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 #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 #602: Tell Me Lies

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Hosting bands is a real treat when you're in radio. I remember being young in the radio game and getting nervous whenever I knew I had a recording artist coming onto my show. I did not want to mess this up. In those days at KFJC, most of the artists I would interview were either big names (George Clinton), or no names (you name it, they probably aren't around anymore). Either way I needed to be prepared.

And preparing pre-Internet was a chore. If the name was known (James Brown), the prep was simple (a brief history and mostly current project, tour, etc.). If they were a younger band with an album out, then I hoped there was enough bio info on the sleeve to help me prepare. Maybe the label would send something over?

The biggest lesson I learned about interview was to be a better listener. The best interviews are the ones where the follow-up questions are relevant and strong. I want to probe; get to the root. You will know the answer to my questions, but I want you to pause and reflect before you respond. My favorite response will always be "that's a really good question".

Over the years I've taken pride in how well I facilitate an interview. I've had many of my subjects state this was the best interview they've ever had. That's incredibly flattering. I love having my guests, famous or not, feel completely comfortable behind the mic. Some interviews I've hosted with bands have been so good I've invited them back with the caveat they need to guest DJ with me the nest time they're in. They love that, and many have taken me up on it.

Tonight I had Roman from P.O.S. in the studio promoting his upcoming show at the Mabuhay Gardens (FabMab) where he'll be turning 19!!! This was his first radio show, and I loved the conversation. He was so honest and vulnerable, and present. I could not ask for a better subject to talk with. 

Roman has a deep thrash metal pedigree. His father and uncle were in Death Angel, and band I loved while growing up in San Mateo in the 80s. Roman continues this tradition of quality thrash, with blinding-fast guitar, pounding rhythms, and timely lyrics about what it is to be a youth in today's society, living at the end of gangster capitalism.

They have a Bandcamp page where you can find their demo, which we played all four songs on the show. See the playlist below.

Come to Roman's birthday show this Saturday at the FabMab. You may just see me in the pit!

Do you have a band you want interviewed on Radio Valencia? Hit me up via email with music attached and I'll get in touch.

You may have heard the news that Jello Biafra suffered a stroke on Sunday. We're looking into the possibility hosting a fundraiser for him, but want to talk with him first. Stay tuned to the Radio Valencia socials for this.

We're also working on a summer show at On Broadway with their amazing crew, two of whom were in the
studio with me Monday night. Daniel "Asterisk" Haver, and Empress Katrina Zanotto hung out to talk music and running the most important club in San Francisco music history (IMHO). Daniel admitted to two things that you'll need to listen into to find out about. 

There's much to enjoy about this here show, even if there was a bit more roommate radio than I prefer. We laughed a lot, and that's what's most important.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

Follow me on Blue Sky
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook
Follow Radio Valencia on Instagram

Green Green Grass of Home: Tom Jones (Greatest Hits - 1967)
Stars and Stripes of Corruption: Dead Kennedys (Frankenchrist - 1985)
The Money Will Roll Right In: Fang (Land Shark - 1982)

Interview with Roman of P.O.S.

Deceiver: P.O.S.
Isolation: P.O.S.
Inhumanity: P.O.S.
Mauled: P.O.S.

Interview with Roman of P.O.S.

Rebel: The Viletones (7" - 1977)

Sit on My Face Stevie Nicks: The Rotters (7" - 1978)
You Say You Love Me: The Headcoatees (Here Comes Cessation - 1997)

Love Whip: Reverend Horton Heat (Smoke 'em if you Got 'em - 1990)

Cornfed Dames: The Cramps (A Date with Elvis - 1986)

She's The One That's Got It: Allen Page (7" - 1958)

The Girl Can't Dance: Bunker Hill (7" - 1963 with Link Wray)

Do You Have A Job For A Girl Like Me: The Delinquents (7" - 1973)

Your Ass Is Next In Line: The Mummies (Never Been Caught - 1992)
Batman and Robin Over The Rooftops: Sun Ra (Batman & Robin - 1966)

Would It be Worth It: Hands of Time (7" - 1969???)

Sloppy Drunk Blues: Big Joe Williams (Tough Times - 1960)

John The Relevator: Scott H. Biram (Sold Out To The Devil - 2019)
You Got Me: Theoretical Girls (7" - 1978)

Mexican Radio: Wall of Voodoo (Call of the West - 1982)

White Girl: X (Wild Gift - 1981)

Tell Me That You Love Me: James Brown and His Famous Flames (7" - 1966)

Egyptian Shumba: The Tammys (7" - 1964)

What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong (What A Wonderful World - 1967)

The Way We Were: Wild Man Fischer and Mark Mothersbaugh (1989 for Pee Wee's Playhouse's final episode)