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 #585: Jello and Brimstone

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This show was great fun to produce. I've got a trainee, Annika, in the studio with me and she put together a few really great sets (marked with "AD"). Her taste in international sounds is inspiring to say the least!

We've got a live fundraiser happening Sunday, October 19th, 1-6PM at GRNHS Gallery, 864 Folsom Street (b/w 5th and 6th). We've got three amazing bands, including Janky Band, Rustangs, and Fantasy!!! We also have been from 21st Amendment and non-alcohol for those who desire such. We'll also have some Radio Valencia shirts available.

We couldn't be more excited about this show. We love this gallery space, and these three bands are all known for bringing the heat.

This fundraiser is part rent party, part get the damn website and apps updated!!!

Please come down, or consider donating to our GoFundMe.

See you at the show.

As for this show, take a look at the playlist below, hit the play button at the top and enjoy.

jh

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

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I'm A Bad Indian: Dead Pioneers (single 2024)
Rocked By Rape: Evolution Control Committee (Plagiarythm Nation - 2003)

White Riot: The Clash (S/T - 1977)
Suburban Home: The Descendents (Milo Goes To College - 1982)

Children of the Revolution: Arto Lindsey and Marc Ribot (Great Jewish Music: Marc Bolan - 1998)

Candle: Sonic Youth (Daydream Nation - 1988)

White Bird: It's A Beautiful Day (S/T - 1968)

Nedine: Malouma (Nour - 2007) - AD

Petit Pays: Cesaria Evora (Cesaria - 1995) - AD

Tskheli Dzaghli: Niaz Diasamidze, 33A (Akhali Albomi) - AD

Chnam oun Dop-Pram Muy (I'm 16)  - AD

Nobody Go Run Me: King Short Shirt (Ghetto Vibes - 2003) - AD

Argos Farfish: Sharhabil Ahmed (Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection of Music from the Arab World - 2017) - AD

Exuma, The Obeah Man: Exuma (Exuma, The Obeah Man - 1970) - AD

Wake Up The Sun: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (Person - A - 2015)

You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You: Dean Martin (Dino: The Essential Dean Martin - 2004)

I Made A Wish: The Darts (Nightmare Queens - 2025)

Catch These Fists: Wet Leg (Moisturizer - 2025)

Emmaline: Urge Overkill (Supersonic Storybook - 1991)

400 Bucks: Reverend Horton Heat (Split with Supersuckers - 1993)

AA Warm Breeze : Thee Oh Sees (Split with Total Control - 2010)

Badi Sabah Olmadan: Altin Gün (Aşk - 2025)

Down in the Well: Bevis Frond (A Gathering of Fronds - 1992)

Fire and Brimstone: Death Valley Girls (B-side single - 2025)

Emotional Weather Report: Tom Waits (Nighthawks at the Diner - 1975)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #569: Not A Natural Man

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Nothing special tonight, just truly amazing music that you must hear and share and devour with ever sense of your being! 

That being said, there's a mix of some truly old and some brand-spankin'-new! This was one of those nights when I have a lot of new music I'm just dying to share with all of you, but there are some ear worms from days gone by that I just need to get out.

New music from LA Witch, Death Valley Girls, and Altin Gun. There's some classic James Brown, Led Zeppelin (and the song they initially ripped off from Memphis Minnie), some Beastie Boys (and a couple originals they "borrowed" their samples from. 

As always, there's something here for practically everyone. Take a look at the playlist below, click on the link above and enjoy.

This coming Monday night I'm excited to interview community radio founder and filmmaker Sue Carpenter, whose new documentary 40 Watts from Nowhere, about her low watt LA community radio station KBLT is showing at the SF Documentary Film Festival, which Radio Valencia is co-presenting. 

Tune in and go see that show!

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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God Don't Work (Like A Natural Man): Scott H Biram
I Like Porn: Melvins

I'm Sick of You: James Williamson (ft. Mario Cuomo)

Dream Dream Big in the Sky: Marisa Nadler

Hot and Nasty: Black Oak Arkansas

Funky Drummer: James Brown

Shadrach: Beastie Boys

When the Levee Breaks: Memphis Mimmie

When the Levee Breaks: Led Zeppelin

Oh So Close, Yet So Far: Shannon and the Clams

Doggod: LA Witch

Girlfriend Is Better: Talking Heads

Leylim Ley: Altin Gun

Wanted Dead or Alive: The Rogues (Kim Fowley comp)

Astrology: Kim Fowley

Sadie Sorceress: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

Empire: Frankie and the Witch Fingers

Fire and Brimstone: Death Valley Girls

Lay Down Your Weary Head (Bob Dylan): Barbara Manning

Mama Nature Said: Thin Lizzy

Young Man Blues: The Who (London 1971)

Casey Jones: Garcia and Grisman

Congo Call: Prince Lasha Quintet ft. Sonny Simmons

San Francisco Blues: Molly Tuttle with Dan Tyminski

Good Night Sleep Tight: Lawrence Welk 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hell is love.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Some Velvet Morning: Vanilla Fudge

Two Headed Dog: Margo Price

Badi Sabah Olmadan: Altin Gun

Magool: Sahra Halgan

I Want You (She's So Heavy): Eddie Hazel (Album: Games, Dames and Guitar Thangs 1977 Reissue)

I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier: John Lennon 

King of Rome: Melvins (Album: Thunderball 2025)

The Trees: Rush (50th Anniversary Super Deluxe)

Ugly Truth: Soundgarden - DF

This is Music: Verve - DF

Wires: Voyager One - DF

Set The City On Fire: Here Come The Saviors - DF

Hallowed Out: Ducks Ltd. - DF

War Cry!: Jenny Don't and the Spurs

Dead Babies: Alice Cooper

Wild Love: James Williamson (with Alison Mossheart and Mark Lanegan)

Whoopie Chateau: Sgt. Splendor

Clown Town: Rickshaw Billie's Burger Patrol

The Wizard: Brown Sabbath

Nimerudi (Salmagundi Version): GOAT + Mc Yallah

The Payback Mix: James Brown

Coconut: Ty Segall

I Bid You Goodnight: Joseph Spence

Good Night: Lawrence Welk Singers

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

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

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

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

There really is no excuse for dead air. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

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

Lonesome, On'ry and Mean: Mitch Polzak

Judgement Day: Jack O'Fire

Gimme A Penny: Big Mama Thornton

Swordfishtrombones: Tom Waits

Sun Rise: Rolf Harris
Steal Softly Through The Snow: Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band

Chinese New Year: Mulatu Astatke and The Heliocentrics

One More Night: Jenny Don't and the Spurs

Louie Louie: Thee Headcoats

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

Who's Sitting on the Moon: Freckle

TV Glotzer (White Punks on Dope): Nina Hagen

Axis: KnightressM1

1970: Boris

No Home: Lambrini Girls

The Gloater: GUM, Ambrose Kenny-Smith

The Wheel: King Tuff

Le The Est Pret: Population II

From The First Hello To The Last Goodbye: Jane Morgan and the 450 Collegians

Hell's Kitchen Radio #543: See All The Colors

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This is one of those times when I really count my blessings. Everyone has their struggles, so don't let me start getting into my own. Does any of it really matter? No. None of it matters. Holding a grudge does nothing but take the time away from having a really good time. And isn't that what we want: to have a really good time?

Why suffer? What does it bring? What have we gained by our own suffering? Experience? Isn't there any other way to grow? I've learned more lessons than blah, blah, blah. Is this what life is all about: learning lessons so as not to repeat the same mistakes over and over again? What if I learned a lesson, put in my best effort, asked all the right questions, opened myself up to scrutiny and vulnerability, articulated my boundaries, and still tripped?!

What then?

Throw it all away? Remain alone for the sake of caring for my heart? Risk appearing aloof or uncaring just so I don't have to clean up a mess that I worked diligently to avoid happen in the first place? We're not a solitary species? But what's so bad about being alone? I have my music to keep my warm. Even the kids grow up to live their own lives.

Enjoy the moment. That's all we have. Meditate on that. You can do your best to make up for the past. Take accountability even when it feels impossible. Make amends. Speak your truth with the most compassionate head and heart. Be the best listener. Ask the deeper questions. Be vulnerable and available for the criticisms that will come your way (and they will come!).

Prepare for the future, knowing as hard as you do, life has a way of throwing a lot of curveballs at you. Be calm through the storm. Flow like water. Respond, don't react. Breathe. Always breathe. And know that everyone else is going through the shit too.

All we have in now. It's only now. It's always now. Bring your best now. Now. And do not beat yourself up if the best you have now is not the same as what others are bringing. Never compare yourself to others, ever. You'll lose that battle. So don't do it. Rise above that. You're not rising above others, you're rising above the idea that others are above you. No one is above anyone else. We're all treading water in our own way. Our job is to do it as calmly as possible. Don't fight the waves. Don't fight the tide.

Flow like water.

Forgive.

Love.

Be. Here. Now.

And listen to good music. 

There's some pretty good music here. New The Jesus Lizard, Ty Segall, Dale Crover, WAND, and a bunch of other stuff I think you're going to love. I love it, anyway.

And if you want to support what we're doing, please consider donating. This is labor of love, and we all pay monthly dues to keep the lights on and the turntables spinning. We need help maintaining the equipment we have, and regularly replacing worn out parts. We also have a deep desire to update our website. If you know anyone that can donate items for a raffle please let me know. Thanks in advance.

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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Kasalefkut-Hulu: Mulatu Astatke
Sevda Olmasaydi: Altin Gün

Theme de Yoyo: Art Ensemble of Chicago
Down Home Girl: The Coasters

Help Save The Youth of America: Billy Bragg
Youth of America: Melvins
Bang Bang: Nancy Sinatra
The Tide is High: The Paragons

High Time: WAND
Enemy Destruct: Thee Oh Sees

Teenie Weenie Boppie: Free Kitten
Purple: Ken Nordine
Golden Gate Park: The Catheads
2 Drunk 2 Fuck: Avenue D
Fuck the Police (edit): NWA
Rudy, a Message to You: Dandy Livingstone

Lord Godiva: The Jesus Lizard
Blood Like Cream: Red Fang

I Waited Forever: Dale Crover (ft. Ty Segall)
Killer: Alice Cooper
Gathering of the Ancient Tribes: GOAT

The Dance/Walk Home Pt.2/First Touch: Ty Segall
Rise: PIL

Hell's Kitchen Radio #529: From The First Hello

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No guests. No training. Just you and me and a whole hell of a lotta music. Musically speaking this may be my best show of the year so far. There are some inspired sets I think you're gonna love. And these are some of my longest sets too!

In my early radio days at KFJC we had to follow the clock and break at :10, :20, :40, and :50, as well as play a legal ID at top of the hour. Each break we had business to attend to: announcing other shows , public service announcements, ticket giveaways, and other bits and bobs. This gave us a 20 minute sweep at the bottom of the hour, and one at the top (except for that pesky legal ID).

I've kept to that clock pretty much throughout the years. I like the idea of stopping often enough for you to know who I played, while also having a few longer sets where I can stretch out some. I often get a bit more dissonant during these sweeps.

I wasn't strict with the clock tonight. 

I also went shopping at Stranded Records on Sunday. New music from Goat, Melvins (best album since the Big Business days IMHO), and Meatbodies. Lots of music to drop your panties to. A brief tribute to Steve Albini (more to come on that loss). And so much more. Take a look at the playlist below. Click the link above to listen in.

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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Fight the Power: Brownout

Louder Than A Bomb: Public Enemy

Munaye: Mulatu Astatke

Behind the Wall of Sleep: Jazz Sabbath

Timeless Awareness: Goat

30 Seconds Over Tokyo: Pere Ubu

America's Most Blunted: MF Doom and Madlib

She's Got Weird Arms: Melvins

The Pharmacy: Crow Jane

Bulldog Front: Fugazi

Heartattack and Vine: Lydia Lunch and Nels Cline

Tupelo Blues: John Lee Hooker

Golden Hair: Hope Sandoval and Warm Inventions

Mind Daze: Psychic Ills

Radio Friendly Unit Shifter: Nirvana

Pink: Boris

Anlatmam Derdimi: Altin Gün

Slip It To The Android: Chrome

Float Along - Fill Your Lungs: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

Gate: Meatbodies

Moonage Daydream: David Bowie

From the First Hello to the Last Goodbye: Jane Morgan

Hell's Kitchen Radio #516: Befriend Hell

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I had a conversation with a friend online recently, who was listening to a previous show of mine. She commented that it felt like I was speaking directly to her when I said that you may not be listening live, but perhaps somewhere in a distant time? 

It's true, you know? I often imagine you listening to these shows many decades (or centuries?) into the future. Once it's out there, it's out there forever. Every word I have spoken, every song I have played. It's all there. I was about to type "do anything you want with it. It's not mine anymore". But then I got to thinking about this world of ours where intellectual copyright and identity theft is a real thing. So go ahead and listen to these old shows, and my comments from those times, but do take it all in context, ok? Thanks.

I also know that my two darling children will possibly read these posts and listen back to my old shows. Anything's possible, right?

Not a lot of new music tonight. Ty Segall has a new release on the horizon: "Three Bells", and I have something off of that. New Beatles. Yes, you heard that right. And it's pretty good. The video almost brought me to tears. 

I'm heading to Bottom of the Hill Saturday night to see Radio Valencia's DJ Doug in his quartet 9 Dog Dick. It's their album release party. The headliner is St. Louis' Drunks With Guns. They're loud and the rock! I played them in the second hour tonight. Come on down and rock out with me.

As always, there's something for everyone here, as long as you enjoy 60s psych, 70s soul-jazz, 00s South-Asian garage-revival, 00s subversive hiphop, prog-metal and more. 

Have fun and share.

jh

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

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Some Velvet Morning: Vanilla Fudge

Inner City Blues: Grover Washington Jr.

Leyla: Altin Gun

Pay Back Africa: Antibalas

Thlah Cinta Berlalu: Koes Barat

Breathless: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Heartattack and Vine: Lydia Lunch (ft. Nels Cline)

My Room: Ty Segall

Girlfriend is Better: Talking Heads

Islands in the Sky: Death Valley Girls

Now and Then: The Beatles

Beef Rapp: MF Doom

Smokin' Cheeba Cheeba: George Benson

Bird Song: David McMurray

I Get A Kick Out Of You: Frank Sinatra

Hell House: Drunks with Guns

Celestial Crown/Barael's Blade: The Sword

Majic Moonjynuh: Queen Crescent

Revenge: Embryo

Hell's Kitchen Radio #510: It's A Mind Killer

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It sure enough felt GOOD to be back in the studio Monday night. I haven't taken this much time off since I started Radio Valencia in 2010. This was my first show since early April. I needed the break, but I was itching to get back. There was a moment Monday afternoon, a few hours before my show, when I thought "I could stay in and watch a show". That's when I knew I just had to make it in to do my show. 

The longer you sit, the harder it is to get up. 

Get up.

Always get up.

So where have I been? That's a difficult question to answer, and not one I'm quite ready to jump into quite yet. My health is great! It has nothing to do with that. My kids are healthy as well. My life is in flux, but I can honestly say I am the happiest and most at peace in quite a long time. As a matter of fact last Friday afternoon I was on the beach near Albany Bulb (yes, there's a great little beach there and the water was warm that day), staring out at the city and the Golden Gate Bridge, playing in the warm water with Bodhi, noting that I was the happier at that moment than I have been in many years. 

I'm not often unhappy. I just have been lacking a measure of harmony and peace. Today I have more harmony and peace. And for this I am grateful.

Now, on with the show!

I wasn't certain how rusty I was going to be, but after having hosted a few thousand shows over the years, I figured as long as I had enough music with me, I could figure out the rest. 

How right I was!

I've missed a few tributes over the past few months, so I had to make up for that. Harry Belafonte, Blackie Onassis and Tom Verlaine passed over the past few months. Instead of sets for the dearly departed, you get a single tune for each.

I'm starting off with some jazz and folk blues, before getting louder. And I do get louder. New music from Death Valley Girls,  Iggy Pop, Mudhoney, Cory Hanson (of WAND), and King Gizzard pepper the broadcast.

I expect to be hosting my show live every other Monday night for a while. You'll hear an encore presentation (read: rerun) on the Monday's I'm not in. Having hosted over 500 shows on Radio Valencia your sure to enjoy what I have served up for you.

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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White Man's Got A God Complex: Last Poets
Freedom Day: Max Roach

Midnight Special: Harry Belafonte
Terraplane Blues: Robert Johnson

When the Levee Breaks: Memphis Minnie
Write Me A Few Lines: Mississippi Fred McDowell
Walkin' Blues: Muddy Waters
Stagolee: Jesse Fuller

Sugar Magnolia: Joe Pop-O-Pie
St. Stephen: Ty Segall
Filipino Boxsprings Hog: Tom Waits

Magic Powers: Death Valley Girls
Toe Cutter/Thumb Buster: Thee Oh Sees
Snakes Crawl: Shannon and the Clams
(Today is) Blackie's Birthday: Urge Overkill

Strung Out Johnny: Iggy Pop
Flush the Fascists: Mudhoney

Friction: Television
Leave the Capitol: The Fall
Safe European Home: The Clash
Fredrick: Patti Smith
Bulunur Mu: Altin Gun

Gila Monster: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Sunday Morning Comin' Down: Kris Kristofferson

Driving Through Heaven: Cory Hanson

Hell's Kitchen Radio #508: Thanks For Being A Friend

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It feels like the first time almost every time. I get an itch to share all of this with you Monday nights. No guests tonight, and I honestly just felt like stretching way out tonight, hence the few tracks you see below. There are a few long ones in here that I know are going to take you on a little trip if you allow them to.

I suggest you make the time to sit back and enjoy this one.

Not much else to say. I hope I get to play more music for you again soon.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Stepping Out: The Fall
The Passenger: Siouxsie and the Banshees

Up From the South: The Budos Band
Seker Oglan: Altin Gun

Encrypted Bounce: Oh Sees

Blue Jay Way: The Beatles

All Dead To Me: Sgt. Splendor
Chocolate Jesus: Tom Waits

No Hay Problema: Pink Martini

Sorcery: Big Band Katowice

Separate Ways: Neil Young

Mountains of the Moon>Dark Star: Grateful Dead (February 27, 1969)

The High Road: Broken Bells

New York Town: Peter Rowan

In That Great Getting Up In The Morning: The New Gospel Keys

Hell's Kitchen Radio #503: Back to Business

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You know I start this show out talking about why I do what I do. This is all about taking two hours and paining an aural picture for your mind. Spotify can't do that. Commercial radio stations won't do that. They can't risk losing their sponsors. Spotify has no soul. Commercial radio exists to steal your soul and your time. And how insulting are they? 

Want to play "What's on the Bone"? I bet you guessed right. I don't want you to ever be able to guess what I'm going to play on my show. Yes, there are a handful of artists who I have been known to play more often than others. Just scroll to the bottom of this page and you can see for yourself. But I mean, c'mon, look at who those artists are? Melvins over 100 times! The top ten don't get so much airplay anywhere else. OK, maybe the Grateful Dead? 

I was all over the place on this show. Experimental, garage-punk, Americana, Bluegrass, free-Jazz, Soul-Jazz, both American and British Punk, a tribute to Jeff Beck, British Rock, Greek Psych-Groove, Neo-Psych and Gospel. I ask you, where else are you going to hear this? Radio Valencia needs to be bookmarked on your browser and you must get the app!

I can't wait until next week.

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 Facebook
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook
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Ge Rouge: Crash Worship
Diddy Wah: Ty Segall Band

The Red, The White, and The Blue: Peter Rowan
Dooley's Farm: Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway

Nisaba in the Grass: Luna
Focus on Sanity: John Coltrane and Don Cherry

Driva Man: Max Roach
Inner City Blues: Grover Washington Jr.

Playing in the Band: Bob Weir
Jubilee Street: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Media Control: The Nuns
Bourgeois Town: The Fall
Fast Cars: Buzzcocks

Freeway Jam: Jeff Beck
I'm Ready: Humble Pie
Show Me The Way: Dinosaur Jr.

Tatli Dile Guler Yuze: Altin Gun
Death's Not Your Friend: Wooden Shjips

In That Great Getting Up In The Morning: The New Gospel Keys