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

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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

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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 #611: Bang The Bay!

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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

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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

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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

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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 #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)

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 #593: Bodhi Comes A Knockin'

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It took eight years, but my son Bodhi finally popped his radio cherry. Ew, that didn't sound right. That being said, he was really excited to come into the Radio Valencia studios Monday night to play his favorite K-Pop tunes for you all. 

I was thinking back to Lauson's first show when she played songs I wouldn't normally play for you all. Who cares?!?!? The joy of having this little guy in the studio outstripped any esoteric, dissonant tune I could have made you sit through. Then again, I think you know what I think about pop music.

I wasn't about to yuck his yum.

Bodhi and I listen to a lot of music and home, so he's already used to dad's taste. I encouraged him to play the songs that he likes, so you get a few tracks from the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack. He loves the idea of this movie, but it's still a little scary fo him to
sit through. You have no idea how thrilled I am that he's not desensitized to scary films yet. He'll hide behind the couch sometimes. Considering what I accidentally did to Lauson when she was 5 or 6, I couldn't be happier that Bodhi will still cover his eyes.

It's all about the music for this little guy. He also pulled out a track from the Minecraft movie. 

Mom (Sgt. Sauce) was also in the studio, showing full support for our offspring. It's been many moons since she stepped behind the mic, and as always brought some great music along. 

I've marked their selections with "B" and "SS". 

I do what I do throughout, including interviewing our shrewd eight year old on all things of interest. 

Take a listen to the next generation of music aficionados here, and enjoy the banter along with the pop!

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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When The Levee Breaks: Led Zeppelin (IV - 1971)

Soda Pop: Saja Boys (K-Pop Demon Hunters - 2025) - B
Nancy From Now On: Father John Misty (Fear Fun - 2012)

Surf Rider: Il Est Vilaine (Surf Rider - 2015) - SS
Here and Now: The Black Angels (Wilderness of Mirrors - 2022)
The Wizard: Brownout (Brown Sabbath Vol. 1 - 2014)

Your Idol: Saja Boys (K-Pop Demon Hunters - 2025) - B
Motorcycle Boy: LA Witch (Play with Fire - 2020)
Ghouls: Wooden Shjips (Back To Land - 2013)

I Got Heaven: Mannequin Pussy (Live at KEXP - 2024) - SS
Memories of a Cut Off Head: OCS (Memories of a Cut Off Head - 2017)
The Waitress Song: First Aid Kit (Stay Gold - 2014)

Takedown: Huntrix (K-Pop Demon Hunters - 2025) - B
The Vow: Shannon and the Clams (The Moon is in the Wrong Place - 2024)
Jesus Christ: Big Star (Complete Third - Vol 3: Final Masters - 2017)

If System of a Down were from India: Nooran Sisters and SOAD - SS
Nimerudi (Salmagundi Version): GOAT + MC Yallah
Vay Dunya: Altin Gun (Gece - 2019)

How It's Done: Huntrix (K-Pop Demon Hunters - 2025) - B
Steve's Lava Chicken: Jack Black (Minecraft Movie - 2025) - B
Creep: Cover by mom and son - SS
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

Hell's Kitchen Radio #583: Hell Is An Energy

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Shaking the rust off after being out for two weeks. All it takes is a track to start feeling fresh again, and this show is as fresh as you can get! It's also my birthday show, so I'm bringing a lot of favorites to the fore. I was asked if I was going to play all old songs that I love, which I can easily do, but there are so many new songs that I love too! That's the thing, when you listen to new music all the time, there is a lot to fall in love with.

Classics from Beastie Boys, Last Poets, Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall, Black Angels, Led Zeppelin, PIL, Melvins, Flipper, and Mudhoney. New music from GOAT, Wet Leg, The Darts, and Sahra Halgan. How many genres is that?

Celebrate my birthday with two hours of must-have-music!

I celebrated on my actual birthday, September 30th, by seeing Wet Leg at The Fox in Oakland! Hot damn, what a great show! I love this venue, and if you've been to The Fox, then you do too. And Wet Leg really brought the energy, throughout. They play practically every song off of their two full length releases. The crowd was pumped, and no doubt why. I hope you have the chance to check them out.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is this weekend. I've been going almost every year since it began in 2000. That's crazy that it's been going for 25 years. WTH?!?!?! I got to check out Dan Tyminski, Patti Griffin, Cimafunk (it is HARDLY STRICTLY for a reason), Jeff Tweedy, and Robert Earl Keen Jr. Don't be surprised if my next show features a few of these folks. It may be a hardly strictly show on Monday. 

Stay tuned.

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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Shake Your Rump: Beastie Boys (Paul's Boutique - 1989)
This is Madness: Last Poets (This is Madness - 1971)

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

20th Century Boy: Ty Segall (Ty Rex - 2015)

Mission District: Black Angels (Directions to See a Ghost - 2008)

Motorcycle Boy: LA Witch (Play With Fire - 2020)

Four Sticks: Led Zeppelin (4th release - 1971)

Dollar Bill: GOAT (GOAT - 2025)

Mangetout: Wet Leg (Moisturizer - 2025)

Straws in the Wind: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (K.G. - 2020)

The Wizard: Brownout (Brown Sabbath Vol. 1 - 2014)

O.F.Y.C. Showcase: The Fall (Your Future Our Clutter - 2010)

Hold My Hand: Death Valley Girls (Under the Spell of Joy - 2020)

My Heart is a Graveyard: The Darts (Nightmare Queens - 2025)

Rise: PIL (Album - 1986)

Hag Me: Melvins (Houdini - 1993)

Sacrifice: Flipper (Gone Fishin' - 1984)

Loose: The Stooges (Fun House - 1970)

If I Think: Mudhoney (Superfuzz Bigmuff - 1989)

Sharaf: Sahra Halgan (Hiddo Dhawr - 2024)

So Much Wine: Barbara Manning (Convenience of Tomorrow - 2023)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #580: 15 Years for Radio Valencia

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How is it possible that Radio Valencia is no 15 years old? I swear it was just yesterday that I was asked to start this station as a point of interest in a performance warehouse in the Mission. By the time I put the station together, along with Alec Bennett, Trademark Gunderson and Naomi Most, I had already been involved in about a half dozen other Bay Area community stations. 

I was willing to start Radio Valencia as long as I wasn't the one in charge. My goal was to have it operate as a cooperative. My hope was staff would work together in committees to make our station sound incredible and be active in the community.

I wish it has worked out that way.

Someone along the way came up with the concept of the "do-ocracy": if there is something you want to do at the station, then do it! 

This looks good on paper, but it can also mean if you only want to do your show and nothing else, that's fine too. 

This has been our undoing. We have had a number of really incredible people on staff over the years who have taken on a lot of work: scheduling, programming, engineering, but most of the staff we have had are only interested in hosting their shows. 

I really hate the "do-ocracy"

I'm glad to report that the music programming is some of the best I have heard on radio.

Today we have a steering committee, of which I sit on. We direct the actions of the station. We keep the lights on and the turntables spinning. 

Soon we are launching a new website (thanks to those who contributed to our fundraiser last winter), and a possible move to save overhead. Our current rent in our storefront location is too damn high! We also want to add more shows. Before COVID we had over 50 shows. Today we have 23. More shows = more money = more opportunities for RV to engage in the community. Cut down the rent overhead and we can bring in more staff who will pay less in dues, which will lead to a more robust on-air schedule, etc, etc, etc.

You get the idea.

I love having the station to play music and interview great people. I have loved being in our storefront on 22nd street since 2020. And these past 15 years have been mostly a real joy. If you read this far, what the hell is wrong with you? 

As for the music, I was thinking about playing music from each year we've been on the air, but then I figured why would do that? So, instead, I just did what I do and play great music that I think you need to hear. New music from Wet Leg, Ty Segall, LA Witch, Mark Growden, King Gizzard, and OSees. The rest of the night is me painting the aural landscape with sounds that will please your ears.

Enjoy and please share. And support your local San Francisco community radio station that continues to defy the odds.

jh

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

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IIBS: Charles Mingus (Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus 1964)

Dirt: Iggy and the Stooges (Fun House 1970)

Black Grease: The Black Angels (Passover 2006)
Slip Inside This House: 13th Floor Elevators (Easter Everywhere 1967)

Mangetout: Wet Leg (Moisturizer 2025) 
Fun Times in Babylon: Father John Misty (Fear Fun 2012)
Venus: The Shocking Blue (s/t 1970)

Dear Prudence: Siouxsie and the Banshees (Hyena 1983)

Another California Love Song: Ty Segall (Possession 2025)

Queen of the Underground: GOAT (Levitation Sessions 2023)

S.O.S.: LA Witch (Doggod 2025)

Legend of the Creation of Middle World: (Kyrgyzstan Session ft. Mark Growden 2025)

Volunteered Slavery: Roland Kirk (Volunteered Slavery 1969)

Ballad of the Soldiers Wife: Marianne Faithful and Chris Spedding (Lost in the Stars...Music of Kurt Weill 1985)

Sea of Doubt: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (Phantom Island 2025)

Space Drugs: Spanish Moss (Kelp 2012)

Infected Chrome: OSees (Abomination Revealed At Last 2025)

Suzanne: Nina Simone (To Love Somebody 1969)

Puddin' A'Tain: The Alley Cats

From The First Hello To The Last Goodbye: Jane Morgan

Hell's Kitchen Radio #579: Days Between

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It's not as much fun hosting my show remotely from home. I like my home. It's cozy. You should come over. But hosting in the studio is so much more fun. The energy is different when I'm standing at the console, looking out onto 22nd street to the people passing by, or stopping to look through the window. At home I'm sitting on the floor in my living room with my computer in front of me talking to the cat. 

That all being said, I have did manage to put together a pretty good show without any vinyl, including a tribute to Jerry Garcia who passed away 30 years ago on August 9th! That sure went fast. The days from the 1st through the 9th are considered the "Days Between", where there are a lot of tributes to Jerry. The last 30 minutes of this show I pay homage. 

And on my Tuesday night show: John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza, I play two hours of some stellar live Grateful Dead that focuses on Jerry. Tune in starting at 8pm Pacific.

No, I did not attend the Dead and Company shows in Golden Gate Park this past weekend. I have an issue with charging people money to see live music in a public park. And Dead and Co are really my jam. They're an OK cover band, but if I want to hear a quality Grateful Dead show I can always stream any of their 2000+ shows that are on my hard drive, or available on Archive. Or I can go see Stu Allen and Mars Hotel. 

I did however download all three live video broadcasts of the shows. They've sped up the songs, which is nice, since the two times I saw them a few years back the songs were sooooo slow. Got to hand it to Bobby Weir, his voice isn't nearly what it used to be, but he still gives it all he has. 

My money is on Mickey Hart being the last one standing. 

With all that being said, there's a lot of newish music tonight, including Wet Leg, LA Witch, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Public Enemy, Population II, and OSees. 

I'll be back in the studio next Monday night to celebrate Radio Valencia's 15th anniversary! Can you believe we made it that long? There have been times, especially during COVID, I thought we would be closing the doors forever. Tune in and celebrate with me. 

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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Lucifer Sam/Interstellar Overdrive: Marble Orchard (1991 Savage Sleep)
Gbe Mi Lo: Ofege (1973 Try and Love)

Catch These Fists: Wet Leg
SOS: LA Witch

Fucksake: Frankie and the Witch Fingers (Trash Classic)
Sexegenarian: Public Enemy (Black Sky Over the Projects - Apartment 2025)
Back Door Man (live): The Doors (Waiting for the Sun 50th)
Le The Est Pret (The Tea is Ready): Population II (Maintenant Jamais)
Sharaf: Sahra Halgan (Hiddo Dhawr)

Ouroboros: GOAT (GOAT)
Gild the Lily: Billy Strings (Highway Prayers)

Abominiation: OSees
Fire on the Mountain: Widespread Panic
Kill Jerry Garcia: Colorfinger

Let It Ride: The Soundcarriers (Harmonium 2009)
Daylight: The Kinks (Preservation Act 1 1973)
Pork Roll Egg and Cheese: Ween (the Pod 1991)

Summertime: Coleman Hawkins and Sonny Rollins (Sonny Meets Hawk 1963)
Spidergawd/Eep Hour/The Wheel: Jerry Garcia (Garcia)

Days Between: Otiel Burbridge (Lovely View of Heaven 2023)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #573: John Avalos Takes The Gloves Off

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Nobody hates John Avalos. At least that's the way he puts it. There may be some who dislike him, but he's proven himself to be a steady left-leaning voice in the tumultuous political sea that is San Francisco for twenty years now. Avalos represented District 11 on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 2008-2016, ran a very powerful mayoral campaign where he came in second to Ed Lee, and now sits on the Democratic County Central Committee where he sees the party continuing to drift to the right, as big money continues to influence the party.

We spoke for the first hour, and yes, it got testy at times, but John and I are on the same side of the political fence, so we just kept agreeing with one another. I really was trying to be objective.

Not really.

The big takeaway is that we cannot give up, ever. We must be kind to our neighbors, be open and inclusive whenever and wherever we can, and take the fight to the streets.

As for the music, there's new LA Witch, Death Valley Girls, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Lambrini Girls, and Jon Anderson.

Do you have an exceptional ear for music? Do you ever get angry listening to a radio station and shout "I COULD DO BETTER THAN THIS!"? Do you ever send messages to your local radio station program director asking them to allow you just one hour of time on the air so you can show them all the great music they've been missing out on? 

If you answered yes to any of the above, then you too can be a Radio Valencia DJ! We're taking applications now for weekly two-hour shows. Send your query to station@radiovalencia.fm Give us a description of the show you want to host and we'll be in touch soon.

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
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook
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The Rain: Eddie Gale
Congo Call: Prince Lasha Quintet

Interview with John Avalos

Sisters of the Moon: Death Valley Girls
SOS: LA Witch

Interview with John Avalos

Down By The River (demo): Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Celebration Day: Led Zeppelin

Aerodynamic: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
High Plains Drifter: Beastie Boys
Ballad of the Soldiers Wife: Marianne Faithful and Chris Spedding

Eggs Laid Brain: Frankie and the Witch Fingers
I've Heard That One Before/Watch Your Step: Faust
Gut Feeling (Slap Your Mammy): DEVO
Filthy Rich Nepo Baby: Lambrini Girls

Perpetual Change: Jon Anderson

Hell's Kitchen Radio #572: Bringing A Rubber Duck To A Knife Fight

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I was talking with a friend of mine earlier today about what makes a good radio show and about how I prepare, week to week? 

I think a good radio show, focused on music, comes from a host that listens to a lot of music a lot of the time, and is excited to curate a show that features tunes in sets that flow from one song to the next, regardless of genre. As a matter of fact I really love pulling off cross-genre sets.

As for how I prepare for my shows? I listen to a lot of music throughout the week, and it's inevitable that I'm going to hear a few tunes that I'm itching to play for you all, so I make a note of that.

Then I literally go through my record shelves and pull music that's calling to me. I also have a strong desire to play new music each week. I prefer to start a set with something new, or something that's relevant and timely. 

I purchase music almost weekly, so there's always something new on my show. And if there's a tribute to a fallen artist or one with a birthday that I just have to call out, or a show I've been to, or one upcoming, then something is going to end up in a set.

And then in the studio I have a stack sitting in front of me that I pull from based on the song that is currently playing. Honestly, there's not much more to it than that. More often that not I pull it off. I never phone it in. 

As for tonight's show, I noticed as I was pulling music that almost every artist tonight is American. I started out the show with some rural blues, moved onto to be-bop and post-bop jazz. Then onto some soul and funk. I made my way to some west coast country and psychobilly, before getting a bit darker in the goth/post-punk vein. Then came the garage/shoegaze/psych, followed by some new dissonance post-post-punk, 60s prog-psych, new Melvins (a genre all their own), more post-post-punk, punk/metal, and finally a tribute to Brian Wilson to close it all out.

And hot damn if this show doesn't flow. Check out me trying to tie it all together!

So as for how do I prepare for my show, after being in radio for 35+ years, and a whole hell of a lot of listening? A lot of this is second nature. But I can assure you I will never rest when it comes to preparing the best in quality non-commercial radio for you, dear listener. 

You have the John Hell Seal of Approval!

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
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook
Follow Radio Valencia on Instagram

Frankie and Albert: Taj Mahal

Meet Me In The Bottom: Pink Anderson

Just Knock On My Door: Art Blakey

Jakey: Big John Patton

Sticks and Stones: Joe Jones

Good To Me As I Am To You: Aretha Franklin

I Want You (She's So Heavy): Eddie Hazel

Walkin' The Streets of Love Alone: Mitch Polzak

Psychobilly Freakout: Reverend Horton Heat

Flyin' High: Jenny Don't and the Spurs

Boom Boom: Rube Waddell

Stagger Lee: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Killer of Peace: Crow Jane

Kill My Baby Tonight: LA Witch
Sanitarium Blues: Death Valley Girls

Bye Bye 25!: Kim Gordon

Child in Time: Deep Purple

Vomit of Clarity: Melvins 1983

Secret Agent Rat: Crystal Fairy

Smoke Ring: Chime Oblivion

Take Me To Your Leader: Zig Zags

Heroes and Villains: Beach Boys
God Only Knows: Beach Boys

Who Listens To Radio: Sarah Vaughn