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

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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)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #601: What You Leave Behind

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And the hits just keep on rolling.

Following our exciting Saturday at the FabMab and On Broadway, celebrating the 50th anniversary of punk rock in San Francisco, booker of the Mabuhay Gardens (and General Manager???) Daniel Haver, who was kind enough to bring down a bunch of delightfully rare 45s.

I ended up having the legendary Connie Champagne in the studio, who was meeting Daniel there to pick up her music stand.

Connie spent many great years singing with The Mutants, along with her own solo career, and singing alongside other luminaries such as Michael Belfer, Debora Iyall, Cyndi Lauper, and Jim Carroll.

She won the SF Weekly Wammie Award for Outstanding Cabaret Performer, and is known for portraying Judy Garland in productions including Christmas With the Crawfords in 2001 and Imagine Judy Garland: An Evening With Connie Champagne in 2003. She won a 2007 San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Award (BACTC) for her role in Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

She's funny, irreverent, an excellent storyteller, and ready with a well-timed quip. It was a real pleasure - albeit a surprising one - hosting her tonight. 

Really, she was just swinging by to pick up her music stand. 

Much of the music tonight was a mix of what I brought down, mixed with what Daniel wanted to feature on 45". And then Connie made a bunch of requests, including a song of David Johnasen's that she covered! This woman has a story for every song. And I'm sure a song for every story.

You do not want to miss this one.

I may get to a formal write up about the FabMab/On Broadway show, including a bunch of pics I took. I have to thank Jess Lynn Goss of Mission Local for the wonderful write up on the show, which includes a bunch of great picture from the night, including one of my dear sweet daughter, Lauson Hell!!!!

Monday night I'm hosting Ramon from the band P.O.S. (Product and Society) and son of a member of Death Angel)), who is having his birthday party at the Fab Mab on March 13th. Come on down!

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

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I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier: John Lennon (Imagine - 1971)
Nuclear War: Sun Ra (A Fireside Chat With Lucifer - 1982)

Bend Me, Shape Me: The Models (7" - 1966)
Black Grease: The Black Angles (Passover - 2006)

Mind Your Business: Delta 5 (7" - 1979)
Death Train: The Bobby Lees (Bellevue - 2024)
Ça Plane Pour Moi: Plastic Bertrand (Ça Plane Pour Moi - 1978)
Toxic Revenge: Shannon and the Clams (Sleep Talk - 2011)

Interview with Connie Champagne

Slash Your Face: The Dogs (7" - 1978)
Gacy's Place: The Mentally Ill (7" - 1979)
Instant Coffee Land: Bruce Chowning (7" - 1979)
Motorcycle Boy: LA Witch (Play with Fire - 2020)
Everything's Gonna Be Alright: Big Mama Mae Thornton (With Muddy Waters Band - 1966)

Frenchette: Connie Champagne (La Strada - 1991)
So Hard: Some Japanese Band
Don't Talk About My Music: Dickens (7" - 1971)
I'm Bored: Iggy Pop (New Values - 1979)

Demolicion: Los Saicos (7" - 1965)
A Donde Van Los Muertos: Kinky (Reina - 2006)

Linda: Sleepers (7" - 1978)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #582: Scott Amendola

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Scott Amendola doesn’t just play the drums — he opens up a whole other world with them. He’s one of those rare musicians who can sit behind a kit and make it sound like a full conversation is happening. Over the years he’s worn a lot of hats: composer, bandleader, and the kind of drummer other inventive musicians want in their corner.

Scott grew up in New Jersey, studied at Berklee in Boston, and then made his way west. Out here he became a key part of the amazing TJ Kirk quartet with Charlie Hunter, Will Bernard, and John Schott — their second record, If Four Was One, even got a Grammy nomination.

And he’s not afraid to think big. In 2011 he premiered an orchestral piece called Fade to Orange with the Oakland East Bay Symphony, joined by Nels Cline and Trevor Dunn. That’s the kind of career Scott’s had — one foot in the small, intimate club, and the other in these ambitious projects that stretch way beyond genre.

He’s worked with some of the most exciting names in jazz and beyond, including 

Larry Ochs of ROVA Saxophone Quartet
Mike Patton
John Zorn
Will Blades
Jim Campilongo
Ben Goldberg
Skerik
Cyro Baptista
Jenny Scheinman-violin

It was my absolute pleasure to host Scott in the studio on Monday night where he shared some great stories from his youth, where his grandfather, jazz guitarist played a major inspiration in his life. We spoke about the great risks he took with his music, the amazing people he has been able to record, perform and tour with, as well the current challenges of surviving as a full time musician.

I also asked Scott to bring some music that he enjoys listening to. I surprised him with some of his own live shows. I peppered some tracks in throughout the show. See the playlist below for details.

Go check him out with SticklerPhonics this Thursday night, September 11th at The Back Room in Berkeley.

I know you're going to really enjoy this show.

jh

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

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Dream Brother: Jeff Buckley

Interview with Scott Amendola

When Kabuya Dances: Geri Allen Trio

Interview with Scott Amendola

Wall Town: Amendola vs. Blades (January 31, 2025 San Jose Jazz Break Room)
Well Blazed: SticklerPhonics

Afro Pusherman: Tony Allen
The Good Life: Pat Metheny and Ornette Coleman

Percussion Party! (Improvisation) > Down Tempo Slam (Improvisation) > Space… Sound… (Improvisation): Nels Cline Singers (Friday, March 28, 2025 - The Big Ears Fest)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #472: Bringing On The KnightressM1

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Tonight was a really special show. I was lucky enough to have Bay Area metal violinist Emily Palen of KnightressM1 on the program talking up her latest collaboration: Othered, as well as new KnightressM1 material.

I first witnesses the prowess that is Miss Emily Palen, when she graced the stage supporting Eric McFadden at Ivy Room back in 2019. Her mastery of the violin is evident, and how she shows this mastery in on entirely different level than any violinist I've ever seen. I was mesmerized. 

Starting on the violin at the age of four, Emily dedicated herself to the instrument, K-12 and into college at the University of Michigan. Following the path of classical music is a strenuous commitment and Emily took some time off to reflect on her musical future. Finding herself living in the Bay Area, Emily took this opportunity to also change the direction of her music, choosing to break out of the confines that Classical keeps you in, and found musicians to jam with. Over time she found herself attracted to Metal (not too surprising considering many excellent Metal musicians have a penchant for Classical), and adding some effects to her violin, along with some powerful lyrics centered on her own life's journey and the world she sees around her, created the dynamic superhero that is KnightressM1.

Emily can tell the story much better than I. She was with me for most of the night sharing new music from her collaboration with Henry Austin Lannan, aka: H.A.L. under the Othered title, as well as new KnightressM1 and music from the 2020 release: "Dreams and Devastations". 

Othered will have a rare performance at Eli's Mile High in Oakland on Friday, April 15th.  

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Radio Valencia is a self-funded endeavor. If you are enjoying our shows, I'd like to ask you to donate a few dollars our way. This link will take you to our PayPal, which is hosted by SFIndyMedia, our non-profit benefactor. All donations go to Radio Valencia. Thank you in advance.

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

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The 7th Terror: FUZZ
Sentient Oona: Oh Sees

Interview with Emily Palen

Planets on the Rise: Othered
War: Othered

Interview with Emily Palen

Polarity Integrate: KnightressM1
Lost In The Shipwreck Of My Heart: KnightressM1

Interview with Emily Palen

Dead Americans: Othered
Deaf As A Lullaby: KnightressM1

Interview with Emily Palen

Die In Vain: KnightressM1

Sonic Titan: Sleep
In Every Dream Home A Heartache: Roxy Music

Photos by Shena van Spronsen

A Season in Hell #97: Catch A Rin Tin Tiger By Its Tail

Like many of you who live in San Francisco, I like to take advantage of all the free goings on in our fair city during the summer months. One of my absolute favorite things to do is Sunday Streets. This year, they were kind enough to allow the Mission to host four Sundays-worth of events. Lucky us.

At the beginning of July Radio Valencia broadcasted from in front of Stage Werx from 11-4. We had ten DJs, myself included, host 30-minute sets. I cannot convey to you the amount of pleasure we had hanging out in the streets with everyone. What a blast. My ladies and I walked around for a bit to take in all of the non-car-related ambiance. So many great local shops hawking their wares on the sidewalk, and live music in the intersections.

One of the bands, whom I've seen out there on previous Sunday Streets' was local alt-folk trio Rin Tin Tiger. Formerly Westwood & Willow, these homespun characters create a magnificent stew of unique musicianship, that also carries some of their influences, including Bob Dylan, Nick Drake and Morrissey. They've been playing a lot around the Bay Area since 2010, and released an excellent self-titled 6-song EP in 2011. Their first full-length release, "Toxic Pocketbook" is due for release this Thursday, July 26th. Their having a CD release party at Great American Music Hall that night. Go check them out.

Tonight on my show, I'm pleased to have Rin Tin Tiger in the studio, talking about the upcoming show, the new CD, their own style of alt-folk in a town known for punk, funk and junk.

Support live, local music, often.

Lots of new-ish music before and after the interview, along with some live, tasty treats in the second hour.

You can download this show, and glorious interview, here.
You may stream this program any time you wish, here.
Perhaps you desire to listen to some of my previous programs. If this is so then you can either scroll down, or click here.

Do It: Rollins Band
In My Bed: The Orwells
(Gone) 'Round the Corner: Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound

When the Shelter Came: Dark Meat
We're So Ugly: Hornet Leg

Concert Outlook (James Blood Ulmer)

B$G P$MP$N: Natural Child
High School Roaches: Bass Drum Of Death
Shitty: Pangea
Apocalypse Dreams: Tame Impala

The Move Apart Parcel: Rin Tin Tiger
Interview with Rin Tin Tiger
Loud Man: Rin Tin Tiger
Funeral: Rin Tin Tiger

Interview with Rin Tin Tiger

Pretty Looks: Rin Tin Tiger
Summer In the City: Vietnam

Freedom Hangs Like Heaven: Iron & Wine
Candy: The Men

Five to One: The Doors (June 5, 1970)
Relax: The Who (April 6, 1968)

Can Your Pussy Do The Dog?: The Cramps ("The Tube" 1986-03-07)
Closet Queen: James Gang  (July 15, 1971)