Hell's Kitchen Radio #617: Is This Thing On?

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I was feeling in the grove...er, groove tonight. In the groove. Yeah, that's it. Hmmmmmmm

A Monday without a guest is a rare thing these days, so I took the opportunity to go deeper into my library, which included a few CDs. I know, I know. this is not my normal thing, but there were a few songs that have been going through my mind that I only own on CD. You have to understand, the 90s and 00s it was hard to find your favorite artists releasing anything new on vinyl. CD was King there for a wee bit.

I remember working at Tower Records in San Mateo (88-91), and they were making the transition away from vinyl. The staff was in an uproar about this, as we all knew CDs were a fad, like the 8-track tape. Since production costs for CDs were so low, it was attractive to the company to go in this direction. And for too many years it played this way. Unless an artist was with a vinyl-friendly label, or self-releasing, they had to go with CDs. 

I collected a lot of CDs during these years. Thousands. For a number of years I had quite an impressive CD shelving setup that I built myself. Floor to ceiling, twelve feet across, 12 shelves. Thousands of CDs, all organized by genre. And then I moved to a smaller home and away went the shelves, as I had to place them all into binders. And the binders sit in my closet. Since then I don't spend much time playing them. But there they sit. And there's some good stuff in those binders! 

So tonight I had a few songs in my head that were laying low in my closet. Eight of the songs I played tonight are on CD. Not that you're keeping count. I may need to pull more from there, or at least not hde the binders away in my closet.

New music from Earth Tongue (produced by Ty Segall), Angine de Poitrine, Surprise Privilege, and OSees tonight. There's a remaster/reissue from Aretha Franklin in there, an NWA edit you didn't know you needed too. 

Daniel Haver from the FabMab was in...and is quickly becoming my foil in the best sense. He brought some truly "great" 7"s that'll leave you as stumped as we were trying to figure out just exactly how old Sheila Raye is...or was. 24? 57? Who knows? 

If this isn't a show that's chock full of punk, funk and junk, then I'll throw my CD collection away.

Take a look at the playlist below and click the link that's somewhere in here to listen back to the show.

I'm going to have legendary photographer Jim Jocoy, known for his profiles on SF punk in the 70s and 80s on my show soon. I can't wait to talk to him about his years serving and showcasing this incredible history. 

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)
Jesus Was Way Cool: King Missile (CD Single - 1991)
Don't Cry Baby: Aretha Franklin (Forever Young - 2026)

Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again: Bob Dylan (Blonde on Blonde - 1966)
Every Grain of Sand: Giant Sand (Swerve - 1990)

Funka Billy Groove: Sheila Raye and the Great Highway Funka Billy Band (7" - 1977?)
Dust My Broom: Hound Dog Taylor (Beware of the Dog - 1976)
Anything Goes: Michael John and Kimberly (7" - 1983)

Dungeon Vision: Earth Tongue (Dungeon Vision - 2026)
Emmaline: Urge Overkill (Supersonic Storybook - 1991)
N.E.S.T.A.: Antibalas (Liberation Afrobeat, Vol. 1 - 2000)
Monkey Man: Rolling Stones (Let It Bleed - 1969)

Sherpa: Angine de Poitrine (Volume 1 - 2026)
Fuck the Police (Fuck Edit): NWA
T for Texas: Toshio Hirano 

Lady in Red: Surprise Privilege (Hard Listen - 2026)
Sunset on the Alamo: Jenny Don't and the Spurs (Call of the Road - 2017)
Buenos Tardes Amigo: Ween (Chocolate and Cheese - 1994)
The First Vietnamese War: The Black Angels (Passover - 2006)

Almost in the Hole: Seompi (7" - 1970)
N.I.B.: Brownout (Brown Sabbath Vol 1 - 2014)
Joro: OSees (Cara Maluco - 2026)
The Way We Were: Wild Man Fischer and Mark Mothersbaugh)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #607: Straight Trippin' For Your Love

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There are reasons to feel despair, and there are reasons to celebrate. I think we can do both at the same time. Two things can be right at the same time. Time waits for no one, and it won't wait for Hell. Hell is for other people's children. Children are the future. There is no future. There is only now. 

Can you tell I'm tired?

I just finished helping Little Lauson Hell (AKA: Spawn) do her taxes. What a kick in the ass that was. 

I'm pretty brain dead. Deadhead. Head on a poll. Poll taxes. TAXES?!?!??!

That was terrible.

And you and I both know what they're using our taxes for! And since the IRS basically doesn't exist at all anymore, what's going to happen if we all just don't file?

I'm so tired I couldn't remember a better word for "don't" in the previous sentence. I'm misspelling words all over the damn place! You wouldn't know that though since I have a lot of white out.

And I'm distracted with Lauson and our kitty Chairman Meow Mao (AKA Maui) chilling out next to me. Lauson loves our kitty. 

Sorry. I was gone for a moment, We both had to take a kitty break. If you know, you know. 

Did you know that David Yow of The Jesus Lizard has a tumbler blog about cats?

True story.

I think I was going to write something about music since I did host my show on Monday night. I bought a few records over the weekend and I share a lot of it tonight! Orcutt, Shelley, Miller; The Exploited, Sprints, Primitive Ring, and The Bobby Lees!!!!!!!

I kinda blew my load with all this great new music. Too bad, so sad.

So tired. I really need to call it a night and not regret my decisions. 

Enjoy....if you dare.

jh

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

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Some Velvet Morning: Vanilla Fudge (Near The Beginning - 1968)
Black Rat: Big Mama Mae Thornton (With Chicago Blues Band - 1966)

Hot Head: Orcutt, Shelley, Miller (with David Yow) (Hot Head Single - 2026)
Eight Miles High: Husker Du (Duck and Cover - 1990)

Back Home: Yusef Lateef (Blue Yusef Lateef - 1968)
The Whip: Frantics (Louie's Limbo Lounge - 1988)
Intro/Sweet Jane: Lou Reed (Rock and Roll Animal - 1974)
Let's Start A War: The Exploited (Let's Start A War - 1985)

Deceptacon: Sprints (7" - 2026)
Spear and Magic Helmet: The Gits (Enter: The Conquering Chicken - 1993)

You're What I Need: Jenny Don't and the Spurs (Broken Hearted Blue - 2023)
Sugarfoot Rag: Mitch Polzak (Down South Blues - 2023)
We're Desperate: X (The Decline of Western Civilization - 1980)
Burn Out: Redd Kross (Rodney on the Roq, Vol. 2 - 1981)
This Is Not Normal: Negativland (True/False - 2019)

Poisonous Gift: Primitive Ring (7" - 2025)
Higgs Boson Blues: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Push the Sky Away - 2012)

Napoleon: The Bobby Lees (New Self - 2026)
In Every Home A Heartache: Roxy Music (For Your Pleasure - 1973)
Say it Too: Death Valley Girls (Islands in the Sky - 2023)

Dungeon Vision: Earth Tongue (Dungeon Vision - 2026)
Love Song: The Darts (Snake Oil - 2022)

Reject All Americans: Bikini Kill (Reject All Americans - 1996)

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 #594: How Bad Can It Be?

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I just read that for the first time since 2000 California is 100% drought free. For those who are 25 they have only known life either in a drought, going into a drought, or coming out of one. If that snow pack is deep then this might just be a good year for the Golden state! 

And it's a new year for Radio Valencia! We've had a lot of ups and downs over the year, especially since COVID, but 2025 was a banner year! I am thrilled about the many new shows we've added, and even more so about the people staffing them. The tech side is getting a huge boost from some folks on staff who come with the credentials to bring us into the 21st century. Stay tuned in!

In the next week I have huge news to announce about a show I'm co-producing out the wilds of North Beach, at a once legendary venue that has new life being breathed into it. I am so excited about this, but I will not jump the gun. This will be a Radio Valencia co-presents, and you are going to want to be there. This is the kind of event that more people will claim to have attended than the venue can actually hold.

Wheeeeeeeeeeee!

As for this here show, being the first of the new year, I felt the need for a bit of a refresh. Some classic psych, blues, Black Power, folk, spiritual jazz, garage, krautrock, chicha, and so much more. 

Take a look at the playlist below, and click that link to give it a listen.

This coming Monday night I'm excited to have San Francisco's top soundman, John Karr in the studio, playing music from the many shows he engineers around the city and talking up this upcoming show I spoke about above. Oooh boy, this is going to be fun.

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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Some Velvet Morning: Vanilla Fudge (Near the Beginning - 1968)

White Man's Got A God Complex: Last Poets (This is Madness - 1971)

Crawlin' King Snake: John Lee Hooker (I'm John Lee Hooker - 1960)

My Time After A While: Buddy Guy (Chess Masters - 1984)

Memory of a Free Festival: David Bowie (Conversation Piece 5 CD Box Set - 2019)

Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues: Bob Dylan (Highway 61 Revisited - 1965)

Peace Frog/Blue Sunday: The Doors (Morrison Hotel - 1968)

There She Goes My Beautiful World: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Abattoir Blues - 2004)

Looking for Your Door (Chrome): OSees (Levitation Sessions II - 2021)

21st Century Schizoid Man: King Crimson (In The Court of the Crimson King - 1969)

Hare Krishna: Alice Coltrane (Universal Consciousness - 1971)

What's In My Head (Demo): FUZZ (Fuzz's Fourth Dream - 2025)

Broken Hearted Blue: Jenny Don't and the Spurs (Broken Hearted Blue - 2023)

Spray: Can (Future Days - 1973)
Footprints: Wayne Shorter (Adam's Apple - 1966)

King Solomon's Marbles: Grateful Dead (Blues for Allah - 1975)

Ojos Azure: Money Chicha (Chicha Summit - 2021)

Gaia: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (Omnium Gatherum - 2022)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #588: Celebrate Naked

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We had a sweet celebration of the life of "Naked" Rob Gongora, who hosted Terrible Tuesdays on
Radio Valencia from 2010 - 2019. He passed away in October from brain cancer.

FUCK CANCER!

Rob was a really wonderful guy. He was always there with a quick quip. Witty to the end and super inclusive. I was honored to speak at his memorial on Saturday at Cypress Lawn in Colma. We followed that up with a celebration of his life at his favorite watering hole: Gold Cane, on Haight Street. The night ended with three bands at Bottom the Hill: Candy Whips, Golden Brain, and Terry Gross. 

Rob would have been there if he could.

I've lost too many friends in the past 20+ years to cancer and suicide. Too many. Knowing a lot of creative types means that the odds are many will go too soon. But cancer is just so unfair. I just heard of two more people in my circle, both of whom beat off cancer, now have it once again; one was told it's inoperable. 

FUCK CANCER!

I don't buy into the "you only live once" hype. I think I live every day. I only die once. Therefore I'm going to appreciate every moment I have. Have I told you lately that I love you?

Make that call, send that text. I could not be more serious. We need to stay connected, or we too will succumb sooner than we need to.

Having a pet helps too. I've got Chairman Meow Mau , AKA: Maui, our fabulous tortoiseshell, with a strong personality to let me know that she loves me and needs me, and if she was just a little bit bigger, would eat me.

I was interviewed for a podcast the other day (I'll post when it's available) and I was asked by the host, James Ferrigno (AKA: Vico from San Francisco Liberation Radio, where we met when I was on air there 2000 - 2003), about what keeps me going? My dad always said "there's no reward without risk". I took that seriously. I took some great risks starting in my teens. Many weren't very healthy, so I've amended his quote to add "health risk". That being said, some of my biggest growth over the years probably didn't include the word healthy. 

My dad also used to say "invite everyone to the party, let them decline the invitation". I'm a firm subscriber to the benefits of inclusion. I like to bring people together. And I like to see what we can do with all that energy.

When you bring creatives together there's always going to be some friction. I like to play with that and watch the magic happen. I don't often reminisce, so during the interview I really had to stop to recall many of the events I helped bring to light. There's been so much fun living over the years, that I don't often slow down to remember it all. There's nothing wrong with that, since I've always been about what's happening nest.

This is all to say that I miss my departed friends and family, especially my dad, but that's never slowed me down. As a matter of fact, if anything, it's made me keenly aware that I have a responsibility to keep living and producing. 

Here's a show I had fun producing for you.

I opened with the band that Naked Rob and I love the most: Melvins! From there it's anything goes. I did a but of record shopping on Sunday; a bunch of used records. I especially am excited about the Diz and Bird, Eugene Chadbourne, David Peel, and Ralph Karney/Kramer/Chris Hild records.

This is what non-commercial radio is all about!

I also play some requests! If you know me you know how rare this is. Maybe I need to do this more often?

I'm hosting music critic Dave Pehling next Monday night to promote the record swap that's happening at Make Out Room on November 22nd.

I'm hosting my 15th annual Annual Annual on Monday, November 24th. Two hours from one year, and this time around it's all about 1981. What an amazing year for punk, post-punk, N.O.W.T.H.M. (tune in to find out what that is), and so much more.

Take a look at the playlist below and click the link to listen in.

Enjoy and please share. And go out and play!

jh

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

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Honey Bucket: Melvins (Houdini - 1993)
Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac: Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie "Yardbird" Parker (Diz N' Bird In Concert - 1953 Paris)

Here Comes A Cop: David Peel and the Lower East Side (Have a Marijuana - 1967)
Three Stoned Men Chant/Hey Brother Roll A Joint: Three Stoned Men (Higher Than God - 1991)
Bo Diddley Was A Communist: Eugene Chadbourne (Vermin of the Blues - 1987)

Summertime Blues: The Who (Who's Next/Life House (1971) Super Deluxe - 2023)
Young Man's Blues: Altamont (Our Darling - 2001)

Shanty Town: Desmond Dekker and the Aces (Ska Madness! - 2010)

Somebody Have Mercy: Sam Cooke (The Harlem Square Club - 1963)

My Baby's Gone: Jenny Don't And The Spurs (Broken Hearted Blue - 2023)

It's A Dark Day: Reverend Horton Heat (Smoke 'em if you Got 'em - 1990)

Clown: Carney/Hild/Kramer (Happiness Finally Came To Them - 1988)

The Words of Jamal: Pop-O-Pies (Joe's Second Record - 1984)

Who Stole The Keeshka?: Polkacide (S/T - 1986)

The Shah Sleeps in Lee Harvey's Grave (Live PCPPEP - 1984)

Stagolee: Jesse Fuller (Jazz, Folk Songs, Spirituals and Blues - 1958)

Spanish Castle Magic (Take 2): Jimi Hendrix Experience (Axis: Bold As Love Sessions - 2025)
You Know My Name (Look Up My Number): The Beatles (Anthology 2 - 1996)

Help On The Way/Slipknot/Franklin's Tower: Grateful Dead (Blues for Allah 50th Anniversary Deluxe - 2025)

Burbanks Dream: Golden Void (Berkana - 2015)

Looniversal: Psychedelic Porn Crumpets (Pogo Rodeo - 2025)

Freaks to the Front: Amyl and the Sniffers (Comfort To Me - 2021)

I Can't Help Falling In Love With You: Chrissy Hynde and Mark Lanegan (Duets Special - 2025)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #572: Bringing A Rubber Duck To A Knife Fight

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I was talking with a friend of mine earlier today about what makes a good radio show and about how I prepare, week to week? 

I think a good radio show, focused on music, comes from a host that listens to a lot of music a lot of the time, and is excited to curate a show that features tunes in sets that flow from one song to the next, regardless of genre. As a matter of fact I really love pulling off cross-genre sets.

As for how I prepare for my shows? I listen to a lot of music throughout the week, and it's inevitable that I'm going to hear a few tunes that I'm itching to play for you all, so I make a note of that.

Then I literally go through my record shelves and pull music that's calling to me. I also have a strong desire to play new music each week. I prefer to start a set with something new, or something that's relevant and timely. 

I purchase music almost weekly, so there's always something new on my show. And if there's a tribute to a fallen artist or one with a birthday that I just have to call out, or a show I've been to, or one upcoming, then something is going to end up in a set.

And then in the studio I have a stack sitting in front of me that I pull from based on the song that is currently playing. Honestly, there's not much more to it than that. More often that not I pull it off. I never phone it in. 

As for tonight's show, I noticed as I was pulling music that almost every artist tonight is American. I started out the show with some rural blues, moved onto to be-bop and post-bop jazz. Then onto some soul and funk. I made my way to some west coast country and psychobilly, before getting a bit darker in the goth/post-punk vein. Then came the garage/shoegaze/psych, followed by some new dissonance post-post-punk, 60s prog-psych, new Melvins (a genre all their own), more post-post-punk, punk/metal, and finally a tribute to Brian Wilson to close it all out.

And hot damn if this show doesn't flow. Check out me trying to tie it all together!

So as for how do I prepare for my show, after being in radio for 35+ years, and a whole hell of a lot of listening? A lot of this is second nature. But I can assure you I will never rest when it comes to preparing the best in quality non-commercial radio for you, dear listener. 

You have the John Hell Seal of Approval!

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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Frankie and Albert: Taj Mahal

Meet Me In The Bottom: Pink Anderson

Just Knock On My Door: Art Blakey

Jakey: Big John Patton

Sticks and Stones: Joe Jones

Good To Me As I Am To You: Aretha Franklin

I Want You (She's So Heavy): Eddie Hazel

Walkin' The Streets of Love Alone: Mitch Polzak

Psychobilly Freakout: Reverend Horton Heat

Flyin' High: Jenny Don't and the Spurs

Boom Boom: Rube Waddell

Stagger Lee: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Killer of Peace: Crow Jane

Kill My Baby Tonight: LA Witch
Sanitarium Blues: Death Valley Girls

Bye Bye 25!: Kim Gordon

Child in Time: Deep Purple

Vomit of Clarity: Melvins 1983

Secret Agent Rat: Crystal Fairy

Smoke Ring: Chime Oblivion

Take Me To Your Leader: Zig Zags

Heroes and Villains: Beach Boys
God Only Knows: Beach Boys

Who Listens To Radio: Sarah Vaughn

Hell's Kitchen Radio #563: The Eighth Wonder of Hell

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Let me be your (un)healthy distraction. I know Mondays can be heavy, so that's why I'm here to lighten the load. It's kind of like bran for your brain. Think of it as super colon blow for your earholes.

I've got a good amount of tunes you've never heard, and possibly a few you forgot you loved.

I also was training a new DJ, David Fraser, who is going to be hosting a new show on Mondays noon-2pm. He took over the show for about 30 minutes. I labeled his set with "DF". Good music choices all the way!

New music from Alit Gun, Melvins, GOAT, Ty Segall, and Rickshaw Billy's Burger Patrol (who I saw at The Stork Club the previous weekend). Also, there's a new 50th anniversary Rush compilation out. I played an alternate take of The Trees. You're welcome. 

So much good music out there, I'm in tears overjoyed that I get to share all of this with you.

For years now I've listed my playlist the way you see it below. What do you think of it? How can I improve it for you? Leave a comment.

Hell is love.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Some Velvet Morning: Vanilla Fudge

Two Headed Dog: Margo Price

Badi Sabah Olmadan: Altin Gun

Magool: Sahra Halgan

I Want You (She's So Heavy): Eddie Hazel (Album: Games, Dames and Guitar Thangs 1977 Reissue)

I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier: John Lennon 

King of Rome: Melvins (Album: Thunderball 2025)

The Trees: Rush (50th Anniversary Super Deluxe)

Ugly Truth: Soundgarden - DF

This is Music: Verve - DF

Wires: Voyager One - DF

Set The City On Fire: Here Come The Saviors - DF

Hallowed Out: Ducks Ltd. - DF

War Cry!: Jenny Don't and the Spurs

Dead Babies: Alice Cooper

Wild Love: James Williamson (with Alison Mossheart and Mark Lanegan)

Whoopie Chateau: Sgt. Splendor

Clown Town: Rickshaw Billie's Burger Patrol

The Wizard: Brown Sabbath

Nimerudi (Salmagundi Version): GOAT + Mc Yallah

The Payback Mix: James Brown

Coconut: Ty Segall

I Bid You Goodnight: Joseph Spence

Good Night: Lawrence Welk Singers

Hell's Kitchen Radio #562: No Good At All

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Sadly, because of DJ error (mine own, ugh), this show is not playable. Dang! This was a fine one as well. I almost feel like doing it all over again just so I can play these funs sets of music for you.

Oh well, next time I promise to click the right button...probably.

See what you missed below.

Sorry.

Tune in Monday 8-10PM Pacific when I actually do broadcast live!

jh

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

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Do You Like To Eat A Cow: Paul Leary
Rejoice Unto Yourself: JD Pinkus

Flyin' High: Jenny Don't and the Spurs

The Irish Rover: The Pogues

I've Been Working: Van Morrison

Walkin' The Streets of Love Alone: Mitch Polzak

The Streets of Baltimore: Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels

The Waitress Song: First Aid Kit

Parchman Fram: Mercury Rev ft Carice Van Houton

Wake Up The Sun: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Coconut: Ty Segall

Carletta's In Hats Again: Brigid Dawson and the Mother's Network

California Dreaming: Eddie Hazel

Somaliland Ani Adi: Sahar Halgan

Badi Sabah Olmadan: Altin Gun

Nimerudi (Salmagundi Remix): GOAT and MC Yallah
Empire: Frankie and the Witch Fingers

The Smokey God: Glitter Wizzard

Bring Me Coffee or Tea: Can

Verwanlung: Embryo

Monaka: Kikagaku Moyo

Hell's Kitchen Radio #561: Set The Knight On Fire

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I think I'm finally getting a handle on this radio thing. I mean how hard can it be? 

I had a recurring dream about dead air. And what DJ hasn't had that dream? It's the worst! A song is quickly ending and I have nothing cued up. In reality I am the king of the last second cue. It's happened too many times to count.

That being said, 90% of the time I have many songs cued and ready to go. In my earliest days of radio I was trained to have a safety track ready just in case a song ends and I have nothing else set. At Radio Valencia we have two turntable, two CD players, and two aux cords, which most hosts use for their laptops. I use the Mixxx app with four channels. This means at any one time I can have eight songs ready to play.

There really is no excuse for dead air. 

I spent a couple years at KALX leading up to COVID. I recall heading into the studio one night. I had a graveyard shift that I thought was running 1-3am. I was told to arrive at midnight to cover a pre-recorded show, just to be told by a staffer who was there when I arrived that my show actually starts at midnight and not 1am. It was about 11:57 at that time. I calmly seated myself, cued up a song and started the show. 

The young staffer was anxious about me not being able to start on time. When I did she noted how calm I was about the whole thing. This is what experience gets you. Just chill out and drop the needle. 

As for this show I dropped the needle on some killer tracks by amazing artists. 

I quickly pay tribute to the late David Johansen of the New York Dolls who passed away last week. I was lucky to see a late version of the NY Dolls in Washington DC in 2008. It was Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain backed by a young rhythm section, but they were incredible!

I saw some incredible modern country/western at The Ivy Room last week with local guitarist and singer Mitch Polzak, and Portland's Jenny Don't and the Spurs were in town. That was one helluva show! I spoke to Mitch after his set and he listens to Radio Valencia! Thanks Mitch. What a pleasure. I'm going to have him on my show soon. I also got to speak to Jenny Don't after her set. She was kind enough to record a station promo for me as well. What a doll! Both bands are incredible. I strongly encourage you to check them out when they hit your town.

As always there's lots of new music tonight. Check out Ty Segall's new side project Freckle. Ambrose Kenny-Smith of King Gizzard also has a new side project that I was happy to get recently. New Population 11, Lambrini Girls (I'm really loving this band), and KnightressM1 featuring metal violinist Emily Palen now living in Paris. I miss my friend, but luckily she's continuing to record incredible music to share with the world.

I bought a bunch of records over the past week so tune in Monday to hear where John Hell's paycheck goes.

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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Trash: New York Dolls
Hate The Police: The Dicks
Twilight (Elliot Smith cover): Barbara Manning

Lonesome, On'ry and Mean: Mitch Polzak

Judgement Day: Jack O'Fire

Gimme A Penny: Big Mama Thornton

Swordfishtrombones: Tom Waits

Sun Rise: Rolf Harris
Steal Softly Through The Snow: Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band

Chinese New Year: Mulatu Astatke and The Heliocentrics

One More Night: Jenny Don't and the Spurs

Louie Louie: Thee Headcoats

Dark Horse: LA Witch
Shameless Imposter: Terry Gross
Anlatmam Derdimi: Altin Gün
Let Me Be Your Ragdoll: Barbara Dane

Who's Sitting on the Moon: Freckle

TV Glotzer (White Punks on Dope): Nina Hagen

Axis: KnightressM1

1970: Boris

No Home: Lambrini Girls

The Gloater: GUM, Ambrose Kenny-Smith

The Wheel: King Tuff

Le The Est Pret: Population II

From The First Hello To The Last Goodbye: Jane Morgan and the 450 Collegians