Hell's Kitchen Radio #603: No, You're Stunning!

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So much has changed in the past few weeks, that I think it's creeping into the music I play for you. You can't tell? Then you aren't paying attention. 

We put on such a fine show at the FabMab and On Broadway on February 28th, I'm still floating above the floor. And I think about what Bowie said about doing your art: don't get too comfortable, and don't do it for the listeners; it'll compromise you. 

How true.

There are many weeks, in the middle of my show, when I'm playing something with a sweet groove, that I think about playing a 15 minute long, dissonant track, but I often hold back, not wanting to alienate my audience. What's that about? I come from a long history of left-of-the-dial DJs who pride themselves on pushing the limits. I've written before about the two schools I carried on with at the mythic KFJC: always play something "accessible", versus "fuck 'em if they don't like it". 

I've tried to walk the line in the middle over the years, but I'll admit I err on the side of the former a wee bit too often.

I need to recommit to pushing the sound in the direction that always brings me the most joy. This is not a selfish act. This is why you tune in. I take requests about .05% of the time, so it's not like I'm abandoning you. 

Tonight was good ol' quality music that I tapped my toes along to the whole show. 

I've got music spanning seven decades...or is it eight? 

This Monday night Daniel Haver of Mabuhay Gardens is joining me to guest DJ. He has a $1000 7"-45 he's threatening to bring in. I may need to change the needles.

We have an exciting show Radio Valencia is co-presenting, and yours truly is producing on June 13th. Set your calendars. You do not want to miss this!

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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Wake Up The Sun: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (Person A - 2015)
Let Me Roll It: Paul McCartney and Wings (Band on the Run - 1973)

Up In My Soul: The Darts (Halloween Love Songs - 2026)

Loose: Iggy and the Stooges (Fun House - 1970)

Candy Sam: Ty Segall and the Muggers (Live at the BBC - 2026)

Handsome Nick: People's Temple (Musical Garden - 2014)

Pedro - Toulon: The Pedro Toulon Connect (I Mean Alarmed - 2021)

Lilac Wine: Jeff Buckley (Grace - 1994)

Odds Against Tomorrow: Bill Orcutt (Odds Against Tomorrow - 2019)
Bad Luck: Sonny Terry (Sonny is King - 1962)

Die By The Sword: Pancho and the Wizards (Cemetery - 2019)

Hallogallo: Neu! (Neu! - 1972)

SS Cygni: Chrome (Alien Soundtracks - 1977)

Evil People: Mien (Miien - 2025)

Prince of Darkness: Bow Wow Wow (7" - 1981)

Fatalidad: Money Chicha (Chicha Summit - 2021)

Little Red Hen: Taj Mahal (Oooh So Good 'n' Blues - 1973)

Bron-Y-Aur Stomp: Led Zeppelin (III - 1970)

Liar: Bikini Kill (S/T - 1992)

I'm Not A Loser: Amyl and the Sniffers (Big Attraction - 2019)

The Green Manalishi: The Flesh Eaters (I Used To Be Pretty - 2018)

Jack O'Diamonds: Odetta (Mojo - The Complete Unknown - 2025)

Blue 'n' Boogie: Miles Davis (Walkin' - 1955)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #488: God Save Radio Valencia

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Take care of your back. Seriously, you really need to watch how you're treating it. And your head. And stay hydrated. You're getting older. This is the only life you have. You only die once. You need to keep this vessel of yours moving for a few more years. Take care of it.

I lost 30 pounds between April and September 2021. I really needed to. I had hit about 205 and knew that my body wasn't happy. My spirit was pretty solid, since I do my best to focus on things that bring me joy, but my body wasn't having it. I was packing away the calories. This isn't some commercial. I'm not going to talk about the program I used. You can comment here and I'll respond, but I'm just talking here about how important it is to maintain physical health, especially as the climate continues to worsen. We are going to need our bodies to be in the best shape as possible.

As for music, there's always music. And here's some really great music! I start out the show with some brand spankin' new King Gizzard. This 18+ minute track is a real barn-burner. Throughout the show I pepper in songs in celebration of Labor Day, which I also celebrate on May 1st, since that's the real Labor Day, as created here in the good ol' USofA!

There are a lot of "classics" during these two hours. Once you hear them you're going to be digging for more, and I can't blame you!

As of this writing, Queen Elizabeth II has died, and I could not care less! God Save the Queen my ass. Fuck Imperialism, and Fuck Colonialism. I don't believe in an afterlife, but if I did...

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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The Dripping Tap: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

T For Texas: Toshio Hirano
Bales of Cocaine: Reverend Horton Heat
The Ballad of El Goodo: Big Star
My Soul is Tired: Betty Davis

Career Opportunities: The Clash
This Is Love: Eric McFadden
Beautiful Feeling: PJ Harvey
I've Been Working: Van Morrison

There Is Power in a Union: Billy Bragg
Do You Take This Man?: Diamanda Galas with John Paul Jones
Now, Ah Lissen: Texas Preacher
What Do You Want From Life?: The Tubes

Fire: Robert Gordon with Link Wray
Jump: Mary Lou Lord
Dogs: Pink Floyd

Fight the Power: Brownout
The White Man's Got A God Complex: The Last Poets
I Had A Talk With My Woman: Tim Buckley
The Conversion Experience: Bill Orcutt

uzume: Boris

Hell's Kitchen Radio #428: Sold To Hell

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Well damn if that wasn't fun. During the week I'm always listening to music; my own collection and a lot of non-commercial radio: Radio Valencia, KALC and KFJC mostly. Thankfully the Shazam app exists. I cannot tell you how often I use that app. Personally I believe it to be the greatest app ever made in the history of app-kind. Quite possibly it's the greatest invention since the printing press! OK maybe since radio. What do I know? 

My point: many of the artists I still get turned onto come from listening to quality radio stations, with hosts who really know their music. 

What a time to be quarantined! 

I'm hoping we're allowed into our new studio soon. I miss having people to interview from week to week. And we've got these great new digs on 22nd street, right next door to the Make Out Room. I really hope they're able to survive this pandemic. Word came today that the iconic Revolution Cafe has closed their doors, permanently. I would fly my flag at half mast if I had one. 

Carrying on, here's a bunch of music that will sweep away the ennui, unless you get off on that kind of sensation? I will never yuck your yum. 

Brand new Melvins and Mr. Bungle are in the show, along with a lot of artists I don't think I have ever played on here before. Also some new Iggy Pop where he channels the spirit of a dead Welsh poet. Iggy can gargle salt water and I would still love how it sounds. 

I want to start featuring more local independent artists who I know have suffered through COVID-19. I've got some Kate Vargas and her man, Eric McFadden in the second hour. They could always use your love. 

See you next Monday starting at 6pm Pacific for my live bootleg bonanza, where I play full live shows from my live bootleg library. This blog has posts from the previous shows so you can take a look at what you missed. Then stick around from 8-10PM Pacific for my two hour music mix Hell's Kitchen Radio.

Enjoy.

jh

Fuck Around: Melvins
Gaze the Haze: Watchout!

Fascists Eat Donuts: Pop O Pies
Dead Man Walking: Praxis
Break Your Mind: The Darts

Kicker Conspiracy: The Fall
Colossal Youth: Young Marble Giants
Pool On A Plate: Naked Lights
Son of Mustang Ford: Swervedriver

Loss For Words: Mr. Bungle
Tippi Toes: Primus
The Sun and its Horizon: Bill Orcutt
Chik Chikka: Mulatu Astake and the Heliocentrics

The Partisan: Electrelane
Sold America: Damaged Bug
Kolbasti: Altin Gun
Lonesome Cowboy Bill: Velvet Underground
Panik: Bratmobile
Westgate: Amyl and the Sniffers

Shocks Almighty: Lee Scratch Perry
There's A Party: N.A.S.A. (feat. George Clinton and Chali 2na)
What A Man: Linda Lyndell
Got My Mojo Working: Ann Cole

7 Inches: Kate Vargas
Babydoll: Eric McFadden
Done Got Old: Heartless Bastards
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night: Iggy Pop

Certain Men: Negativland
Talkin' New York: Bob Dylan
Good Night, Sleep Tight: Lawrence Welk Singers

And because you need to watch Iggy deliver this classic Dylan Thomas poem, here it is:

Hell's Kitchen Radio #419: We Finally Made It To The End And All I Got Was This Lousy Virus

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The end is nigh. And what are your plans? Are you going to head out and revel with your friends, sans mask, giving hugs, kisses, high fives and COVID to each other, and your beloved Nana upon returning home? Good for you for removing yourself from the gene pool. Unfortunately, you're also risking others just to play around on amateur night. 

Stay home, watch a movie, drink a glass of bubbly (alcoholic or non), and head off to bed without anything to regret. We have next year, and all of our loved ones to consider.

Thanks in advance. 

This here is my year-end show. There's a bunch of my faves from 2020, but this isn't a "Best of..." show in the least. There's a bunch of other tunes tossed in from across the ages. In retrospect I really should have played "I Want To Be Sedated". Hmmmmm, just pretend I did, and click on the video link at the bottom.

Let's all just agree that 2020 was relatively bad for everyone around the world, and move on, shall we? I mean really now, a pandemic puts everything else into perspective. You had a bad year? Oh, I am so sorry. WE ALL HAD A BAD YEAR. Your year sucked extra special bad? WOW! You must really want to win some award. This show is for you then. And only you. 

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Little Drummer Boy: Lou Rawls
I Want To Be Evil: Eartha Kitt
Desolation Row (alternate take): Bob Dylan

Gate Crasher: Alice Bag
The Sun and its Horizon: Bill Orcutt
Laugh, Love, Fuck: The Coup

I'm Glad I Could Help Out: King Buzzo and Trevor Dunn
Tougher: Dale Crover
In The Pines: Fantastic Negrito
Abre Camino: Death Valley Girls

Badder Than Bullets: Tommy Guerrero
Wing Ruin: Oh Sees
Lock and Key: KnightressM1
Pull Up The People: MIA
Slavery Days: Burning Spear

Are You Glad To Be In America: James Blood Ulmer
Melvana: East New York Ensemble de Music
Cymbaline: Pink Floyd

Silver Machine: Hawkwind
Ride Your Pony: The Meters
Mr. Tamborine Man: William Shatner
The Hipster Be Bop Junkie: William S Burroughs

Auld Lange Syne: Bob Johnson and the Lonesome Travelers
I Bid You Goodnight: Joseph Spence & The Pinder Family

***Happy New Year to you and yours. Stay safe.***

Hell's Kitchen Radio #365: Platters That Matter

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There comes a time in every DJ's life when they need to share what they know. Tonight was such a night. There have been many, actually. I welcome DJ Doug into the studio tonight for his first training session. The fella has already got the musical chops, now we need to get him radio-ready. He just threw down some platters that matter in the second hour, while I held down the announcing duties. Color me impressed. He'll be back on my next show to tell what he knows to you and the world.

There's a lot of new music to share with you these days. Isn't there always? You tune in for the newest in new sounds, and the sounds from way downtown. You can depend on Mr. Hell to play for you what you know you need, even if you didn't know you needed it. You can thank me later.

Until then, enjoy.

jh

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

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Why I Carry A Knife: Zig Zags
Movies: Weyes Blood
I Loves You, Porgy: Grover Washington Jr.

Beauford County Jail: Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves
Linda Blair: Redd Kross
If: Pink Floyd
Don't Do It: The Who

Sex Machine: James Brown
Don't Tell It: James Brown
By The Time I Get To Phoenix: New York Underground Funk Band

The Cruel Millennial: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Hey Louise: RGD
Witness Tree: Rodrigo y Gabriela
It's A Man's World: MC5
Second Coming: Alice Cooper

Saudia: Larry Young
Columbus Unbound: Bill Orcutt and Jacob Felix Heule
Down By The River: Buddy Miles
You Ain't Goin' Nowhere: Bob Dylan

Untitled Original (11386): John Coltrane
Sympathy for the Devil: Rolling Stones

Que Sera Sera: Doris Day
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong