Hell's Kitchen Radio #617: Is This Thing On?

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

I was feeling in the grove...er, groove tonight. In the groove. Yeah, that's it. Hmmmmmmm

A Monday without a guest is a rare thing these days, so I took the opportunity to go deeper into my library, which included a few CDs. I know, I know. this is not my normal thing, but there were a few songs that have been going through my mind that I only own on CD. You have to understand, the 90s and 00s it was hard to find your favorite artists releasing anything new on vinyl. CD was King there for a wee bit.

I remember working at Tower Records in San Mateo (88-91), and they were making the transition away from vinyl. The staff was in an uproar about this, as we all knew CDs were a fad, like the 8-track tape. Since production costs for CDs were so low, it was attractive to the company to go in this direction. And for too many years it played this way. Unless an artist was with a vinyl-friendly label, or self-releasing, they had to go with CDs. 

I collected a lot of CDs during these years. Thousands. For a number of years I had quite an impressive CD shelving setup that I built myself. Floor to ceiling, twelve feet across, 12 shelves. Thousands of CDs, all organized by genre. And then I moved to a smaller home and away went the shelves, as I had to place them all into binders. And the binders sit in my closet. Since then I don't spend much time playing them. But there they sit. And there's some good stuff in those binders! 

So tonight I had a few songs in my head that were laying low in my closet. Eight of the songs I played tonight are on CD. Not that you're keeping count. I may need to pull more from there, or at least not hde the binders away in my closet.

New music from Earth Tongue (produced by Ty Segall), Angine de Poitrine, Surprise Privilege, and OSees tonight. There's a remaster/reissue from Aretha Franklin in there, an NWA edit you didn't know you needed too. 

Daniel Haver from the FabMab was in...and is quickly becoming my foil in the best sense. He brought some truly "great" 7"s that'll leave you as stumped as we were trying to figure out just exactly how old Sheila Raye is...or was. 24? 57? Who knows? 

If this isn't a show that's chock full of punk, funk and junk, then I'll throw my CD collection away.

Take a look at the playlist below and click the link that's somewhere in here to listen back to the show.

I'm going to have legendary photographer Jim Jocoy, known for his profiles on SF punk in the 70s and 80s on my show soon. I can't wait to talk to him about his years serving and showcasing this incredible history. 

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

In Frisco: Pop O Pies (7"- 1983)
Jesus Was Way Cool: King Missile (CD Single - 1991)
Don't Cry Baby: Aretha Franklin (Forever Young - 2026)

Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again: Bob Dylan (Blonde on Blonde - 1966)
Every Grain of Sand: Giant Sand (Swerve - 1990)

Funka Billy Groove: Sheila Raye and the Great Highway Funka Billy Band (7" - 1977?)
Dust My Broom: Hound Dog Taylor (Beware of the Dog - 1976)
Anything Goes: Michael John and Kimberly (7" - 1983)

Dungeon Vision: Earth Tongue (Dungeon Vision - 2026)
Emmaline: Urge Overkill (Supersonic Storybook - 1991)
N.E.S.T.A.: Antibalas (Liberation Afrobeat, Vol. 1 - 2000)
Monkey Man: Rolling Stones (Let It Bleed - 1969)

Sherpa: Angine de Poitrine (Volume 1 - 2026)
Fuck the Police (Fuck Edit): NWA
T for Texas: Toshio Hirano 

Lady in Red: Surprise Privilege (Hard Listen - 2026)
Sunset on the Alamo: Jenny Don't and the Spurs (Call of the Road - 2017)
Buenos Tardes Amigo: Ween (Chocolate and Cheese - 1994)
The First Vietnamese War: The Black Angels (Passover - 2006)

Almost in the Hole: Seompi (7" - 1970)
N.I.B.: Brownout (Brown Sabbath Vol 1 - 2014)
Joro: OSees (Cara Maluco - 2026)
The Way We Were: Wild Man Fischer and Mark Mothersbaugh)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #616: Rock Em Sock Em

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

Summer has reared its face in San Francisco, which means "June Gloom" and I'm here for it! I love it! Give me a fog tan and I'm a happy boy! And no guests means I can play what's been on repeat in the Hell household this past week. 

I've been shopping a lot the past few weeks, and it's not going to slow down. East Bay stores like Down Home Records and Moving Records are always a treat to stop by when I have time to dig. Without listing every store I've been patronizing, I can tell you the crate digging has been a delight. 

And then there are the times I shop at home! If you have a record collection then you know there are the moments when you forget that you own that particular album. It doesn't happen often, but when it does it lends a look of confusion and surprise to my face. And why not? I think I've only inadvertently purchased records I've already owned a couple of time. That's the danger though of a growing collection.

This week only about 25% of the show came from my library. Most are new, and of course Daniel from the Mab came through and offered some tasty treats to Hell's Kitchen Radio (marked with "DH"). I love having Daniel hang out. We're getting a great crew in the studio on Monday nights. 

Come on down and join the live studio audience (the crowd goes wild!!!).

This Monday I don't have any guests scheduled (though we may see Daniel again), so that means all music. And like last week I have a few new additions to the current rotation. Tune in and find out what it'll be.

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

In Frisco: Pop-O-Pies (7" - 1983)
The Fire of Love: Joe Christ (7" - 1991)
Texas Serenade: The Gun Club (Miami - 1982)

Wasps From Samoa: Surprise Privilege (Single - 2026)
Loaded Gun: Reverend Horton Heat (Full Custom Gospel Sounds of... - 1993)
Go To Satan: Rube Waddell (Hobo Train - 2009)

Give: The Bobby Lees (New Self - 2026)
Hard On For Love: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Your Funeral...My Trial - 1986)
Love Buzz: Shocking Blue (S/T - 1967)
The Creole Love Call: Roland Kirk (The Inflated Tear - 1968)

Decartes: Sprints (All That Is Over - 2026)
Pablo Picasso: Modern Lovers (S/T - 1976)

Psycho Killer: Talking Heads (Tentative Decisions - 2026)
You Keep On Looking: Gary Wilson (You Think You Really Know Me - 1977) - DH
Hot On The Heels of Love: Throbbing Gristle (20 Jazz Funk Greats - 1979) - DH
Make Him Want It: Hugh S. Bell (How To Be A Success In Life Insurance Selling - 1972)
Advantage: Septic Death (Now That I Have Your Attention... - 1985)

Super Bug Live: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (2026)
Law and Order: Fang (Land Shark - 1982)

Fire and Brimstone: Primitive Ring (S/T - 2026)
Abre Camino: Death Valley Girls (Darkness Falls - 2018)
I Hunt You Pray: LA Witch (DOGGOD - 2025)

Hunger For A Way Out: Sweeping Promises (Hunger For A Way Out - 2020)
Pigs On The Wing Parts 1 and 2: Pink Floyd (8 Tracks - 2026)

Apache Talk: Luiz Bonfá (Jacaranda - 1973)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #615: Surprise Privilege

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

What a treat! Monday night I had Cody and Joey from Surprise Privilege come through talking about their new album, Hard Listen. They had a lot of great stories to share about being a Tardcore band in San Francisco. We played over 90 minutes of music from their growing catalogue. I really appreciate how articulate they both are about the music they're making as well as their thoughts on the current music scene and their place in it.

Pretty Sims from False Flag was also in the studio to talk a bit about the new album, Art School.

We also get to learn what F.Y.J.F.Y. stand for. It's exactly what you think it stands for.

Pretty and Cody own I Hate Records on Haight Street. This is a small but very mighty store that focuses on Punk, but you can find music from many genres as well as some sweet swag from the store, and some thrift items you didn't know you needed. Stop by and tag their walls. They'll thank you for it.

I Hate Records also celebrated their one year anniversary on June 13th with both bands performing live in the store. That was a blast to be a part of. They should do that every month!

The music scene is alive and (literally) kicking in San Francisco.

Enjoy and please share.

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

The Return of Jackie and Judy: Tom Waits (Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards 2006)
Midnight Creep: The Darts (Halloween Love Songs - 2026)
Victoria: The Kinks (Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) - 1969)

Death to Dead People: Surprise Privilege (Expand Material Catalogue - 2021)
I Think Really Hard: Surprise Privilege (Expand Material Catalogue - 2021)
She Looks Like A Millipede: Surprise Privilege (White Girl Music - 2021)

Your Family Will Never Find Your Corpse: Surprise Privilege (White Girl Music - 2021)
Ew, Why Are You So Ugly?: Surprise Privilege (White Girl Music - 2021)
PSY 101 Tells Me You Suck: Surprise Privilege (White Girl Music - 2021)
B-Boy: Surprise Privilege (Quiet Reading Time - 2022)
Ball's: Surprise Privilege (Quiet Reading Time - 2022)

I Just Want To Fuck A Catfish: Surprise Privilege (Quiet Reading Time - 2022)
I Just Want To Fuck A Catfish 2: Surprise Privilege (Quiet Reading Time - 2022)
Quiet Reading Time: Surprise Privilege (Quiet Reading Time - 2022)
Testastastoned: Surprise Privilege (Quiet Reading Time - 2022)

Bite Your Dentist: Surprise Privilege (Feed Me - 2024)
I'm Going To Shoot You In The Head With A Gun: Surprise Privilege (Feed Me - 2024)
F.Y.J.F.Y.: Surprise Privilege (Feed Me - 2024)
Itty Bitty Pig: Surprise Privilege (Feed Me - 2024)
Feed Me: Surprise Privilege (Feed Me - 2024)

Did You Know?: Surprise Privilege (Hard Listen - 2026)
Fuck Bayden: Surprise Privilege (Hard Listen - 2026)
People Die: Surprise Privilege (Hard Listen - 2026)

City of the Future: False Flag (Art School - 2026)
Woman in the Public Eye: False Flag (Art School - 2026)
My Way: Elvis Presley

Hell's Kitchen Radio #614: Too Many Cooks

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

Sometimes my favorite shows are the ones where the completely unexpected transpires. Lauson (that's my fabulous daughter, as if you didn't know) asked me to drive her to pick up some clothes from a friend of hers, and then drop her at BART. It didn't take much to talk her into joining me in the studio for me show.

And that was only the beginning of the fun! 

Soon enough Daniel, from the Mab was in. And then here came Ignacio and Jasper. Then David Fraser, who hosts Escape Velocity on Mondays, noon-2pm, came by to talk about a new show idea. And with all this I had to train a returning RV DJ, Bunnywhiskers, who now goes by the name Fly Faced Necronomicones, and is hosting Wednesdays noon - 2pm

It got a bit busy in the studio Monday night.

But this didn't keep me from bringing you the music you depend on week by week.

Just look at these tunes! I mean really now, where else are you going to get a mess like this? I ask you, WHERE!?!?!

There's a lot of great goings-on at Radio Valencia these days. Some great shows, with incredible hosts, showing what they've got two hours at a time. That's not nearly enough time to showcase all of what we've got, but there ya go.

Do you think you've got what it takes to host a weekly show? Hit us up station@radiovalencia.fm and let us know what you would care to do on the only uncensored, free form radio station in San Francisco, and the nine Bay Area counties.

Next Monday, June 8th, I've got the young incredible punk band Surprise Privilege in the studio, talking up their new album, and promoting the one year anniversary of I Hate Records, a store owned by Cody of Surprise Privilege and Pretty from False Flag. This is going to be one helluva party, including a huge sale and FREE live music from both bands starting at 6pm, on Saturday, June 13th.

I Hate Records is located at 413 Haight Street in San Francisco. 

See you there.

Until then, 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

In Frisco: Pop O Pies (7" - 1993)
Sloppy Drunk Blues: Big Joe Williams (Tough Times - 1960)

Danse V: Luiz Bonfa
Baby's On Fire: Ayers - Cale - Eno - Nico (June 1, 1974 - 1974)

Try A Little Tenderness: Aretha Franklin (Forever Young - 1968)
Garbageman: The Cramps (Songs The Lord Taught Us - 1980)
Welcome to the Dust Ward: Fear (More Beer - 1985)
Mojo Navigator: Country Joe and the Fish (Together - 1967)
Bang: Dark Carnival (The Last Great Ride - 199) 

Woman in the Public Eye: False Flag (Art School - 2026)
Die, Die My Darling: Misfits (Misfits - 1983)
Tossing Coins Into the Fountain of Fuck: Melvins and Napalm Death (Savage Imperial Death March - 2026)

New Self: The Bobby Lees (New Self - 2026)
Monologue: Divorce Bug (7" - 1978)
One Way Spit: Debris (Static Disposal - 1976)
Something Unpronounceable: Mai Mai Mai (Delta - 2016)
No Fun: Wall of Noise (Doctor Mix - 1979)

Hot Head: Orcutt/Shelley/Miller with David Yow (7" - 2026)
Annalisa: PIL (First Issue - 1978)
Rose: Fifty Foot Hose (Cauldron - 1968)

Heads Will Roll: Primitive Ring (Poisonous Gift - 2026)
Deceptacon: Sprints (7" - 2026)

Sit On My Face, Stevie Nicks: The Rotters (Pull It And Yell - 1978)
Saviour Machine: Redd Kross (Teenage Babes From Monsanto - 1978)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #613: Let's Blow San Francisco

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

Sometimes things come in twos: peanut butter and jelly, baseball and hotdogs, cats and furballs. So it came as no surprise when I had panned to take the night off that I was lured into the studio when I read about Rolling Stone magazine's horrendous Top 100 Punk songs of all time list. 

As for the second treat, you may have read, or seen the flyer posted around San Francisco, looking for a Daniel Lurie look-a-like to star in a porn parody "Let's Blow San Francisco". I was lucky enough to land Don Francisco, the producer, director, writer for this soon to be classic film for an on air interview, talking about the film and where they're at right now in the process.

Daniel Haver, from the Mabuhay Gardens, was in the studio co-hosting with me again tonight. I've really enjoyed Daniel being around. He's really coming into his own on the air. And then Rob from the band The Seagulls came by along with his friend Heather. And to round out the crowd, Jasper, host of Saturday's Broadcast from Limbo added to the mix.

We all had something loud to say about this top 100. Upsetting and confusing was the common call. My theory is the editors for this list looked at regions of punk around the globe (US and Britain that is) and then considered the top acts and albums from those regions. Finally, they combined all of that into one list. 

Lame. All of it, lame. 

Nevermind #9! 

Most of these bands deserve to be on this list. Pretty much all of them shouldn't be in the order they're in (MC5 after Blink 182, who shouldn't be on this list at all!). And where's the first Stooges and VU albums? Where is DRI? MDC? Cromags???

So between the music, the banter, the talk about what makes San Francisco great, this turned into a better choice than to just stay home on a Monday night.

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

I'm Waiting For The Man: Velvet Underground (Velvet Underground and Nico - 1967)
Kick Out The Jams: MC5 (Kick Out The Jams - 1969)

I Want To Be Your Dog: The Stooges (The Stooges - 1969)
Looking For A Kiss: New York Dolls (S/T - 1973)

Judy is a Punk: Ramones (S/T - 1976)

Rocket Reducer: Dead Boys (Young, Loud and Snotty - 1977)

I Like Cars and Girls: The Dictators (Go Girl Crazy!!! - 1975)
I'm So Bored With The USA: The Clash (S/T - 1977)
Jocko Homo: Devo (Are We Not Men? - 1978)

Friction: Television (Marquee Moon - 1977)

Let's Lynch The Landlord: Dead Kennedys (Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables - 1980)

Way of the World: Flipper (Generic - 1981)

Car Crash: Avengers (S/T - 1980)

Touch Me I'm Sick: Mudhoney (Superfuzz Bigmuff and Singles - 1989)

I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts: X (More Fun In The New World - 1983)

School: Nirvana (Bleach - 1989)

Caliente: Supersuckers (Smoke of Hell - 1990)

I Come From The Mountain: Thee Oh Sees (Floating Coffin - 2013)

GFY: Amyl and the Sniffers (S/T - 2019)

Magic: Zig Zags (S/T - 2014)
Napoleon: The Bobby Lees (New Self - 2026)
Never Gonna Be: False Flag (7" - 2026)

Wasted: Black Flag (First Four Years - 1981)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #612: Chip Kinman is the Dilsest

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

Chip Kinman of The Dils and Rank and File talk about his new self-titled album out on In The Red Records, and his colorful history in the punk scene. What a blast it was to talk to him about the scene, going back to his earliest days with him and his late brother Tony.

The Chip Kinman Band has a show at Bottom of the Hill, on Friday, May 29th. I cannot wait to get to this show. I hope to see you there.

Tune in Monday, May 25th as Daniel from the FabMab and I vomit all over the recently released Rolling Stone's 100 Best Punk Albums. WTF??? There is a lot wrong with this list. Tune in and prepare to rage!!!

Also, if you haven't heard, there's a casting call out for a Daniel Lurie look-a-like for a porn film. I'm going to talk to the filmmaker Scooter, who's flyers you have scene around the city in the past week. Casting call at Radio Valencia, Monday night? 

Stay tuned.

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

In Frisco: Pop-O-Pies (7" - 
Kick Out The Jams: Mono Men (7" - 1996)

Interview with Chip Kinman

Radio/TV/I'm In Love: Chip Kinman (S/T - 2026)
Class War: The Dils

Me and Tony: Chip Kinman (S/T - 2026)
I Hate The Rich: The Dils

So Long Rock And Roll: Chip Kinman (S/T - 2026)
Class War: Ty Segall (Fudge Sandwich - 2018)

Paradise Girls: Deerhoof (Start Your Own Fucking Show Space - 2016)

Jumper Hanging Out On The Line: RL Burnside

So Beautiful: White Fence (Orange - 2026)
A Man Needs A Maid: Orcutt/Shelley/Miller (EP - 2026)

Heroin: Burnt Ones (The Velvet Underground  by Castle Face Records and Friends - 2012)

Wasps From Samoa: Surprise Privilege (7" - 2026)
Gimme Danger: Iggy and the Stooges (Raw Power - 1973)
Voodoo Dolly: Siouxsie and the Banshees (The Peel Sessions - 1979)

Parchman Farm: Mercury Rev (with Carise Van Houton): Delta Sweete Revisited - 2019)

Can You Imagine Nothing: Kikagaku Moyo (S/T - 2013)
The Way We Were: Wild Man Fisher and Mark Mothersbaugh)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #611: Bang The Bay!

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

How is it I just can come to getting these shows up any sooner than almost a week after broadcast these days? What the ever loving fuck?!?!?!?

Could it be I'm short on bandwidth? 

Ummmmm, I don't know. 

Full time teacher, heading into the final weeks of the school year, where I need to get my seniors across the line, produce an annual show for 1400 in attendance; grade essays, final draft for the final exams, run student elections, raise an eight year old, guide a 21 year old, co-produce a few live shows this summer, help run a community radio station. 

Yeah, I don't know.

The best part about my show last Monday, atcually there were a few great things; was hosting musician and sound engineer Chris Greacen from Elegant Trash. He brought some incredible live tracks with him and lively conversation. And to top it off we share the same birthday!!! Chris was in talking up the Bang The Bay series of shows that happen at the Mabuhay Gardens, Ivy Room, and Point Emery. Check them out when they come to your town.

It was not like looking in a mirror, but you know. 

And then the Common Sense Advisory Committee showed up! 

It was like putting on your favorite sweater. Full disclosure: I don't wear sweaters, but if I did you know I'd be wearing this group all day every day. Katrina, Daniel, Ignacio and Molly showed up (don't even ask where John was....HA!!!) to be my live studio audience. They are distracting in all the ways I truly appreciate being distracted. It's like a game of test the DJ. Can they distract me enough for there to be dead air? Tune in and find out.

I'm hilarious...and delirious. Seriously, I have no bandwidth. 

Great music throughout the night. Live music from recent Mabuhay Gardens shows as recorded by my guest, Chris. New release from local faves, False Flag. I also have new music from Sprints and Primitive Ring.

Daniel brought some classic treats from Filth and Skip Spence, as well as a huge surprise for me, which I'll bring in this Monday night. 

OK, I'm falling down now, so you go ahead and click that link at the top and listen to two hours of the best music you didn't know you needed.

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

Do It: Rollins Band (Do It - 1987)
City Kids: Pink Fairies (Kings of Oblivion - 1973)

Interview with Chris Greacen

G20 - > Solar Van Saturdays: Elegant Trash (Live at Fab Mab - 03/11/2026)

Interview with Chris Greacen

Fresno: Lost Cosmos (Live at Fab Mab - 03/11/2026)

Interview with Chris Greacen

Clencher (Live at Fab Mab - 02/11/2026)

Swtichcrooks (Live at Fab Mab - 03/11/2026)

Interview with Chris Greacen

Sleepers A.D. (Live at Fab Mab - 04/08/2026)
Don't Hide Your Hate: Filth (7" - 1978)

In Frisco: Pop-o_Pies (7" - 1993)

Little Hands: Skip Spence (Oar - 1968)

Never Gonna Be: False Flag (7" - 2026)

Moth Tongue: Crystal Fairy (S/T - 2017)

I Wanna Lose: LA Witch (Play with Fire - 2020)

Coming Alive: Sprints (All That is Over - 2026)

Empires Falling: Black Angels (Wilderness of Mirrors 2022)

Ouroboros: GOAT (s/t - 2025)

TV City: Primitive Ring (7" - 2026)

Swampland: The Scientists (A Place Called Bad - 2016)

Bottle Up and Go: The Monkeywrench (S/T - 1992)

Victoria: The Kinks (Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) - 1969)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #610: Everything Is Fine-ish

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

Well, it's just you and little ol' me, until Daniel comes by. Daniel is always welcome to come by. So are you! Why don't you write?

Anyway, I didn't have anyone scheduled to come by Monday night. This is first in a while, where I have no guests. I have Lee Hoffman of Elegant Trash coming by next Monday night, May 11, to talk about his Punk the Bay shows he's promoting Wednesday nights at the FabMab. 

On this show I was just feeling good sharing some new music I picked up in the past few weeks: Clown Alley, Sprints, Bill Orcutt, The Freak Accident, Alice Bag, OSees, Surprise Privilege, White Fence, Hawkwind, FUZZ, Reatards, Flipper, Deviants...

You know what, most of this show is music I bought over the past month or so. 

I may have a problem. I bought two records today that are certain to get played here soon enough. And why not? 

I was at a memorial for Robert "Doc" Pelzel, of KFJC, on Saturday. A good 100 family, friends, and current and former station staff were present. It was a real pleasure to see these fine folks and share stories about Doc.

Doc was the station advisor, who officially worked for Foothill Junior College, where KFJC is located. He was a true advocate for the station, and kept the institution administration off our backs, and made sure we received our budget every year. He came to KFJC in 1979, following a stint at KALX in Berkeley. I arrived at KFJC in 1989.

Doc encouraged us all to be as weird as we wanted to be. Take risks. He was similar to my dad, who used to say "there's no reward without risk". I learned what it meant to take my dream of being a radio DJ, and push it to the ultimate limit. I co-produced a nationwide broadcast at over 20 stations, from SXSW in 1994 because of Doc. I co-founded Radio Free Burning Man, also in 1994, because of Doc. 

Hundreds of incredible DJs have gone through the KFJC doors, and each of us benefitted from having Doc there, giving us an infinitely long, transparent leash, where we were encouraged to freak the scene in the way that non-commercial radio is supposed to do. 

The listeners benefitted from hearing music that never would have reached their ears if it weren't for the DJs given the freedom to do so. 

Bands wouldn't have sent us the music they were inspired to play if we didn't have the DJs excited to play the next new sound. 

As a teacher I understand that we teach infinity. We never know where our teaching ends. It's safe to say that Doc advised us to infinity. We play music for you that you take and pass on. Maybe you started a band because of what we played? And some of us went on to start other radio stations, paying it forward!

I think Doc is proud. I know he is, because were told one of the last things he said was that he was sad that he couldn't keep engaging in all this fun.

We'll pay the fun forward, Doc. Always pay it forward.

Thanks for taking a risk on all of us. 

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

Mars for the Rich: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (Infest the Rats Nest - 2019)
In The Cartoon: Clown Alley (Circus of Chaos - 1986)

I Hunt You Pray: LA Witch (DOGGOD - 2025)
I'm Your Man: Mark Growden (Saint Judas - 2010)

Decepticon: Sprints (7" - 2026)
Captain Crunch: MF Doom/Czarface (Czarface meets Metalface - 2018)
Slap That Bass: The Middlebury College Dissapated-Eight - 1984)
Destroy The Handicapped: Fang (Land Shark - 1982)

Hot Head: Orcutt/Shelley/Miller (7" - 2026)
The Midnight Show: The Freak Accident (The Midnight Show - 2026)
Gluttony: Alice Bag (Decline of Western Civilization - 1980)

Joro: OSees (Cara Maluco - 2026)
Wasteman: Surprise Privilege (Feed Me - 2025
Trailer Trash: MV and EE (Fuzzweed - 2013)

Reflections in a Shop Window on Polk: White Fence (Orange - 2026)
Lost Jonnie: Hawkwind (Hall of the Mountain Grill - 1974)

21st Century Schizoid Man: FUZZ (FUZZ's Fourth Dream)
Tonight I'll Come: Reatards (Grown Up, Fucked Up - 1999)
I Saw You Shine: Flipper (Generic - 1982)
Garbage: Deviants (Ptooff! - 1968)
Internal Dialogue: False Flag (Gun Time - 2025)

New Self: The Bobby Lees (New Self - 2026)
Not of this World: Zig Zags (Deadbeat at Dawn - 2025)
Dan Folgerberg: Michael Mills
San Francisco: John Lee Hooker (The Big Soul of... - 1963)

I Heard It On The X: ZZ Top (Fandango - 1975)
Radio Moscow: Kent State (Rodney on the ROQ - 1982)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #609: Mitch Polzak Moseys On In To The Show

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

When I prepare for an interview with a musician, it's mostly based on their music that I craft the questions. I want to know where the ideas for the stories came from. I want to know how they crafted the song, where the melody came from. Then I start to dig. I need to know their influences, musical and otherwise. 

This is when it gets fun. 

Tell me where you grew up. What was the first music that caught your attention? Who in your life do you credit with turning you on to the music that helped define your own journey? 

Once in a blue moon do I interview someone I've only met a few times but feel a quick kinship with.

Mitch Polzak is one of these people. I've seen Mitch play at the Ivy Room in Albany a few times, and once on his home court in Port Costa, where he once was mayor. 

Mitch will look you right in the eyes when he's playing, and you know he's playing just for you. And he is! He told me this himself last Monday when he was my guest. I told him that he had to guest DJ with me, and he did not disappoint! He brought 33 LPs along with him and everything that aired on Monday night was his choosing, except for my opening set and the single Mitch Polzak tune that I pulled out, and it's thanks to his delightful partner, Amanda, that "Sugrarfoot Rag" was chosen.

We caught each other saying "you too?!?!" a lot during the show, and a lot of laughter throughout. The

music ranges from delta blues, bluegrass, folk, Bakersfield Country, train songs, trucker songs, and honky tonk. 

What a magnificent night this was. 

I hope you take the time to listen into the music and enjoy our banter. Better yet, please take yourself and a loved one out to see Mitch perform live. You'll find Mitch was looking for you all along.

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

Honky Tonk Blues: Hank Williams
Wham Bam: Buck Owens
It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels: Kitty Wells
Cannon Ball: Merle Travis

Watch My Fingers: Lightning Hopkins
Cumberland Gap: Flatt and Scruggs
Ballad of 40 Dollars: Tom T Hall
Road Runner: Blackie Forestier

Sugarfoot Rag: Mitch Polzak
Sad Hour: Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
Randall Collins: Norman Blake
The Longer You Wait: Merle Haggard

Let The Good Times Roll: Buck Owens
Nitro Express: Redd Simpson
Bucking Mule (Piano): Uncle John Patterson
Tombstone Every Mile: Dick Curless
Caffein, Nicotine, Benzedrine: Gary Stewart
For A Few Dollars More: Ennio Morricone

Cause of it All: Howlin' Wolf
I Got Love If You Want It: Slim Harpo
Fire On The Strings: Joe Maphis
Stone Walls and Steel Bars: Jimmy Martin and Ralph Stanley

This Time: Waylon Jennings
Rain: Charlie Feathers
Alabama Jubilee: Roy Clark

Graystone Chapel: Johnny Cash

Hell's Kitchen Radio #607: Straight Trippin' For Your Love

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

There are reasons to feel despair, and there are reasons to celebrate. I think we can do both at the same time. Two things can be right at the same time. Time waits for no one, and it won't wait for Hell. Hell is for other people's children. Children are the future. There is no future. There is only now. 

Can you tell I'm tired?

I just finished helping Little Lauson Hell (AKA: Spawn) do her taxes. What a kick in the ass that was. 

I'm pretty brain dead. Deadhead. Head on a poll. Poll taxes. TAXES?!?!??!

That was terrible.

And you and I both know what they're using our taxes for! And since the IRS basically doesn't exist at all anymore, what's going to happen if we all just don't file?

I'm so tired I couldn't remember a better word for "don't" in the previous sentence. I'm misspelling words all over the damn place! You wouldn't know that though since I have a lot of white out.

And I'm distracted with Lauson and our kitty Chairman Meow Mao (AKA Maui) chilling out next to me. Lauson loves our kitty. 

Sorry. I was gone for a moment, We both had to take a kitty break. If you know, you know. 

Did you know that David Yow of The Jesus Lizard has a tumbler blog about cats?

True story.

I think I was going to write something about music since I did host my show on Monday night. I bought a few records over the weekend and I share a lot of it tonight! Orcutt, Shelley, Miller; The Exploited, Sprints, Primitive Ring, and The Bobby Lees!!!!!!!

I kinda blew my load with all this great new music. Too bad, so sad.

So tired. I really need to call it a night and not regret my decisions. 

Enjoy....if you dare.

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)
Black Rat: Big Mama Mae Thornton (With Chicago Blues Band - 1966)

Hot Head: Orcutt, Shelley, Miller (with David Yow) (Hot Head Single - 2026)
Eight Miles High: Husker Du (Duck and Cover - 1990)

Back Home: Yusef Lateef (Blue Yusef Lateef - 1968)
The Whip: Frantics (Louie's Limbo Lounge - 1988)
Intro/Sweet Jane: Lou Reed (Rock and Roll Animal - 1974)
Let's Start A War: The Exploited (Let's Start A War - 1985)

Deceptacon: Sprints (7" - 2026)
Spear and Magic Helmet: The Gits (Enter: The Conquering Chicken - 1993)

You're What I Need: Jenny Don't and the Spurs (Broken Hearted Blue - 2023)
Sugarfoot Rag: Mitch Polzak (Down South Blues - 2023)
We're Desperate: X (The Decline of Western Civilization - 1980)
Burn Out: Redd Kross (Rodney on the Roq, Vol. 2 - 1981)
This Is Not Normal: Negativland (True/False - 2019)

Poisonous Gift: Primitive Ring (7" - 2025)
Higgs Boson Blues: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Push the Sky Away - 2012)

Napoleon: The Bobby Lees (New Self - 2026)
In Every Home A Heartache: Roxy Music (For Your Pleasure - 1973)
Say it Too: Death Valley Girls (Islands in the Sky - 2023)

Dungeon Vision: Earth Tongue (Dungeon Vision - 2026)
Love Song: The Darts (Snake Oil - 2022)

Reject All Americans: Bikini Kill (Reject All Americans - 1996)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #606: False Punks In Heaven...Sorta

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

I anticipated a fun time on Monday night, but nothing could have prepared me for this multi-generational celebration of the local music scene. As I had been publicizing over the past week, I had drummer/artist Prairie Prince of The Tubes coming in, along with his bestie, author/screenwriter/director/producer/band manager Edwin Heaven. They were coming in to promote their Thursday night program at the Mabuhay Gardens, which is also featuring a live set from local rockers and all-around tastemakers False Flag.

This show on Thursday night is free, by the way. And it's 21+. Be warned.

What I wasn't totally prepared for were all the special guests. And Monday night was truly special. 

My Prom Committee team of Katrina and Daniel from the FabMab were in the studio, as well as our latest RV staffer Jasper, who is slated to take over Saturdays 4-6pm in the upcoming weeks. You are all going to love her!

And then comes False Flag! Pretty and Strong Sims came to hang out, along with drummer Monroe. And they brought a brand new song with them, that really kicked the crap out of me...figuratively. Get your head outta the gutter. 

It was full, and very rambunctious house, with Daniel teaching both Jasper and Strong how to use a yo-yo, Edwin attending to his Yorkie, Tulip; Prairie trying not to allow the jetlag get to him after returning from a show in NYC, and Katrina circling the room capturing it all for prosperity.  

After my interview with Prairie about his new album, Colours and Passions, and my talk with Edwin about his new memoir "The Night I Got David Bowie Laid Sorta", Strong and Pretty sat in to talk about the state of the music scene in San Francisco, and to share the aforementioned track "Never Gonna Be". Katrina and I are in agreement that this band is bound for stardom, and need to get their music onto a soundtrack, pronto.

There is so much fun conversation and music on this show, that I may need to loop it throughout the rest of this week. 

Fun things are afoot at Radio Valencia, and in this incredible scene that three generations of music-related folk all agreed with on Monday night.

See you at the show...any show. Every 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

Whitey On The Moon: Gil Scott-Heron (Small Talk at 125th and Lennox - 1970)
Moonage Daydream: David Bowie (The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust - 1972)
Flesh: Ken Nordine (Colors - 1966)
Dear God: XTC (Skylarking - 1987)

Interview with Prairie Prince

Flesh Terror: Prairie Prince (Colours and Passions - 2026)

Interview with Prairie Prince (Colours and Passions - 2026)

Orange Joy: Prairie Prince (Colours and Passions - 2026)
White Punks on Dope: The Tubes (The Tubes - 1977)

Interview with Edwin Heaven

WWIII: The Nuns (The Nuns - 1980)
Down on the Street: Iggy and the Stooges (Fun House - 1970

Interview with Edwin Heaven

(I Saw You) Shine: Flipper (Generic - 1982)

Interview with Edwin and Prairie

The American in Me: Avengers (s/t - 1983)
Suicide Child: The Nuns (The Nuns - 1980)

Never Gonna Be: False Flag (unreleased - 2026)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #605: All Freaks No Accidents

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

These days even when I have no guest the studio is hoppin'! I love the energy that's been flowing through the Radio Valencia studios these days. It fills me with a lot of pride for what we've been doing here over the past 15+ years. I often keep the door wide open to attract passers-by to come through and check us out. This has actually led to a few new shows that have been making us sound fresher than ever!

I've been hosting a lot of guests over the past few months and I really thought it would just be you and me on Monday night, other than having a new host shadow me for the evening. 

And then...

Daniel Haver of the FabMab came through with artist Dexter Hixon, who had been out "improving" the SF landscape and promoting some upcoming shows. Dexter designed the ceiling art at I Hate Records in the lower Haight, owned by Pretty Sims of False Flag and Cody of Surprise Privilege. He also makes some unique characters known as Siliclones. I played a song by his dad's 90s band Hive in the second hour.

I love having a radio station that doubles as a clubhouse for the local music scene. It's a dream come true.

As for the music tonight, it's as you would expect: many genres and eras. 

This Monday, April 6, starting at 8pm Pacific, I'm excited to host legendary drummer Prairie Prince from The Tubes, Journey and Todd Rundgren. He'll be in to talk about his first solo album "Colours and Passions" that feature an incredible lineup: Todd Rundgren, Ross Valory, Buckethead, Jello Biafra, Ralph Spight, Cyril Jordan, Neil Hamburger, and the late great Ralph Carney.

I'll also have the quintessential "I was there" guy for SF’s punk and underground scenes, Edwin Heaven. His memoir "The Night I Got David Bowie Laid, Sorta" isn't just a collection of stories; it's a frantic, non-linear love letter to a version of San Francisco that feels like it’s slipping away.

These two have been best friends for 50 years and I can guarantee the conversation will get take a few turns throughout the night.

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

Money: The Flying Lizards (S/T/ - 1979)
I Would Kill For Suzy: The Catheads (Hubba - 1987)

Don't Blame Me: The Freak Accident (The Midnight Show - 2026)
In Your Mind: The Terminals (Last Days of the Sun - 2008)

Mojo Navigator: Country Joe and the Fish (Together - 1967) 
Louie, Louie: The Sonics (The Best of Louie Louie - 1983)
Carmelita: Warren Zevon (S/T - 1976)
Love Rolled: Mitch Polzak (Down South Blues - 2023)
My Baby's Gone: Jenny Don't and the Spurs (Broken Hearted Blue - 2023)

Muffin Man: Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and the Mothers of Invention (Bongo Fury - 1976)
Chartreuse: Ken Nordine (Colors - 1995)
Political Song For Michael Jackson to Sing: Minutemen (Double Nickels on the Dime - 1983)

Sunday Morning: Kelly Stoltz (The Velvet Underground and Nico...Castle Face - 2012)
The Ballad of El Goodo: Big Star (Number 1 - 1972)
I Swallowed A Dragonfly: Heatless Bastards (All This Time - 2006)
Live Loop: Butterscotch Tuna (Explosion in Texas Comp - 1994)

Cartographers: Linda Lindas (No Obligation - 2024)
Words of Advice/Kim Like the Great Gatsby: William S Burroughs (Smack My Crack - 1987)

I Once Was A Contender: Kate Vargas (Golden Hour in the House of Lugosi - 2025)
Gold: Hive (S/T 1995)
There She Goes My Beautiful World: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Abattoir Blues - 2004)

Volunteered Slavery: Roland Kirk (Volunteered Slavery - 1969)
Fairies Wear Boots: Brown Sabbath (Brounout - 2016)

Who Was In My Room Last Night: Butthole Surfers Independent Worm Saloon- 1993)