Tune into Hell's Kitchen Radio, with John Hell, every Monday night 8-10PM (Pacific), on Radio Valencia (https://radiovalencia.fm) in San Francisco. You can find my playlists and links to the podcasts right here.
I'm not really going anywhere. How could I? Monday nights just wouldn't be the same. Did you know I have been hosting a show on Monday nights since 2000, with only a brief break in there between radio stations?
I was at San Francisco Liberation Radio from 2000-2003, then at Pirate Cat Radio and the FCCFree from 2006-2009, before starting Radio Valencia in 2010. And for each station I hosted the Monday 8pm show. It's like I'm some kind of institution. I don't care much for institutions, and I'm a teacher!
My years at KFJC (1989 - 1997) saw me hosting numerous slots during my tenure. When I was down at the "Wave of the West" one was required to host a graveyard shift (2am-6am) for a number of months and be signed off by the Program Director before you could take another shift. Graves are a good place to take risks. I took many, including once hosting my dear friend, Noa "The Watermonk of Dah", who, along with myself, played loud music and took calls of people making their "confessions" to myself, the Reverend Dah Wave, and Noa. That ridiculous show from 1990 almost got me kicked off the station, when my PD Les Scurry, confronted me in his very Napoleonic way, telling me what an embarrassing ass I was for that show, and since we didn't have a delay system, any one of the callers could have sworn live on the air and there would have been no way to cancel it out!
I have a cassette of the night and have only (partially) listened to it one time while I was driving over the San Mateo Bridge. This was probably in 1996 or so. I was driving alone and so embarrassed that I pulled the tape out and threw it in my backseat. I should have thrown it in the Bay. This means I still have it somewhere.
oooh boy.
I have learned it's ok to embarrass yourself at least once a day. I tend to reach my quota by 9am.
Tonight was all about me bringing a stack of music and figuring out just what to do with it. It came out pretty damn good!
I'm putting in some effort to list the album and year of song release. Let's see how long I keep this up.
I won't be in this Monday night. I'm headed to The Chapel to see OSees! Never miss an OSees show! I return September 8th with local legend Scott Amendola, the drummer with the perpetual smile. We'll talk about his years playing for so many remarkable musicians, as well as promote his upcoming show at the Back Room on September 11th with SticklerPhonics.
Enjoy and please share.
jh
Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
What a treat having my fabulous daughter Lauson in the studio tonight. This was her first visit to Radio Valencia since December 2023. I'll share the links to all of her previous shows at the end of this post.
I have always had a lot of music playing around the house, so I did my best to raise her on lots of great music from as many genres as I could fit in. I knew I was doing well when I heard the Beastie Boys bumpin' from her room during high school. Though she still gives me a hard time for the Sex Pistols lunchbox she carried in elementary school. What parent does that to a child?!?!?!?
Tonight Lauson pulled out a lot of artists she was listening to when she was 7-10 years old, told lots of silly stories, and held me to task for not giving her enough space to talk on the mic. Sorry about that, Lauson.
I placed an "L" next to her selections.
Lauson is also a state licensed cosmetologist in San Francisco. She does her own hair!!!! And she's a recognized make up artist as well. I love her so much!
It was also MLK Day, so I peppered in a few tunes in celebration of Dr. King.
Check out all the many fine shows Lauson has co-hosted going back to when she was only 7 years old.
Being the resident non-holiday-celebrating host that I am, I figured I'd host a holiday show. Go figure. I'm no bah humbuger however. Oh no, far from it. I was married to two, count them TWO women who were both very much into the decorate-the-house-get-a-tree and all that jizzy jazz. And who did most of the decorating with glee? Me! Your own Hellacious Claus.
And I have the collection of holiday music to go along with it. This is merely a tiny drop in the bucket of what I had to offer.
HUGE thanks goes out to the late great Mikl-em for providing much of what you heard tonight. What a fabulous human he was, and we're still at a great loss without him. FUCK CANCER!
So twinkle your lights and go drink something that'll make you merry. I'll take care of the next two hours for you.
If I'm in next week it'll be a sort of Best of 2024. There was a lot of great music this year. See you then.
Enjoy and please have a safe and a reflective holiday season.
jh
Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Santa Claus, Go Straight to the Ghetto: Belle and Sebastian The Christmas Song: James Brown Father Christmas, Do Not Touch Me: The Goodies
Run Rudolph, Run: William Shatner Yingle Bells: Yogi Yorgesson You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch: Thurl Ravenscroft
Baby, It's Cold Outside: Ray Charles with Nina Simone Ain't No Chimneys in the Projects: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings Little Drummer Boy: David Bowie and Bing Crosby Christmas Wrapping: Kylie Minogue with Iggy Pop
Merry Christmas From The Family: Robert Earl Keen Jr. Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy: Reverend Horton Heat 'Zat You, Santa Claus?: Louis Armstrong Father Christmas Dressed in Green: Wild Billy Childish and the Musicians of the British Empire
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: Jerry Garcia and David Grisman (December 09, 1991) Beautiful Star of Bethlehem: Emmylou Harris
Allen Toussaint: Silent Night, Holy Night Santa Doesn't Cop Out on Dope: Martin Mull Christmas Card From A Hooker in Minneapolis: Tom Waits
Father Christmas: The Kinks Jingle Bell Rock: The Fall I'll Be Home For Christmas: Doris Day Santa Claus and His Old Lady: Cheech and Chong Up on the Housetop: The Jambalaya Cajun Band
Fairytale of New York: The Pogues Zan Vevede: Angelique Kidjo
Frosty the Snowman: Los Straightjackets Carolina Christmas: Squirrel Nut Zippers We Wish You Merry Christmas: John Denver and the Muppets Auld Lang Syne: Chriss Issac Hanukkah Schmanukkah: Rachel Lark Silent Night: Brian Wilson
Since there isn't a holiday for Hell Day...yet, I figured I should pay tribute to all the great laborers out there who never get the appreciation they deserve.
I've hosted a lot of Labor Day shows over the years, and I think it's my favorite holiday to celebrate. I've been a union member for most of my working career, being a teacher, and before that in the grocery industry. At the age of 21, I was a shop steward at a grocery store I worked at. I was a member of the Union Building Committee at the school I teach at for nine years, meeting weekly with the administration, keeping them true to the contract.
I have never had a hard time speaking truth to power. If I have learned anything it's how to finesse how I articulate the message that's needed to be said; all of which in support of the workers.
I will never cross a picket line.
The music tonight is all in celebration of the workers, most of whom are paid far below their value.
I shared a lot of worker history during the show as well. I'm guessing you aren't aware of a lot of the what I spoke about.
Don't like the way you're treated at work, then join a union.
Below I share the song "Rich Men Earning North of a Million, by Billy Bragg, which was a song he wrote in response to the song "Rich Men North of Richmond, by Oliver Anthony. I encourage you to listen to both (Anthony's first), to understand why Bragg felt the need to write his version.
Enjoy and please share.
jh
Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Heartbeat of America: Billy Strings Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out: Nina Simone
Work Song: The Animals You Gotta Go Down and Join the Union: Woody Guthrie Nine Pound Hammer: Johnny Cash
The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carrol: Bob Dylan Run Devil, Run/The Big Guns: Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore: John Prine Career Opportunities: The Clash Let's Lynch the Landlord: Faith No More
Mansion on the Hill: Bruce Sprinsteen Do You Want New Wave, or Do Want the Truth: Minutemen Crazy Baldhead: Bob Marley
Hey Joe: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Graveyard Shift: Uncle Tupelo This is Not a Song, It's an Outburst (or Establishment Blues): Rodriguez War Pigs: Black Sabbath
Get Behind the Mule: Tom Waits In The Pines: Fantastic Negrito
Inner City Blues: Gil Scott Heron Wild and Free: Curtis Mayfield
Get Back in Line: The Kinks Cumberland Blues: Grateful Dead
This Land is Your Land: Woody Guthrie What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong
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I'll admit it, I have been guilty of purchasing an LP from time to time because of the cover. This doesn't mean I didn't want it for the music, it was the cover that pushed me into making the purchase. Recently, my daughter Little Lauson Hell asked me to show her my favorite LP covers. Talk about making her daddy proud! I took my time to consider the criteria: a great cover isn't just the art, it can also be the story behind the music, the artist, that time, etc. It can be a stark, minimalist cover, such as "Something Else", by Cannonball Adderley, or a robust cover like "Bitches Brew", by Miles Davis.
As I was taking her through the journey, I had to pause and remember this wasn't about showing her my favorite albums, some of which have crap covers. This was about the covers themselves. I spoke to her about growing up buying vinyl, laying on my bed staring at the cover, and reading the liner notes. I get as excited today as I ever have purchasing new vinyl.
So far her favorite covers were the three picture discs for Altamont (Dale Crover side project).
Which reminds me, even if we can't patronize our favorite local record shop, we can still purchase straight from the labels and the bands. And a reminder that Bandcamp will be hosting their first Friday again, July 3rd, when all proceeds go straight to the artist. They are also having a fundraiser on June 19th (Juneteenth), where all proceeds go to the NAACP. Buy great music, support the artists, and support a great cause. I know I will.
Many of you know that I am a social studies teacher in San Francisco. Specifically I teach Pre-Law, American Democracy, and Economics in a thematic pathway for the past 16 years. I have read and studied the US Constitution for longer than that, and I can attest that it is a comprehensive social contract, that cannot be mastered in one, two, or twenty readings. Before you read a political headline and think you know what the Constitution has to say on the matter, please take the time to do your research, including what the US Supreme Court has to say on the issue.
In the meantime, take a gander at the playlist below. New music from my dream team Melvins/Mudhoney, a Ty Segall/Cory Hanson collaboration, some Afro-Funk, avant-Jazz, and many local bands.
Click the link above, sit back, relax, and as always, enjoy.
jh
Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
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Sometimes inspiration arrives in the strangest of moments. I was actually about three minutes late for my show tonight. Thanks to Dial-A-Shot for keeping it rockin' until I arrived. I quickly threw my first tune on, "Porno" by local SF funk-punksters Limbomaniacs (if you saw them back in the 90s then you know), and as I was contemplating my own porn addiction (tongue in cheek, folks, seriously), I thought about what other addictions people are known to enjoy. Hence tonight's theme: substance use!
Oh the joys of the holidays, when we look for any coping mechanism within reach. So whether it's tasty treat that is alcohol, aromatic marijuana, a psychedelic journey, cocaine blues, or maybe you're into the needle, this is the show for you.
Make this the holiday soundtrack your family didn't know they needed.
See you on the other side.
jh
Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Download the Communion HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my show, via
Fucking A Right! Alcohol. God. Devil. Heaven. Hell. Crossroads. Where do you stand? Sometimes when it hits, it hits hard. The music deviner.
There are times when I'll put in some effort to prepare for a show. I'll think about the artists and songs I want to play, and perhaps even the order I want to play them in. Not tonight. Starting with the second set I had an epiphany of sorts. It took us on a journey. Each set flowing into the next. Honestly, I could have kept this up for another few hours, but alas I only have a two hour canvas in which to paint the aural colors to pleasure your ears and your spirit.
And it's all about the spirit on this night. And spirits!
Next Monday I'm considering hosting an all-covers show. Tune in.
Go in pieces.
jh
Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
End of the World PSA: National Lampoon
Nowadays A Woman's Gotta Hit A Man: Captain Beefheart
Cuban Pete: Desi Arnez
Alcohol: Gogol Bordello
Alcohol: The Kinks
Alcohol: Butthole Surfers
God's Been Drinking: Bernadette Seacrest and Her Yes Men
God's Away on Business: Tom Waits
God: John Lennon
Wake Up The Sun: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
God God God: Nina Simone
A Message From God: National Lampoon
Monkey Gone To Heaven: Pixies
Satan Dub: Lee "Scratch" Perry
Hell: James Brown
Hellhound On My Trail: Robert Johnson
Heaven Ain't Hard 2 Find: 2 Pac
Heaven and Hell: Black Sabbath
Spiritual: John Coltrane
Wizard in Black: Electric Wizard
Worship The Devil: Glitter Wizard
You would think since I'm only getting about four hours a sleep, having a newborn in the house, I wouldn't be up for doing my weekly show. You would be incorrect. What the hell do you know anyway? It's not like I was looking to run out on the little one and my bride. No, no, no. It's more about taking the time away so when I come back I'm even more hot to care for all-things-baby!
It was so great getting back on the horse tonight after three weeks away. The playlist felt fresh, and your comments kept me on edge...er, I mean happier than a baby with a fresh boob in the mouth!
You'll have to forgive me, I have baby-brain right now. That being said, I think you will agree that I can still throw together one hell of a playlist. Oh, I'm thinking about starting a campaign to get a local commercial radio station (107.7 The Bone, KFOG, Live-105) to allow me to program their station for one hour during the evening drive. I promise not to play anything with bad words...in English. Really though, the dreck they are playing is insulting. Give me one hour and I know you're going to have listeners hungry for more.
Until that day, keep tuning in Monday's 8-10PM and I'l give it my best; baby-brain and all.
Enjoy.
jh
Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Common People: William Shatner
Earthquake: Butthole Surfers
Someday Soon: The Doors
Grateful: Patti Smith
What Goes On: Velvet Underground
Vitamin C: Can
Free Your Mind and your Ass Will Follow: Funkadelic
Lord of Lightning: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (World Cafe-Bakehouse Studios-Melbourne, Australia-January 25, 2017)
A Lotus on Irish Streams: Mahavishnu Orchestra (Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley, CA November 9, 1972)
Frankie and Albert: Leadbelly (1940-12-12 - WNYC Radio - Folk Songs of America - New York, NY)
Eric's Trip: Sonic Youth (November 26, 1992 - Teatro Tenda Strisce, Roma, Italia)
When I Met You: David Bowie
Celluloid Heroes: The Kinks (BBC 1974)
Black Magick: Ty Segall
Last Looks: Lee Renaldo
The Static God: Oh Sees
Moon Tattoo: Sofi Tukker
Evil Ways: Santana (Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, February 14, 1969)
Brown-Eyed Women: Grateful Dead (October 21, 1971, Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL)
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
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.
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.
I think I play it a little too safe on my show from time to time. There are nights that I bring a lot of black metal, or speed metal, or, well, anything darker than I usually play for you, but I hold off thinking "they don't want to hear this stuff". I think I've been insulting you, and for that I am sorry. I just didn't want to ostracize my audience. I fell into the "lowest-common-denominator" style of programming. Damn, what is wrong with me?
To make up for my radio shortcomings I decided to get fairly dark tonight. There's some metal, punk and garage thrown in, as well as some pretty choice hard rock cuts. It's loud, it's fun, and from the feedback I received during the show, well-considered.
Radio is supposed to be about the art of the segue. I choose music that I believe will move you. That doesn't mean it will always be a pleasant movement. It does mean that I have thought hard about why I want to play this song, and hope that you will take the time to consume it. I'm painting a two hour audio picture just for you. Isn't that great?! Just another in the many reasons that I love Radio Valencia.
Next week I'll probably play two hours of Americana and Bakersfield Country. Also, I have tickets to see Dave and Phil Alvin to give away. Tune in!