in San Francisco, booker of the Mabuhay Gardens (and General Manager???) Daniel Haver, who was kind enough to bring down a bunch of delightfully rare 45s.

I ended up having the legendary Connie Champagne in the studio, who was meeting Daniel there to pick up her music stand.

Connie spent many great years singing with The Mutants, along with her own solo career, and singing alongside other luminaries such as Michael Belfer, Debora Iyall, Cyndi Lauper, and Jim Carroll.

She won the SF Weekly Wammie Award for Outstanding Cabaret Performer, and is known for portraying Judy Garland in productions including Christmas With the Crawfords in 2001 and Imagine Judy Garland: An Evening With Connie Champagne in 2003. She won a 2007 San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Award (BACTC) for her role in Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

She's funny, irreverent, an excellent storyteller, and ready with a well-timed quip. It was a real pleasure - albeit a surprising one - hosting her tonight. 

Really, she was just swinging by to pick up her music stand. 

Much of the music tonight was a mix of what I brought down, mixed with what Daniel wanted to feature on 45". And then Connie made a bunch of requests, including a song of David Johnasen's that she covered! This woman has a story for every song. And I'm sure a song for every story.

You do not want to miss this one.

I may get to a formal write up about the FabMab/On Broadway show, including a bunch of pics I took. I have to thank Jess Lynn Goss of Mission Local for the wonderful write up on the show, which includes a bunch of great picture from the night, including one of my dear sweet daughter, Lauson Hell!!!!

Monday night I'm hosting Ramon from the band P.O.S. (Product and Society) and son of a member of Death Angel)), who is having his birthday party at the Fab Mab on March 13th. Come on down!

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

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I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier: John Lennon (Imagine - 1971)
Nuclear War: Sun Ra (A Fireside Chat With Lucifer - 1982)

Bend Me, Shape Me: The Models (7" - 1966)
Black Grease: The Black Angles (Passover - 2006)

Mind Your Business: Delta 5 (7" - 1979)
Death Train: The Bobby Lees (Bellevue - 2024)
Ça Plane Pour Moi: Plastic Bertrand (Ça Plane Pour Moi - 1978)
Toxic Revenge: Shannon and the Clams (Sleep Talk - 2011)

Interview with Connie Champagne

Slash Your Face: The Dogs (7" - 1978)
Gacy's Place: The Mentally Ill (7" - 1979)
Instant Coffee Land: Bruce Chowning (7" - 1979)
Motorcycle Boy: LA Witch (Play with Fire - 2020)
Everything's Gonna Be Alright: Big Mama Mae Thornton (With Muddy Waters Band - 1966)

Frenchette: Connie Champagne (La Strada - 1991)
So Hard: Some Japanese Band
Don't Talk About My Music: Dickens (7" - 1971)
I'm Bored: Iggy Pop (New Values - 1979)

Demolicion: Los Saicos (7" - 1965)
A Donde Van Los Muertos: Kinky (Reina - 2006)

Linda: Sleepers (7" - 1978)

Radio Valencia Celebrates 50 Years of Punk In San Francisco

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Leading up to our epc co-presents at the fabled Mabuhay Gardens and On Broadway I hosted a rare Friday night special with two up and coming bands: False Flag and Bitchfit. Both bands played the evening showcase on Saturday night, upstairs at the On Broadway in support of Flipper and Friends and the 50th anniversary celebration of punk in San Francisco and the opening of the Fab Mab.

False Flag features sisters Pretty Sims (bass/vocals), Strong Sims (guitar/vocals) and Bayden Tubelle (drums). The will assault all manners of pretense once the curtain drops and they will not let up until they've been dragged from the stage, cables wrapped around their limbs like a junkie waiting for just one more aural fix. Lyrics born of urban decay and blight from a male-dominated culture, False Flag aren't just re-writing what the many-facetted  genre of punk looks like in 2026, they honestly don't care what you think about them. They don't do this for you. They do what every band that has ever been worth their weight has done: they do it for themselves, and you should thank your lucky stars they let you be along for the ride.

We played some songs and talked about music, their band, the record store I Hate Records that Pretty is also running (like they aren't busy enough), and setting the story straight on what exactly happened on that BART train.

Following False Flag the young start ups, Bitchfit from Oakland came through. They opened the show on Saturday night, and even though they don't have anything released yet, their reputation of fierce females on this scene proceeded itself. Full of charisma, confidence and hardcore ethos, Talulah (drums) and Ailish (bass/vocals) talked about bringing topics like body positivity, human rights politics and what we should be angry about today!

Witnessing both bands on stage Saturday night was a treat. The torch is firmly placed in the fists of both of these bands.

The image at the top is the poster created by the one and only Richie Goodtimes for the event. Thanks Richie. 

Check out the interviews here, along with music from False Flag and a bunch of other punks I love.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Glorious: Polkacide

Party!: The Mutants

Interview with False Flag

How To Ruin Your Life: False Flag

Ha Ha Ha: Flipper
California Uber Alles: Dead Kennedys

Interview with False Flag

Corpus Christi: Avengers

One Man War: False Flag

Interview with False Flag

The Midnight Show: The Freak Accident
Fascists Eat Donuts: Pop-O-Pies

Boris: Melvins

Business on Parade: MDC
The Shah Sleeps in Lee Harvey's Grave: Butthole Surfers

Put A Little Love In Your Heart: Circle Jerks

Police Truck: Dead Kennedys

Interview with Bitch Fit

Midnight Creep: The Darts

Hellfudge: Lard

Interview with Bitch Fit

Keith Moon: Mike Krol

Frock Block: OSees

X Offender: Blondie

Nothing In This World Stop Me Thinking About That Girl: The Kinks
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

My posts are never written using AI of any kind. This shitty writing is mine and mine alone.

Hell's Kitchen Radio #600: Freaky Mutant Crime

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What a delight it was celebrating my 600th show on Radio Valencia by hosting four musicians who helped shape the punk history in San Francisco. 

Who would have thought when I started my road in radio in the late 80s, that I would grow up to hosts legends of a music scene that was too young to enjoy when it was at its height, but came to love it deeply?

I have always followed my bliss. Music has always been my bliss. I'm not much of a fanboy...Ok, maybe for Ty Segall, but other than that I just really enjoy being around music and musicians, for the love of the art. I like talking music. I love reading about music. My favorite books about music are when the artist is talking about making the art. Keith Richard's book "Life" does this well.

37 years in radio (yikes!) has honored me with seeing some incredible live music, interviewing countless bands, and getting to know some of the finest people to grace a stage. I'm living the life! Monday night I was lucky to host four people who have made their mark on the San Francisco music scene, and will be doing so once again this coming Saturday at the newly reopened Mabuhay Gardens and On Broadway in North Beach.

Fritz and Brendan from The Mutants, Henry Rosenthal (Hank Rank) of Crime, and Ralph Spight of The Freak Accident spent the evening with me telling tales of the heyday of punk in the city, and the venue that sparked the magic. Music from these bands and other bands of the day are sprinkled throughout, all in preparation for a great night at the FabMab and On Broadway.

I am honored to be co-producing this show with Steve DePace of Flipper. Radio Valencia is co-presenting and will be spinning music throughout the night. And I'm your MC!!!

Tickets are almost gone for these two events, so please follow the links embedded in the posters to grab yours before they're gone.

Tune in Friday 8-10PM Pacific for a special on the upcoming live shows, featuring Steve DePace of Flipper, and members of BitchFit and False Flag.

Here's to 600 more shows on Radio Valencia!!!

jh

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

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The Catholics Are Attacking: Pop-O-Pies (The White EP - 1982)

Car Crash: Avengers (ST - 1983)

Wild: The Nuns (S/T - 1980)

White Punks on Dope: The Tubes (S/T - 1975)

B-Side: Sleepers (7" - 1980)
Plastic TV Land on Acid: Pope Paul Pot

San Francisco's Doomed: Crime (San Francisco's Doomed - 1978)
Rock 'N' Enemy No. 1: Crime (San Francisco's Doomed - 1978)

Murder By Guitar: Crime (Murder By Guitar 1976 - 1980)

Party!: The Mutants (Curse of the Easily Amused - Recorded in 1979, Released in 2026)
New Drug (Version 2): The Mutants ( Fun Terminal - 1979)

Noises and Numbers: The Mutants (Curse of the Easily Amused - Recorded in 1979, Released in 2026)

Fairytales: The Freak Accident (The Midnight Show - 2026)

Cat Bird Seat: The Freak Accident (The Midnight Show - 2026)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #599: Getting Ready For A Road Trip

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I found that I was drawn to jazz and soulful international music this past week. Someone recently asked me how I prepare for my shows. I've written about this before, but I think it bares repeating. I don't host a specialty show, or genre-specific show, so I play whatever feels good, week to week. It's true, I often default towards the punk or garage, but even that's more rare than one would think. I'm a huge Deadhead (more of a Dead fReAk) but you're not going to hear them too often on here, and I think that's because they're such a heavy in my everyday life, that I use this show to focus on the other music that turns me on.

And there's a lot that turns me on.

I also like to keep you guessing. I was driving home after my show listening to KALX, and the DJ was playing an excellent thrash punk track, and followed it up with something that was neo-classical. I swear I almost pulled over to call and thank him. I applauded in the car, while driving. True story.

I feel that it's the responsibility of DJs at independent stations (Radio Valencia, KFJC, KALX, WFMU, KEXP, etc) to push the limits of what we have become comfortable with; not just what the listener is used to hearing. I take pride in a lot of what I share with you. 

I do have my guilty pleasures, however. Even in this show I played a few tracks that I've shared over the years. It felt right at the time. And I will probably do it again. 

But now I'm inspired to keep taking the risks that I should. Next week prepare for thrash metal to be followed by folk, followed by electronica. I can do that. You can't stop me.

Speaking of next week, it's my 600th show at Radio Valencia!!! I think I want to have a party. Wanna come? You need to bring snacks.

And as if you didn't know this already, Radio Valencia is co-presenting a huge show on February 28th at the newly reformed Mabuhay Gardens and On Broadway in celebration of 50 years of punk in San Francisco. I'm co-producing this along with Steve DePace of Flipper. See the attached fliers for details, and click on the links (in the fliers) to get your tickets.

 

These shows will sell out, so get them now!!!

See you next Monday night for my 600th!

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

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There Is Power in the Union: Billy Bragg
I Want To Marry A Lighthouse Keeper: Erika Eigen
The Hands of Time: The Perfect Circle (S/T - 1977)

California Dreaming: Eddie Hazel (Games, Dames, and Guitar Thangs - 1977)
Unfunky UFO: Parliament (Mothership Connection - 1975)

Kush: Dizzy Gillespie (Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac - 1967)

Baroona: Kourosh Yaghmaei (Back From The Brink - 1973 - 1979)
Last Bongo in Belgium: Incredible Bongo Band (40 Years of Incredible Bongo Band - 1973)

The Horse Song: Iggy Pop (Zombie Birdhouse - 1981)
Roforofo Fight: Fela Kuti (Roforofo Fight - 1972)

Ring the Alarm: Tenor Saw (7" - 1985)
Gatur Bait: The Gaturs (Wasted - 1971)
Boodle-De-Bum-Bum: Carolina Chocolate Drops (Leaving Eden- 2012)
Anti-Love Song: Betty Davis (Betty Davis - 1974)
Spinning Wheel (Take 2): James Brown (Live At Home With His Bad Self: The After Show - 1971)

Conception: Miles Davis (The New Sounds - 1951)
The Rain: Eddie Gale (Ghetto Music - 1968)

In The Great Gettin' Up In The Morning: The New Gospel Keys

Hell's Kitchen Radio #598: Nothing To See Here

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Well, isn't this special? It's not a special. There's a specialization in the ability to bring your something special. I was told once it takes 20 years to master anything truly special. That being said, this here is a special non-specialty specialized....er, um...show. 

Really.

I was really feeling it tonight. This was a show of segues and many genres. 

I'm sure you've heard by now that Radio Valencia is co-presenting a huge show, in association with SF Music Week on February 28th at the legendary venues Mabuhay Gardens and On Broadway in celebration of 50 years of punk in San Francisco. 

Come in the afternoon, starting at 2pm, to the Fab Mab, for a punk history presentation, followed by a panel featuring members of Flipper, Avengers and Crime, as well as V. Vale. I Hate Records will be selling records on site. The best pizza place in the country, Tony's Napoletana, is sponsoring and we'll have pizza available for those who show up early.

In the evening we're having a great show upstairs starting at 7:30, featuring Bitchfit, False Flag, The Freak Accident, Fang and Flipper. Members of Avengers and Dead Kennedys will be joining in the fun. Heaps Normal and Escape From New York Pizza are sponsoring. 

You are going to tell everyone you were at this show!

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Morning Has Broken: Cat Stevens (Teaser and the Firecat - 1971)

Space Ho's Coast to Coast: MF Doom and Madlib (Madvillian: Madvillainy Remixes - 2008)

Two Sevens Clash: Culture (Two Sevens Clash -1977)

Jungle Lion: The Upsetters (Double Seven - 1973)

Flying Hye: John Berberian and The Middle Eastern Ensemble (S/T - 1969)

Black Mountain Side: Led Zeppelin (1 - 1968)

Within You Without You: The Beatles (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - 1967)

Free Money: Patti Smith Group (Horses - 1975)

Sunderberry Dream: FUZZ (Fuzz's Fourth Dream - 2026)

If I Think: Mudhoney (Superfuzz Bigmuff - 1988)

Frenzy: Iggy Pop (Every Loser - 2023)

Roll Another Number: Neil Young and Crazy Horse (Tonight's The Night - 1975)

Since You've Been Gone: Aretha Franklin (Lady Soul - 1968)

Beaux J. Poo Boo: Les McCann (Invitation to Openness - 1972)

False Witness: False Flag (One Million Tons - 2024)

Black Sabbath: Michael Mills (Hidden And Satanic Messages In Rock Music -???)

Lord of This World: Black Sabbath (Master of Reality - 1971)

Freya: The Sword (Age of Winters - 2006)

American BB: The Jesus Lizard (Down - 1994)

Fast Cars: Buzzcocks (Another Music in a Different Kitchen - 1978)

Rowche Rumble: The Fall (Live at St. Helens Technical College - 1981)

No Time For The Blues: OBNIII's (Live in San Francisco - 2013)

No Place to Fall: Kevin Morby (7" - 2022)

Late Night: Shannon Lay (Geist - 2022)

What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

Hell's Kitchen Radio #597: Best of 2025

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What music caught your attention last year? Did you even pay attention? Of course you did. You have discerning taste. Only the best of the best attracts you. Nothing worth your time will slip past. 

Great minds...

I present to you my favorites from 2025. It's hard to conceive that we're a quarter of the way through this century. I remember the 80s and 90s, when 2000 seemed so close we could touch it. I was DJing at midnight on Y2K at Anon Salon for the monthly Burning Man parties in San Francisco. That was a great party we used to have. That night was off the hook. 

The host of those parties always wanted to pay me in coke. I don't do coke. I've never done coke. I've done many other things; never coke. I used to tell him that my landlord didn't take coke in payment. Someone ought to write about those parties. They were epic. A true who's-who in the early Burning Man scene, long before the term "burner" was ever used. Back then we were just a bunch of pranksters who liked to build big art, put on huge parties, and burn it all down. 

Good times. Then again there are always good times to be had. 

This show is nothing but good times too. Most of the show are releases from 2025, and I throw in some epic anniversary remastered reissues in the final hour. 

Are you coming to our SantaCon after party this Thursday night at Kilowatt? Talk about a good time! Radio Valencia DJs will be spinning throughout the night. Bring your piggy bank, this is also a fundraiser for the station. 

Go out and make some good times of your own.

jh

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

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Lonely Cosmos: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (Phantom Island)
Company Culture: Lambrini Girls (Who Let The Dogs Out?)

Paranoid: Freckle (Freckle)
I Hunt, You Prey: LA Witch (DOGGOD)

Rakiya Su Katamam: Altin Gun (Ask)
Nimerudi: GOAT + MC Yallah (Single)
Sister of the Moon: Death Valley Girls (Single)

Total Reset: Frankie and the Witch Fingers (Trash Classic)

King of Rome: Melvins 1983 (Thunderball)

Mangetout: Wet Leg (Moisturizer)

Ageism: Public Enemy (Black Sky Over The Projects - Apartment 2025)

I Once Was A Contender: Kate Vargas (Golden Hour In The House of Lugosi)

First of the Gang To Die: Chrissie Hynde and Cat Power (Duets Special)

Evil People: MIEN (MIIEN)

Glue: OSees (Abomination Revealed At Last)

An L.A. Funeral: Orcutt, Shelly, Miller (S/T)
Albuquerque: Neil Young and Crazy Horse (Tonight's The Night 50th Anniversary Remaster)

Castles Made Of Sand: Jimi Hendrix (Axis: Bold As Love - 2025 Remaster)

Wish You Were Here (Take 1): Pink Floyd (Wish You Were Here 50th Anniversary)

The Real Contra Band: Psychedelic Porn Crumpets (Pogo Rodeo)

Not of This World: Zig Zags (Deadbeat at Dawn)

Working Man (Vault Edition): Rush (Rush 50)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #596: So Long, Ace

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Damn. 

I knew when I was in my early 20s that eventually they would all be gone. That's a thought we all probably have about our favorite artist: one day they'll be gone. For the most part we note it and move on. But what about when that band is our calling? The go-to band. The band that you have invested so much of your musical life to? 

They're still going to go.

Brent went in 1990. Jerry went in 1995. Phil in 2024. Donna in 2025. The way Bobby, the youngest, worked out, daily, I think we all expected him to be the last to go. When we heard of his passing it was a shock. I'm not on social media I don't know if there were stories of him having a cancer scare last summer, which the family said he was able to get past; lung issues eventually did him in. 

Bobby was known to spit out the lyrics, and I mean literally. If you stood in the crowd in front of him there were chances you would get a shower. He was such a crooner in the 90s, really playing to the crowd. 

I've written a lot about my time seeing the Grateful Dead over the years. The 40th anniversary of my first show just passed: December 30, 1985. Post-Dead I saw a few of the incarnations. I saw Phil a few times, went to the two days of Fare Thee Well in 2015 in Santa Clara, saw Dead and Co twice a decade or so ago. I'm happy the music continued to bring so much joy to so many people, and brought in a lot more fans. 

Bobby postulated about the music lasting 300 years. I'd have to imagine that's possible. There are so many people who have been inspired by the music created by Jerry and the boys, that it is conceivable it will grow and morph into the band that be "most triumphant and unite the world". And here you thought it would be Wyld Stallyns.

So here we are, closer than ever to being the orphans we knew we would one day be. Has anyone checked in on Billy, Mickey, TC, Ned and Bruce? If you know, you know.

As for this here tribute, I think Bobby would appreciate what he sees. I start out with an acoustic set, with a few special guests. I then move on to a proper first set, with those first set songs you've come to know and love, before moving onto the second set jams we all live for. 

There is minimal set breaks throughout the show. I marked each track with the date of the performance. There were two shows in 1978, when Jerry had laryngitis, that each song was a Bobby songs. These are all Bobby songs, with only four cover songs. I've also linked all the shows to Archive so you can listen to them all the way through. And you want to do that. All the links are soundboard or matrix (mix of soundboard and audience. I grew up thinking I only wanted to listen to pristine soundboards, but once I started to give audience recordings a listen that what I listen to almost exclusively. The sound of the crowd interacting with the music is a real treat.

What else is there to say? Thanks Ace, it's been a true pleasure. Oh, I always wanted to ask how the hell you grew to look so damn old all of a sudden? And why the beard? You went from being so young a fit, to someone's grandfather over night.

You still rocked like a young man. See you on the other side; wherever that is

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

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Green, Green Grass of Home - May 31, 1969
Dark Hollow - September 20, 1970 with Dave Grisman
Wake Up Little Susie - June 4, 1970 with David Nelson and John "Marmaduke" Dawson
Monkey and the Engineer - October 11, 1980
Cassidy - October 14, 1980

Jack Straw - January 22, 1978
Beat It On Down The Line - April 26, 1971 with Duane Allman
Yellow Dog Story - May 24, 1969
Mexicali Blues - August 27, 1972
New New Minglewood Blues - March 9, 1981

Greatest Story Ever Told - September 28, 1972 (with St. Stephen jam)
The Music Never Stopped - May 9, 1977

Estimated Prophet - December 26, 1979
Take a Step Back - May 8, 1977
Playin' In The Band - February 18, 1971 (the first one)
New Potato Caboose - February 14, 1968

Throwing Stones - October 09, 1989
Sugar Magnolia - November 11, 1973

Hell's Kitchen Radio #595: Rickshaw Throwdown

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What a jolly fine night this was. My good buddy John Karr, who runs sound at Rickshaw Stop came by with his colleague, Carmen Caruso, to talk up the club and spin some tunes from some upcoming shows. What makes this a hoot is that the staff of Rickshaw Stop are the one's curating the shows. This doesn't happen often, and when it does the staff bring together some really strong showcases.

I love talking music with people who know music. And it's a real treat to talk cross industry: radio and nightclub. We're all linked, you know. Artist, radio, clubs, record stores, promoters, critics. When we get together it's like we're comparing notes; a mind meld.

Carmen is also the fierce leader of the band Agouti, who is playing one of the showcases. The set that features her band also includes the other two who are on the bill, the Thursday. John and Carmen put this showcase together.

The following set of bands, featuring Gumby's Junk, is for the showcase that John Karr has put together for Thursday, January 22nd. 

I love when people who know and love music as much as I do turn me on to really great stuff. Feel free to share what you love with me. It may just get a spin.

John and I also tease an event that Radio Valencia is co-presenting at the end of February. I am just popping at the seams to tell you about it, but you'll just have to wait until next week for the official announcement. Suffice it to say if you hunger for the deep Punk history of San Francisco then you are going to flip for this!

Check out the playlist below and click on the link above to listen in.

Go see live local music and support the artists by buying their records and merch!

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

Follow me on Blue Sky
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook
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Truckin': Pop O Pies (The White EP - 1982)

Linda Blair: Redd Kross

Music Never Stopped: Grateful Dead (Blues for Allah - 1975)

Dragons: Agouti (Nodes - 2019)

Friendo: Grooblen (EP - 2025)

Living In A Flood: Everyone is Dirty (Caramels for Grandpa - 2023)

Stayin Alive by the Bee Gees: Gumby's Junk (Business and Pleasure - 2025)

Discover What Your Monsters Are: Rip Room (Alight and Resound - 2022)

Goblin Gruel Part 1: Inner Ear Brigade (Perkunas - 2024)

The Light, The Sound: Flipper (Gone Fishin' - 1984)

Paint It Black: Avengers (S/T - 1983)

Frustration: Crime (San Francisco's Doomed - 1978)

Wild: The Nuns (S/T - 1980)

Holiday in Cambodia: Dead Kennedys (Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables - 1980)

Bar-B-Que Pope: Butthole Surfers (Brown Reason To Live - 1983)

Irony Man: The Freak Accident (Octopus Head - 2022)

Youth of America: Melvins (Electroretard - 2001)

Silver Machine: Hawkwind (Live at the BBC 1972 - 2010)

A Writhing Jar: Bill Orcutt (Odds Again Tomorrow

Hell's Kitchen Radio #594: How Bad Can It Be?

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I just read that for the first time since 2000 California is 100% drought free. For those who are 25 they have only known life either in a drought, going into a drought, or coming out of one. If that snow pack is deep then this might just be a good year for the Golden state! 

And it's a new year for Radio Valencia! We've had a lot of ups and downs over the year, especially since COVID, but 2025 was a banner year! I am thrilled about the many new shows we've added, and even more so about the people staffing them. The tech side is getting a huge boost from some folks on staff who come with the credentials to bring us into the 21st century. Stay tuned in!

In the next week I have huge news to announce about a show I'm co-producing out the wilds of North Beach, at a once legendary venue that has new life being breathed into it. I am so excited about this, but I will not jump the gun. This will be a Radio Valencia co-presents, and you are going to want to be there. This is the kind of event that more people will claim to have attended than the venue can actually hold.

Wheeeeeeeeeeee!

As for this here show, being the first of the new year, I felt the need for a bit of a refresh. Some classic psych, blues, Black Power, folk, spiritual jazz, garage, krautrock, chicha, and so much more. 

Take a look at the playlist below, and click that link to give it a listen.

This coming Monday night I'm excited to have San Francisco's top soundman, John Karr in the studio, playing music from the many shows he engineers around the city and talking up this upcoming show I spoke about above. Oooh boy, this is going to be fun.

You do not want to miss this show.

Enjoy and please share.   

jh

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

Follow me on Blue Sky
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook
Follow Radio Valencia on Instagram

Some Velvet Morning: Vanilla Fudge (Near the Beginning - 1968)

White Man's Got A God Complex: Last Poets (This is Madness - 1971)

Crawlin' King Snake: John Lee Hooker (I'm John Lee Hooker - 1960)

My Time After A While: Buddy Guy (Chess Masters - 1984)

Memory of a Free Festival: David Bowie (Conversation Piece 5 CD Box Set - 2019)

Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues: Bob Dylan (Highway 61 Revisited - 1965)

Peace Frog/Blue Sunday: The Doors (Morrison Hotel - 1968)

There She Goes My Beautiful World: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Abattoir Blues - 2004)

Looking for Your Door (Chrome): OSees (Levitation Sessions II - 2021)

21st Century Schizoid Man: King Crimson (In The Court of the Crimson King - 1969)

Hare Krishna: Alice Coltrane (Universal Consciousness - 1971)

What's In My Head (Demo): FUZZ (Fuzz's Fourth Dream - 2025)

Broken Hearted Blue: Jenny Don't and the Spurs (Broken Hearted Blue - 2023)

Spray: Can (Future Days - 1973)
Footprints: Wayne Shorter (Adam's Apple - 1966)

King Solomon's Marbles: Grateful Dead (Blues for Allah - 1975)

Ojos Azure: Money Chicha (Chicha Summit - 2021)

Gaia: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (Omnium Gatherum - 2022)