Hell's Kitchen Radio #556: Best of 2024

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Well, January arrived, so I figure I better pull out what I bought last year and give all a spin. 

King Gizzard released its 26th album in 2024. And what an amazing show they put on at The Frost. Dale Crover came back from neck surgery to record and tour with Redd Kross, put out his third solo album and 27th with the Melvins. I can't wait to see them in April and again coming up in June. I love me some Melvins!

Nick Cave seems to be emerging from his deep grief-stricken period with Wild God. I'll be seeing him in May. Great albums from Billy Strings, WAND, Ty Segall, OSEES, GOAT (so many bands using allcaps?!?!?!), Shannon and the Clams, and more!

Monday night I'll be back with new music and music that's new to you.

Tune into the station you have come to rely on to play the best of whatever genre you're into.

And while you're listening we could really use your support. We have been around since 2010 and keeping our equipment operating, along with increased costs for just about everything, makes it a challenge to keep paying for this out of our pockets.

This is why we decided to have an "on air" fundraiser, through February 8th. Head over to Radio Valencia's website, scroll down and click the PayPal link on the right to show us a little love. This is a tax deductible donation, and every dollar goes straight to paying to keep our radio home running.

Thanks in advance.

Enjoy and please share the Best of 2024.

jh

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

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Hog Calling Contest: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Resolution/Revolution: The Linda Lindas

Bean Fields: Shannon and the Clams
I Waited Forever: Dale Crover with (Ty Segall)

Stunt Queen: Redd Kross
Snakes: Bell Rays
My Alice: Billy Strings
Luck and Strange: David Gilmore

Void: Ty Segall
Smile: WAND

Also the Gorilla...: OSEES
Silly Cybin: Meatbodies
Ouroboros: GOAT

Wild God: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Grind: The Jesus Lizard

She's Got Weird Arms: Melvins
Confluence: Slift

Me and the Girls: Amyl and the Sniffers
How To Ruin Your Life: False Flag
Comme Tu Le Souhaites (Ding Dong): Population II

Psycho Killer (Acoustic Version): Talking Heads

Hell's Kitchen Radio #353: I Can Taste It

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It's December so it's time for my obligatory BEST of show...kinda. If anything it's a chance to play great music! And isn't that why you tune in week after week? You do tune in, don't you? That's interesting. I just realized that I asked "don't you", and not "do not you". Huh.

My show isn't all about 2018 music, however. Just take a gander at the playlist below and you'll note the diversity in the sets. Yes folks, we here at Radio Valencia believe the only good radio is diverse radio. Why I play all kinds of diverse genres: metal, heavy metal, death metal, speed metal, stoner metal, and doom metal. Don't be fooled by our competitors, they only program to the lowest common denominator. We have discovered a way to much much lower.

That being said, there was a lot of great music in 2018. Albums by King Tuff, Oh Sees, Mudhoney, Sleep, and of course a few by Ty Segall, are just a glimpse into what was another stellar year for the indie rock/garage scene.

I encourage you to tune in to Radio Valencia throughout the rest of 2018 for more Best of shows from some of the finest DJs west of East Orange, New Jersey.

I'm taking the next two weeks off to celebrate family and friends. I suggest you do the same. I'll be scheduling some of my favorite Hell's Kitchen Radio programs to play in my absence. I encourage you to have it playing in the background during your family celebrations. I'm available for Bar Mitzvah's too!

Happy Holidaze to you and yours from me, and all of us at Radio Valencia. See you in 2019!

jh

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

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Why Can't I Touch It: Buzzcocks
The White Man's Got A God Complex: Last Poets
Inner City Blues: Grover Washington Jr.

Birds of Paradise: King Tuff
Keep on Knockin': Death
No Air: Red Fang
Drown in my own Tears: Ray Charles

Moon Bog: Oh Sees
Motion Pictures: Neil Young
By The Time I Get To Arizona: Brownout

My Wild Sweet Love: First Aid Kit
Isolation: John Lennon
Low Rider: Ty Segall

21st Century Pharisees: Mudhoney
Devil Woman: Charles Mingus

Hillbilly Math: Dale Crover Band

Lady in the Front Row: Redd Kross
Staring at the Sun: Wooden Shjips
The Big Gundown: Ennio Morricone

Pre Strike Sweep: Goggs
Marijuanaut's Theme: Sleep

Teardrops From My Eyes: Ray Condo

Hell's Kitchen Radio #285: Best of 2016

Stream the very best, HERE!
Download the essentials, HERE!
Listen into all my shows here, or just scroll down

What a mess this year was in so many ways, but not in music! There's always too much good music for me to share during this show. I should really host a four hour show to feature all of my faves, but then I would be stepping on other Radio Valencia shows, who also have such choice tunes to throw your way.

My Best of 2016 is full of soul, garage, punk, metal, Nick Cave and Bowie. I have a few re-issues thrown in there for good measure, and a track or two you haven't hear on my show before, but the artists you certainly have. Please tune into Radio Valencia throughout the next few weeks as our many show hosts will be sharing their Best of shows with you.

Next Monday night will see the return of Little Lauson Hell. She's 12 now, and has decided that her taste in music is way better than mine. She may be right. You decide.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Make America Great Again: Pussy Riot
Fucked Up Donald: DOA
Green Sugar: Kikagaku Moyo

Plastic Plant: Thee Oh Sees
Glass Eye: Charles Mootheart (CFM)

Lazarus: David Bowie
To Melt the Moon: Rangda

Valley Girl: Meatbodies
Barrell: Naked Lights
I Want To Tell You: The Melvins

Warsawng: Glitter Wizard
The Sadist: Zig Zags

Ready, Willing and Able: Betty Davis
Never Too Late: The Apostles

Jesus Alone: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Over Unease: Spacin'

Falling In: Gøggs
Junkie: Altamont
Slow Down: Flat Earthers

Hold Onto the Sky: Pins of Light
Onye Ije: The Strangers

Check out the video for Pussy Riot's "Make America Great Again". Classic.

Hell's Kitchen Radio #246: Best of 2015

Stream the Best of my Best, HERE!
Download the Best of 2015, HERE!
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Tonight it's my BEST OF 2015 show! I don't really trust these shows. It's really what the DJ enjoyed the most throughout the year. But isn't that the idea? You don't want to hear what the major media publications think was the best of the year. You want a seasoned DJ veteran, who has over 25 years of underground, eclectic radio experience to tell you what's best. Yes you do. And then you're going to go out and purchase all that music and go see those artists live in concert. Yes you are. You're going to share this list with your friends, and tell them how much better you are than them, because you know what's really the best, since you tune into such a hip and happening underground radio station, run by the DJs who are truly in the know. Yes we are!

Really though, this was an excellent year in music. Ty Segall had at least four releases, Wand had two; Dungen came out with their first release in seven years. Sleater Kinney came out with a great new record, their first in eight years. Swervedriver released their first LP in 17 years! There was some tasty local cuts that found room in the record stacks too. Queen Crescent, Shannon and the Clams, and Golden Void all graced the airwaves with new cuts in 2015.

This show nowhere scratches the surface of the best of the year, but it's a start. Tune into Radio Valencia throughout the month of December to hear what our many other fine, and experienced DJs have to offer up as their BEST OF 2015. Put it all together and you may just have the best of the best collection of what music was hot in a year that is quickly fading away.

Next Monday night will be my last show for the year. I'm taking December 28th off to go check out Dead and Co. at the Bill Graham Civic. The tour has sounded great. John Mayer doesn't suck as much as I thought he would. Huh, what do you think of that? I look forward to hearing what they have in store. I saw the Grateful Dead perform at the Civic a few times, between 1987-1988. After that, they got too big to perform in venues of that size. Too bad. So next Monday, being my last show of the year, I thought it wise and apropos to wrap up my celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead by playing two hours of LIVE DEAD!!! I know you want to hear that. and who could blame you, really? I've got plenty to play, so tune in 8-10PM (PDST) next Monday night, December 21st.

Have I told you lately how much I love radio?

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Self Hypnosis in 3 Days: WAND
How Long?: Shannon and the Clams

Pish: The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Feel: Ty Segall
Cool Slut: Chastity Belt

The Night Josh Tillman Came to Our Apartment: Father John Misty
Feel Like: Mikal Cronin
The Mirror: Damaged Bug

Sticky Hulks: Thee Oh Sees
Culture Vulture: Queen Crescent
Snakeskin: Deerhunter

Astral Plane: Golden Void
Sapokanikan: Joanna Newsome
Drug Mugger: Ty Segall
Dimed Out: Titus Andronicus

Autodidact: Servedriver
Acetate: Metz
A New Wave: Sleater Kinney

Double Fine: Honky
Sista Festen: Dungen
Slime: Zig Zags

Pollinate: Fuzz
Wilding: Moon Duo
Half-Life Crisis: Jim O'Rourke

Chinatown: Girlpool

My daughter is a huge fan of Bob's Burgers, and because of me she's also really into Portlandia. This video should make her doubly happy.

A Season in Hell #115: Best of 2012

Well, here we go again. Can you believe it's already been a year?!?!

There was so much great music this past year. I have to admit, I really love this particular show. Every year I get to showcase what I believe to be the best music of the year, and this year there are some choice cuts to choose from.

If you listen to my show regularly, then you know that I jump around from genre to genre. Tonight my show features a lot of pop, some metal, some psych. There's no jazz or hip-hop in my list for tonight. That doesn't mean there weren't some fabulous tracks out there, just that none of them really struck my fancy enough to feature them in my Best of 2012. Don't be a hater. There will be plenty of hip hop and jazz in upcoming shows.

In the meantime, enjoy the show, and spread it around, and for God's sake, go buy some of this great music, and support live, local music every chance you get!

You can download this Best of, and take it with you everywhere you go.
You can stream this awe-inspiring showcase, and play it for your friends at work.
Perhaps you wish to listen to all of my shows, click here, or just scroll down.

As always, enjoy.

jh

The War on Wisdom: The Melvins
Stay Away From Downtown: Redd Kross

Ron Donovan drops by to talk about Rock Fight 9, next week, 6-10PM

I See the Void: Sonny and the Sunsets
Blue Suede Shoes: Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Bite My Tongue: King Kahn and the Shrines

Satisfied: Tom Waits
Apocalypse Dreams: Tame Impala
Handglams: Ty Segal

Only Son of the Ladies Man: Father John Misty
Dear Believer: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Ruin: Cat Power

In A Jar: Dinosaur Jr (Electronic Version)
Museum of Flight: Damien Jurado
They Say I’m Doing Just Fine: Michael Kiwanuka

Whore: FIDLAR
Roman Tick: Fergus & Geronimo
Anthem: King Tuff
Last Desire: Coves

Prayer of Forgetfulness: Hush Arbors
Make It Known: Foxygen
The Righteous One: The Orwells

Luna: Boris
1922 Blues: Charlie Parr

A Season in Hell #68: Radio Valencia: Best of 2011, Part 1

It's the end of the year, so that means it's time for a Best of 2011 show. There was so much good music this year, that I find it difficult to fit it all into one two-hour show. So this show tonight is part one.

Stream it here.
Download it here.

Enjoy.

It's Hard to be Humble: Mac Davis

The World (is going up in flames): Charles Bradley
Get Right: Megafaun
How Can You Love Me: Unknown Mortal Orchestra

I Found You: Alabama Shakes
Truth (RZA Remix): Alexander
Nothing is the News: Damien Jurado
Modern Art: Black Lips

Jesus Fever: Kurt Vile
You Take Time: Bleached
Drug: White Denim

Gangsta: Tune Yards
Let the Sun Go Down on Me Here: Coves
For The Last Time: Turf War
He Gets Me High: Dum Dum Girls

Helplessness Blues: Fleet Foxes
Wild Heart: Futurebirds
Me and You: Strange Boys
I Was Denied: Thee Oh Sees

Automatic Jail: Jacuzzi Boys
Tigrawahi Tikma (Bring Us Together): Bombino
Chinatown: Destroyer

Civilian: Wye Oak
Can You Get To That: Stone Darling

Vote for Radio Valencia, Best Radio Station in Bay Guardian's Best of the Bay 2011

It's that time of year once again: the time to get out your #2 pencils and vote for your favorites in the 37th annual San Francisco Bay Guardian's Best of the Bay.

It's the issue we all love. It's the issue we hold onto the longest. It's the one that we get angry at our six year old's for using as liner for their hamster cages.

This year I want you to do something very, VERY important. I want you to vote Radio Valencia as the Best Radio Station in the Bay Area. Truth be told, we are the best radio station in the bay area. Don't believe me? Have you even taken a listen to us yet? We are without a doubt, the BEST RADIO STATION IN THE BAY AREA!

I've been doing non-commercial (and a small amount of commercial) radio in the Bay Area since 1988. The best radio is radio that takes chances. Radio Valencia takes chances when it comes to content and programming. We have the best, most eclectic and relevant music programming, and the most interesting interviews.

You can also vote for your favorite DJ. I'll leave that one up to you. Though I'm tempted to ask you to vote for me (as I have endlessly sent Tweets out asking for you do so), I'm going to refrain here. Do listen to Radio Valencia, and do vote for us. As for your favorite DJ, go with what your conscience is telling you.

A Season in Hell #19: Radio Valencia: Best of 2010

I missed my show last week, because I was up in the snow. A lot of snow too. I didn't move my car for two full days, and it had about three feet of snow covering it when I left. Lots of snow. Went sledding too, with the little one.

Anyway, I thought a great way to make up for my absence would be to do a three hour Best of... show. So I did a five hour show. Feast from FCCFreeRadio came over for a little while, as did KROB. We played a lot of fine 2010 music in the first two hours, before jumping to some great live shows from 2010. The last two hours included some fine ditties I picked up this year; all of them live. The show ends with two amazing live cuts: Zeppelin and the Dead.

As always these shows are available to download. Just click on the "hour" links.

If you haven't checked out Radio Valencia yet, what are you waiting for? Really, if you're anything like me, then you get tired of your own music collection and need some serious inspiration. Radio Valencia is the cure to this ill. It's a great radio station. Tune in between 4 and midnight, and you're sure to hear something you've NEVER heard before. Some you'll dislike, much you'll LOVE!!!

Hour One:
Roustabout: Elvis Presley
40 Day Dream: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Truth: Alexander (of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros)
Out of the Blue: Julian Casablancas

Fuck You: Cee-Lo Green
Lost Daughter: The Dry Spells

SNS Radio Smacks Down for Homeless Relief
Bugs Bunny PSA against drugs
Beat The Devil's Tattoo: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

A Minor Altercation: Nice Face
Jail La La: Dum Dum Girls
Frost Hammer: High On Fire
Pig House: The Melvins

Hour Two:
Feast Comes By

Hate Worldwide: Slayer
Immigraniada: Gogol Bordello

Rain: BxI
Skit I Allt: Dungen

Detroit: The Bright Light Social Hour
Still Alive: Three Mile Pilot

Post Acid: Wavves
Caesar: Ty Segall
Mama's Mad Cos I Fried My Brain: TURBO FRUITS

Hour Three:
Come on over, Turn me on: Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan (09-15-10)
Acid Tongue: Jenny and Johnny (12-10-10)

Hate the Police: Mudhoney (09-03-10)
Search and Destroy (09-03-10)

Fortune Has Its Cookies To Give Out: Tom Waits (10-02-10)
Done Got Old: Heartless Bastards (05-04-10)

Blue Christmas: Elvis Presley (07-05-76)
Car Thief: Beastie Boys (Paul's Boutique Demos)
Powderfinger: Beat Farmers (12-07-85)
Dancin' Fool: Frank Zappa (09-21-78)

Marie, Marie: Dave Alvin (02-18-05)

Hour Four:
Hurdy Gurdy Man: Butthole Surfers (09-21-85)
Beat on the Brat: The Ramones (07-20-82)

The Continental: SNL with phone calls and KROB

Straight to Hell: The Clash (08-17-82)
High Roller: Cheap Trick (03-28-97)
Do You Want New Wave or Do You Want the Truth: Minutemen (05-12-84)
Polk Salad Annie: Meat Puppets (09-21-84)

Hour Five:
Toys Go Winding Down > Pudding Time: Primus (11-17-93)
Fat Bottom Girls: Queen (03-01-79)
Dirty Boots: Sonic Youth (08-17-90)
Cortez the Killer: Neil Young (02-07-84)

The Rover Introduction / Sick Again: Led Zeppelin (05-26-77)
Eyes of the World: Grateful Dead (03-19-73)