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

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

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

And then...

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

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

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

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

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

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

You do not want to miss this show! 

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hell's Kitchen Radio #335: It's Too Late Now

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How exactly did the week pass by without me posting my show? I hate when that happens. I don't just blindly pick music. I take my time to curate a show for you. I would love nothing more than to wax poetic about why I chose what I did for you on this fine night, but alas I cannot for the life of me recall anything beyond the fact it was Memorial Day, and I also picked up the new Sleep and Wooden Shjips LPs.

That'll have to do.

Oh, and you absolutely MUST check out the "Message from Daimo" track later in the show. It's hilarious if you know Daimo. Even if you don't...

Enjoy.

jh

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

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An Open Letter To My Teenage Son: Victor Lunberg
Mudride: Mudhoney

Giza Butler: Sleep
I Don't Wanna  Be A Soldier Mama: John Lennon
Eclipse: Wooden Shjips

War/No More Trouble: Bob Marley
1916: Motorhead
Red Right Hand: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Black Water: Red Fang
I Ain't Marchin' Anymore: Phil Ochs
(What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love and Understanding: Elvis Costello
Freaks for the Festival: Rahssan Roland Kirk

Sinnerman: Nina Simone
A Message from Daimo
Chinese Arithmetic: Eric B and Rakim
The Fiddle and the Drum: Joni Mitchell
Am I Black Enough For Ya: Schoolly D

Lonesome Train Whistle: Reverend Horton Heat
Buck Whylin': Terminator X

FISH Cheer/Fell-Like-I'm-Fixing-To-Die-Rag: Country Joe and the Fish

Hell's Kitchen Radio #317: Take A Knee

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I promised I wasn't going to go on a rant tonight. I almost got through the entire show too. It was worth it. But it's all about the music, right? That's why you tune in. You want to hear what I'm going to play, and in what order I'll be playing it. I get it. That's why I listen to quality radio programs, and often with a pen and paper at hand. I want to get excited about a tune I haven't heard before so I can run on out and purchase it, and perhaps get turned on to an artist that has deftly escaped my attention until now.

Recently, a friend of mine was telling me that I should contact a commercial radio station and ask for the opportunity to be their music director for one day. Yes, the music heard on most commercial stations, most of the time, makes me want to puke. Much of what I'm perplexed about is the order of their songs. They can hand me the list of all artists/songs they want played for that day and allow me to place it in an order that actually makes sense. Don't hold your breath for me to do this anytime soon, but I do like the idea.

If you have been enjoying the second hour live sets I've been doing then I believe you're really going to enjoy what I have in store for you on this show. Check out the playlist below, and click the stream/download links above.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Some Context/The Acrid Corpse: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

Powerman: The Kinks
Time of your Live: Daevid Allen
Repo Man: Iggy Pop

Rodeo Chica: Boss Hog
That's Not My Name: Ting Tings
Let It Bleed: Goat

Plastic Plant: Thee Oh Sees
Death Sound Blues: Country Joe and the Fish
The Same Thing: Muddy Waters

Jeun Ko Ku: Fela Kuti

Keep on the Sunny Side: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Roadrunnre: Jerry Garcia Band (August 1, 1974 - Keystone, Berkeley, CA)

Head Home: Midlake
Visions of Johanna: Bob Dylan (May 26, 1966 Royal Albert Hall, London, England)

Sweet Jane: Lou Reed (October 27, 1974 Palace Theater, Dayton, OH)
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere: Neil Young (February 19, 1970 KQED TV, San Francisco, CA)

Messin' With the Kid: Rory Gallagher (July 10, 1972 Bob Harris Show, BBC)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #310: Summer of Love Special

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I grew up wishing I had graduated from a San Francisco high school in 1964 so that by the Summer of Love in 1967 I would 21 years old and able to fully immerse myself in everything that era had to offer. It's the music of that time that influenced me the most during my adolescent years, when I was moving past what played on the home hi-fi and more into discovering my own likes. It was that swirling psychedelic music and it was that message of change and opportunity that grabbed me most.

My family moved to the Bay Area in late 1982 when I was 12 years  and I knew right away what a special place San Francisco was. In our first excursion into the city my parents wanted to tour Fisherman's Wharf, I wanted to go to the Haight. Of course by 1982 the Haight was long past its hippy prime and deep in its lost years of heroin and speed and closed storefronts. That didn't stop me from searching this great city and colorful neighborhoods for any crumb that remained from the vibe that the Summer of Love hoped to propagate following 1967. Today the area is inundated by boutiques and way too many Tibetan importers and head shops; not to mention countless tourists, who, like me, are looking for a shred of evidence that there was once an energy of love that attempted to take our nation to a higher level, overcoming war and grief and capitalism. And let's not forget the number of homeless teens and 20-somethings who have been termed out of foster care, who call the doorways of Haight Street their home.

It was the swirling music, colorful fashion, and risk-taking youth that took precedence at that time. It was the music industry that bastardized it and made way for the punk movement of the 70s/80s. But before that all came to pass we have to appreciate what the bands of the time were doing. San Fransisco was one hell of a great scene. Great clubs, like the Avalon Ballroom, Carousel, Fillmore, Family Dog at the Great Highway had the best bands playing their stages night after night. And promoters like Chet Helms and Bill Graham were pairing local rock bands with legendary blues and jazz artists, opening the ears of the audience to sights and sounds they may never have taken the time to check out on their own.

We are all better for 1967 and San Francisco.

Two books I'd like to recommend that will shed much better light on that era include Joel Selvin's

"Summer of Love", and David Talbot's "Season of the Witch". The latter starts in 67 and works its way up through the first 49er Super Bowl win in early 1982. Both are definitely worth your time, especially if you hold a place in your heart for San Francisco.

As for the music I chose for this show, it's all from 1967, and most are west coast American bands. in retrospect I could have chosen more obscure acts from that year, or other, more current bands, covering these songs, below. Instead I played music that really moved me as I was growing up. And isn't that the job of the DJ, to move you the way they have been?

My friend Linda Kelly, managing editor of the local rag Haight Street Voice was hanging out in the studio with me too. She was interviewing me for the August issue. It's a free paper, so pick it up when you see it, or go online to check it out. I hope she doesn't make me sound too bitter. It's been a challenging year when it comes to my love for SF. But isn't that like all relationships? We'll see it through to the end.

Wednesday I had the chance to take in the Summer of Love exhibition at the deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park. It was more than I could have hoped for. If you live in the Bay Area make sure you get to this show before it closes, August 20th.

Next Monday night is lots of new music and the return of Little Lauson Hell!!!

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Time Has Come Today: The Chambers Brothers
Bass Strings: Country Joe and the Fish

Omaha: Moby Grape
Season of the Witch: Donovan
Down on Me: Big Brother and the Holding Company

Plastic Fantastic Lover: Jefferson Airplane
The Golden Road: Grateful Dead
San Francisco Nights: The Animals
You Keep Me Hanging On: Vanilla Fudge

Astronome Domine: Pink Floyd
Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite: The Beatles
Stroll On: Yardbirds
I Feel Free: Cream

Waterloo Sunset: Kinks
Pleasant Valley Sunrise: The Monkees
Dear Landlord: Bob Dylan

I Was Made To Love Her: Stevie Wonder
Cold Sweat: James Brown
Before You Accuse Me: 13th Floor Elevators
Heroes and Villians: The Beach Boys

It's A Happening Thing: Peanut Butter Conspiracy
Friday on my Mind: The Easybeats
I'm Waiting For The Man: Velvet Underground

Foxy Lady: Jimi Hendrix
Paint It Black: Rolling Stones
I'll Never Fall In Love Again: Tom Jones

San Francisco (Flowers in your Hair): Scott McKenzie

What a way to start of the Summer of Love but with the quintessential Monterey Pop!!!

Hell's Kitchen Radio #305: Food for the Gun

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Oh boy, Memorial Day once again. We really do need to stop having these. Do me a favor, if you really want to thank a veteran, punch a politician in the face. Tell them John Hell said it was OK.

The first hour features my subversive Memorial Day "celebration". I don't think you can make popsicles with them. I'll have to ask Ivanka. That woman can make a popsicle out of any national holiday.

I gave tickets away tonight to go see Dave and Phil Alvin and the Guilty Ones at Great American Music Hall for this Thursday night. This promises to be a great show, so congrats to the winners and I'll see you there. BTW, I give tickets away from time to time, so tune in and WIN!

The second hour of my show was yet another tribute to a fallen musical comrade. Vocalist and keyboardist Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers Band passed away this past weekend at the age of 69, from complications from liver cancer at his home in Savannah, Georgia. Growing up I was a huge fan of Duane-era Allman Brothers. What a band! Someone asked me once, "if the Grateful Dead were playing at one club, and down the street Duane-era Allman Brothers were playing at another club, which band would you go and see?" That is a damn tough question to answer? Though they are both "jam" bands, the Allman's always were so in a more structured vein. And there jams could really fly. Consummate musical professionals. I think I would have wanted to have seen the Allman's, especially if this were 1971. That band was on FIRE that year. Just take a listen to the Live at the Fillmore East box set. Each note is alive with energy. Well, he's with Duane, Berry, and Butch now, getting the band back together. I can only imagine how much fun that must be. Dreams, indeed.

Full disclosure: I never once saw the Allman Brothers live. Not once. I own quite a few live boots of theirs too. They do not support live taping or trading of their music, so shows, especially soundboards are very hard to come by. I'm lucky enough to know people who know people. I pulled out some tasty treats from my collection to showcase Gregg and the whole band, but I stayed in the Duane-era world that I love so much.

Next Monday night on my show I'm excited to have P-Funk guitarist RonKat Spearman in the studio to share his many road stories and play some music from his own band Katdelic. This ought to be a lot of fun. Tune in Monday, June 5th, 8-10PM on Radio Valencia.

Thanks to everyone who came out to Folio Books in Noe Valley last week to see me interview local music critic Joel Selvin about his book "Altamont". Joel is a great interviewee. I ask him one question and he takes it from there. He almost seemed a little too happy to be there. He sold a few books, and a couple people even asked me to autograph it! Sure, why not?

Check out the playlist below and click the links above to stream or download last night's show. Please share this page with all the music-lovers in your life.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Way Down in the Hole: Maggie Bell
Little Boy Soldiers: The Jam
1916: Motorhead

The Unknown Soldier: The Doors
I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier, Mama: John Lennon
Some Mother's Son: The Kinks

Universal Soldier: Donovan
Fish Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin-To-Die Rag: Country Joe and the Fish
Masters of War: Bob Dylan

War/No More Trouble: Bob Marley and the Wailers
The Fiddle and the Drum: Joni Mitchell
Eight Miles High: Golden Earring

Jubilee Train/Do Re Mi/Promised Land: Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men

Gregg Allman Tribute:
BB King Medley: The Hourglass (1968)
Dreams: The Allman Brothers Band (Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati, Ohio 1971)

Midnight Rider: The Allman Brothers Band (06-27-1971 Fillmore East, NYC, NY)
Done Somebody Wrong: The Allman Brothers Band (03-12-1971 Fillmore East, NYC, NY)
Every Hungry Woman: The Allman Brothers Band (07-03-1970 Atlanta Pop Festival, Byron, GA)

Ain't Waistin' Time No More: The Allman Brothers Band (04-07-1972 Manley Fieldhouse, Syracuse, NY)

Though I never saw them in person, thank goodness for YouTube. Check out their set from the Fillmore East, 09-23-1970.