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 #586: Frolic In Hell

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Spooky times are heating up at Radio Valencia. This is a good thing.

We had a really great fundraiser last Sunday. Huge thanks to GRHNS Gallery and Bernadette for hosting us. And thanks to the three great bands: Janky Band, Rustangs, and Fantasy for rockin' out hard for everyone. We couldn't have pulled this off without the incredible skill of San Francisco sound man extraordinaire John Karr and his assistant Ethan. And thanks to Sully and 21st Amendment Brewery for throwing us some suds to serve. And thanks to everyone who came out and those who donated online.

All in all it was a really fine day.

As for this show it's mighty extraordinary in its own right. I pulled out some spooky tracks and my trainee, Annika, has a bunch of 50s and 60s-era treats to share. Annika is going to be hosting her own show Fridays 6-8pm. Tune in. She has excellent taste in music, that fits in mighty well at Radio Valencia.

I also paid tribute to Ace Frehley of KISS, who passed away last week. KISS was my first favorite band. I tell the story in the show. Check it out!

We have a number of new shows starting right now. Are you interested in hosting a show with us? Send us a show proposal to station@radiovalencia.fm

What are your plans for Halloween? I'm headed to New Orleans with Spawn of Hell for a weekend of fun and frolics!

In the meantime, check out the playlist below, click the link 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 Walk With A Zombie: Roky Erickson (The Evil One - 1981)
Levitation: Groovie Ghoolies (Born in the Basement - 1994)
I See You In The Boneyard: Flesh Eaters (A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die - 1981)

Human Fly: The Cramps (Bad Music For Bad People - 1984)
A Touch of Evil: Man or Astroman (Shot in the Dark - 1996)
Ghouls Night Out: Misfits (S/T - 1983)

Exquisite Corpse: Bauhaus (The Sky's Gone Out - 1982)
What's He Building?: Tom Waits (Mule Variations - 1999) 
Mars - The Bringer of War: Tomita (Planets - 1976)

Working For A Dead Man: Eric McFadden Trio (Diamonds To Coal - 2010)
Linda Blair: Redd Kross (Born Innocent - 1982)

Black Grease: Black Angels (Passover - 2006)
Stranded in the Jungle: The Cadets (Stranded in the Jungle - 1957) - AD
You're Dead: Norma Tanega (Walkin' My Cat Named Dog - 1966) - AD
Just Me and You: Dreamliners (Just Me and You b/w Best Things In Life - 1961) - AD

I'm Shakin': Little Willie John (Sure Things - 1961) - AD
Ain't Got No Home: Clarence "Frogman" Henry (Ain't Got No Home - The Best of Clarence "Frogman" Henry (Reissue) - 1956) - AD
Whirlpool: Wanda Jackson (The Capitol Singles 1962-1963) - AD
Going Back To Where I Belong: Sugar Pie DeSanto (In The Basement: The Chess Recordings - 1962) - AD

Little Demon: Screamin' Jay Hawkins (Cow Fingers and Mosquito Pie - 1991) - AD
Love Potion No. 9 - Remastered / Single Version: The Clovers (The Best Of The Clovers (Love Potion No. 9) - 1959) - AD
Big Chief: Professor Longhair (New Orleans Funk: The Original Sound of Funk 1960 - 1975)
Mama Roux: Dr. John (New Orleans Funk: The Original Sound of Funk 1960 - 1975)

Parasite: KISS (Hotter Than Hell - 1975)
Cold Gin: KISS (Live - 1975)
Shock Me: KISS (Love Gun - 1977)

Rocket Ride: KISS (Alive II - 1977)
Tattoo Love Boys: Melvins and ShitKid (Bangers EP - 2019)

San Ber'dino: Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention (One Size Fits All - 1975)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #542: Can't Spell Malfunction Without Fun

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I was this close (you'll have to imagine me holding my fingers really close together) to playing only three or four tunes for the entire two hours. And then I realized that's foolish when I brought a whole stack of albums with me. 

The first hour was only about four tunes though. Hard Bop (I originally wrote that as "Hard Bob" and that would have probably lost me a few listeners...or added a few), Free Jazz, Kraut Rock and modern Free Jazz/Electronic. Then I realized I really had to start sharing some other treats, including new Nick Cave, The Bell Rays and King Gizzard. There's also a 50th anniversary remaster of the Frank Zappa classic Apostrophe that I threw in. It's the album that got me into Zappa, though I admit I'm not as obsessed as my boy The Alchemist (Saturday nights on Radio Valencia).

If you like what you're hearing, please check out our other shows. This station was started with the mission of having real live DJs curate shows from their own deep knowledge of music, not from some algorithm. We're proud of the work we've put in. 

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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Suite Sioux: Freddie Hubbard

Selflessness: John Coltrane

Flowers Must Die: Ash Ra Temple
London: Angel Bat Dawid

Wild God: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Killer of Peace: Crow Jane
Children of the Grave: Brown Sabbath
Reoccurring Cave: Pancho and the Wizards

Wolf's Sun: The Bell Rays
Crash Dancing: Sgt. Splendor

Apostrophe (Side One): Frank Zappa
I'm Feeling Alright: Big Mama Thornton

Antarctica: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Goo Goo Much: The Cramps

Hell's Kitchen Radio #418: Trim That Tree

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And we've made it to Christmas Day!!! How the Hell did that happen so quickly? Seriously though, with all of this staying at home crap since March, one would think this year would have crawled by? Time always seemed to flow when I had to commute most days, pay the bills, do the dishes, and repeat. I've been home since mid-March, and December came in like a limping, gasping, clawing gazelle, after having been chewed on and spit out for the rancid meat that COVID and Trump's allies turned 2020 into. 

What kind of fresh Hell is this?

So let's stick with this musical lane for the next two hours shall we?

As you will see below the first hour contains a fistful of holiday music that is as off-kilter as yours truly. And isn't that why you tune in in the fist place? The second hour is something else entirely. I really enjoyed the entire show, but the two hours are as different as Christmas is to Hanukkah. Take that for whatever you think it means.

If you live in the Bay Area of California, you really owe it to yourself to take a drive to either Christmas Tree Lane (Thompson Lane) in Alameda, or Chestnut Lights (Woodside Court) in South San Francisco. Regardless of your religious beliefs, the creativity that went into these houses is worth the trip. There are a number of other locations to go check out. Here's the link for a bunch of them. Take a ride!

Go ho, ho, ho yourself, and I'll see you all next Monday night to get you good and ready to say so long and fuck you to 2020. 

If you haven't tuned into my Live Bootleg Bonanza show, tune in Monday's 6-8PM, before my regular Hell's Kitchen show, to check out shows from my vast live vault (it's really just TBs of live shows) of thousands of shows from hundreds of bands. Most are soundboard quality, of varying genres. I played two Frank Zappa shows last week to celebrate what would have been his 80th birthday. 

Enjoy.

jh

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

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The Central Scrutinizer: Frank Zappa
Xmas Message from T-Rex
Merry Christmas From The Family: Robert Earl Keen
Fuck Christmas: Fear
Please Daddy, Don't Get Drunk This Christmas: Alan Jackson

The Twelve Gifts of Christmas: Alan Sherman
The Twelve Days of Christmas: Bob and Doug McKenzie
Merry Christmas, Baby: Otis Redding
Trim Your Tree: Jimmy Butler

Back Door Santa: Clarence Carter
Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabelle: Phat Man Dee
Christmas Card From A Hooker in Minneapolis: Tom Waits
Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin': Albert King

I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus: Kip Addotta
Scrutinizer Postlude: Frank Zappa
Fairytale of New York: The Pogues
Sloppy Drunk Blues: Big Joe Williams

Soulful Strut: Young-Holt Unlimited
Little Games: Yardbirds
Your Mind Has Left Your Body: Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, David Freiberg
What Is Man: Johnny Cash

God Made Me Funky: The Headhunters
Get Down, Moses: Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros

J'al Mal Aux Dents (Faust cover): Oh Sees
Cha Cha: Mulatu Astatke and the Heliocentrics

Media Control: The Nuns
I Bid You Goodnight: Joseph Spencer & The Pinder Family

A Season in Hell #152: I Heard It Where?

Standing in front of my music library tonight, I had a thought: "what am I in the mood for"? I wasn't inspired. Honest. I love doing my show every week, but I really have to feel it to be able to give you a great show. I ended up going online to see who's birthday it was, thinking maybe that would do the trick. A couple of things, but nothing really hit home. I then headed over to my vinyl shelves, and started flipping through them, and I noticed a trend in what was catching my eye: psychedelia. Oh yes, that's a good direction.

Indeed it was a fine decision.

Enjoy with a cup of mushroom tea.

Stream this into your subconscious, here.
Download this into your existential mainframe, here.
To groove out to all my hip shows, go here, or just scroll down. 

A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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I Heard it on the X: ZZ Top
Shit Luck: Modest Mouse
B-Movie Boxcar Blues: Blues Brothers

Augmented Banality: Illogistical Resource Dept
More Trouble Every Day: Frank Zappa

Blood Suckin' Baby: Eric McFadden
Carpe Diem: The Melvins
Elevation: Television
Watcher of the Skies: Genesis

Forest Ocean Sound: Landing
Jackson Head: Boris
Swami: The Romulans

SOL '07: Wooden Shjips
New Potato Caboose: Grateful Dead

Embryo: Pink Floyd

Rotten Ronnie Donovan Phone In

Cortez the Killer: Neil Young