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 #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)

Radio Valencia Celebrates 50 Years of Punk In San Francisco

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Leading up to our epc co-presents at the fabled Mabuhay Gardens and On Broadway I hosted a rare Friday night special with two up and coming bands: False Flag and Bitchfit. Both bands played the evening showcase on Saturday night, upstairs at the On Broadway in support of Flipper and Friends and the 50th anniversary celebration of punk in San Francisco and the opening of the Fab Mab.

False Flag features sisters Pretty Sims (bass/vocals), Strong Sims (guitar/vocals) and Bayden Tubelle (drums). The will assault all manners of pretense once the curtain drops and they will not let up until they've been dragged from the stage, cables wrapped around their limbs like a junkie waiting for just one more aural fix. Lyrics born of urban decay and blight from a male-dominated culture, False Flag aren't just re-writing what the many-facetted  genre of punk looks like in 2026, they honestly don't care what you think about them. They don't do this for you. They do what every band that has ever been worth their weight has done: they do it for themselves, and you should thank your lucky stars they let you be along for the ride.

We played some songs and talked about music, their band, the record store I Hate Records that Pretty is also running (like they aren't busy enough), and setting the story straight on what exactly happened on that BART train.

Following False Flag the young start ups, Bitchfit from Oakland came through. They opened the show on Saturday night, and even though they don't have anything released yet, their reputation of fierce females on this scene proceeded itself. Full of charisma, confidence and hardcore ethos, Talulah (drums) and Ailish (bass/vocals) talked about bringing topics like body positivity, human rights politics and what we should be angry about today!

Witnessing both bands on stage Saturday night was a treat. The torch is firmly placed in the fists of both of these bands.

The image at the top is the poster created by the one and only Richie Goodtimes for the event. Thanks Richie. 

Check out the interviews here, along with music from False Flag and a bunch of other punks I love.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Glorious: Polkacide

Party!: The Mutants

Interview with False Flag

How To Ruin Your Life: False Flag

Ha Ha Ha: Flipper
California Uber Alles: Dead Kennedys

Interview with False Flag

Corpus Christi: Avengers

One Man War: False Flag

Interview with False Flag

The Midnight Show: The Freak Accident
Fascists Eat Donuts: Pop-O-Pies

Boris: Melvins

Business on Parade: MDC
The Shah Sleeps in Lee Harvey's Grave: Butthole Surfers

Put A Little Love In Your Heart: Circle Jerks

Police Truck: Dead Kennedys

Interview with Bitch Fit

Midnight Creep: The Darts

Hellfudge: Lard

Interview with Bitch Fit

Keith Moon: Mike Krol

Frock Block: OSees

X Offender: Blondie

Nothing In This World Stop Me Thinking About That Girl: The Kinks
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

My posts are never written using AI of any kind. This shitty writing is mine and mine alone.

Hell's Kitchen Radio #597: Best of 2025

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What music caught your attention last year? Did you even pay attention? Of course you did. You have discerning taste. Only the best of the best attracts you. Nothing worth your time will slip past. 

Great minds...

I present to you my favorites from 2025. It's hard to conceive that we're a quarter of the way through this century. I remember the 80s and 90s, when 2000 seemed so close we could touch it. I was DJing at midnight on Y2K at Anon Salon for the monthly Burning Man parties in San Francisco. That was a great party we used to have. That night was off the hook. 

The host of those parties always wanted to pay me in coke. I don't do coke. I've never done coke. I've done many other things; never coke. I used to tell him that my landlord didn't take coke in payment. Someone ought to write about those parties. They were epic. A true who's-who in the early Burning Man scene, long before the term "burner" was ever used. Back then we were just a bunch of pranksters who liked to build big art, put on huge parties, and burn it all down. 

Good times. Then again there are always good times to be had. 

This show is nothing but good times too. Most of the show are releases from 2025, and I throw in some epic anniversary remastered reissues in the final hour. 

Are you coming to our SantaCon after party this Thursday night at Kilowatt? Talk about a good time! Radio Valencia DJs will be spinning throughout the night. Bring your piggy bank, this is also a fundraiser for the station. 

Go out and make some good times of your own.

jh

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

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Lonely Cosmos: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (Phantom Island)
Company Culture: Lambrini Girls (Who Let The Dogs Out?)

Paranoid: Freckle (Freckle)
I Hunt, You Prey: LA Witch (DOGGOD)

Rakiya Su Katamam: Altin Gun (Ask)
Nimerudi: GOAT + MC Yallah (Single)
Sister of the Moon: Death Valley Girls (Single)

Total Reset: Frankie and the Witch Fingers (Trash Classic)

King of Rome: Melvins 1983 (Thunderball)

Mangetout: Wet Leg (Moisturizer)

Ageism: Public Enemy (Black Sky Over The Projects - Apartment 2025)

I Once Was A Contender: Kate Vargas (Golden Hour In The House of Lugosi)

First of the Gang To Die: Chrissie Hynde and Cat Power (Duets Special)

Evil People: MIEN (MIIEN)

Glue: OSees (Abomination Revealed At Last)

An L.A. Funeral: Orcutt, Shelly, Miller (S/T)
Albuquerque: Neil Young and Crazy Horse (Tonight's The Night 50th Anniversary Remaster)

Castles Made Of Sand: Jimi Hendrix (Axis: Bold As Love - 2025 Remaster)

Wish You Were Here (Take 1): Pink Floyd (Wish You Were Here 50th Anniversary)

The Real Contra Band: Psychedelic Porn Crumpets (Pogo Rodeo)

Not of This World: Zig Zags (Deadbeat at Dawn)

Working Man (Vault Edition): Rush (Rush 50)

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 #592: Hippie Trance From Hell

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Ok, ok, ok, ok, ok. No really, ok. It's ok. It's fine. It's ok. Ok. 

Whew. OK. ok

What was it I was trying to say?

ok

No, not that. That couldn't have been all? Maybe it was.

Music moves me. And hosting a radio show allows me to take what moves me and shove it down your throat. And I mean that in the nicest way.

ok

A friend tuned into the last half hour of this show and commented that my show is so eclectic with the Beatles, psych, punk and alt. 

They missed the other 15 genres I played!

ok

For some really odd reason I was in the mood for some electronica tonight. I am NEVER in the mood for electronica. Our former DJ, Timmiii, had the best electronica show I have ever heard, and I knew I could never do it justice, so I just shied away from playing much on my show. Tonight something called me, so you'll hear an early Silver Apples, and Harald Grosskopf. The Osees bring their full new Can-style in their latest release. The Seastones track will help your plants grow.

Funk, Jazz, Neo-soul, Hip-Hop, Krautrock, and Dub round out most of the show. New music from Orcutt, Shelley, Miller blew me away. Go see them live. I also have new music from Kate Vargas and Psychedelic Porn Crumpets.

Tune in for more than 30 minutes and you never know where you'll travel.

OK?

ok.

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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Kansas City: James Brown (Cold Sweat - 1967)
School Days: Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker (Diz 'N' Bird in Concert - 1953)

You Better Have A Gun: Fantastic Negrito (White Jesus, Black Problems - 2022)
By The Time I Get To Arizona: Brownout (Fear of a Brown Planet - 2018)

Suicide: ICE (Each Man Makes His Destiny - 1973)
To All The Girls/Shake Your Rump: Beastie Boys (Paul's Boutique - 1989)
Emphasis: Harald Grosskopf (Krautrock Eruption - 2025)
Lovefingers: Silver Apples (S/T - 1968)

Don't Blow the Experiment: Osees (Live at the Broad Museum - 2025)

Time We Left This World Today: Hawkwind (Doremi Faso Latido - 1972)
V-B: Ned Lagin and Phil Lesh (Seastones - 1975)

Dread Lion: Lee Perry and the Upsetters (Super Ape - 1976)
Bankrobber/Robber Dub: The Clash (Black Market Cash - 1980)

A Star is Born: Orcutt, Shelley, Miller (S/T - 2025)
Dirt: Iggy and the Stooges (Funhouse - 1970)

Serrated Knife: Kate Vargas (Golden Hour in the House of Lugosi - 2025)
My Home Town: Mark Mothersbaugh (Potatoes: A Collection of Folk Songs from Ralph Records - 1987)
The Badge Means You Suck: AK-47 (Bloodstains Across Texas - 1992)

Bowling with Tim: Psychedelic Porn Crumpets (Pogo Rodeo - 2025)
Get Back (Take 8): The Beatles (Anthology Vol. 4 - 2025)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #581: Last Goodbye

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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

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Drug Train: The Cramps (Bad Music for Bad People
Riding By: Majestics

The Wriggle: Jack Hammer

My Heart is a Graveyard: The Darts (s/t 2017)

White Girl: X (Wild Gift 1980)

Catch These Fists: Wet Leg (Moisturizer 2025)

Beautiful World: DEVO (New Traditionalists 1981)

I Have A Radio: David Lynch (10" split with Dumb Numbers)

In Every Dream Home A Heartache: Roxy Music 

Sneaker: OSees (Abomination Revealed At Last 2025)

Riot Squad: The Hellflowers (7" split with Eastbay)

Icon: Black Angels (Wilderness of Mirrors 2022)

Titoli: Ennio Morricone (A Fistful of Film Music 1995)

I Had A Talk With My Woman: Tim Buckley (Lorca 1970)

Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey): Curtis Mayfield (Live 1971)

Get Out For #1: Janky Band

Death Train: Bobby Lees (Bellevue 2022)

Do You Take This Man? Diamanda Galas with John Paul Jones (The Sporting Life 1994)

Company Culture: Lambrini Girls (Who Let The Dogs Out 2025)

Caaqil: Sahra Halgan (Waa Dardaaran 2019)

It's A Shame: First Aid Kit (Ruins 2018)

Your Mother Should Know: The Beatles (Magical Mystery Tour 1967)

Messy Hens: Public Enemy (Black Sky Over The Projects- Apartment 2025)

Centrate: Podium (Podium 2020)

Seaweed Head: WAND (Vertigo 2024)

Celluloid Heroes: The Kinks (The Kinks Greatest Celluloid Heroes 1976)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #580: 15 Years for Radio Valencia

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How is it possible that Radio Valencia is no 15 years old? I swear it was just yesterday that I was asked to start this station as a point of interest in a performance warehouse in the Mission. By the time I put the station together, along with Alec Bennett, Trademark Gunderson and Naomi Most, I had already been involved in about a half dozen other Bay Area community stations. 

I was willing to start Radio Valencia as long as I wasn't the one in charge. My goal was to have it operate as a cooperative. My hope was staff would work together in committees to make our station sound incredible and be active in the community.

I wish it has worked out that way.

Someone along the way came up with the concept of the "do-ocracy": if there is something you want to do at the station, then do it! 

This looks good on paper, but it can also mean if you only want to do your show and nothing else, that's fine too. 

This has been our undoing. We have had a number of really incredible people on staff over the years who have taken on a lot of work: scheduling, programming, engineering, but most of the staff we have had are only interested in hosting their shows. 

I really hate the "do-ocracy"

I'm glad to report that the music programming is some of the best I have heard on radio.

Today we have a steering committee, of which I sit on. We direct the actions of the station. We keep the lights on and the turntables spinning. 

Soon we are launching a new website (thanks to those who contributed to our fundraiser last winter), and a possible move to save overhead. Our current rent in our storefront location is too damn high! We also want to add more shows. Before COVID we had over 50 shows. Today we have 23. More shows = more money = more opportunities for RV to engage in the community. Cut down the rent overhead and we can bring in more staff who will pay less in dues, which will lead to a more robust on-air schedule, etc, etc, etc.

You get the idea.

I love having the station to play music and interview great people. I have loved being in our storefront on 22nd street since 2020. And these past 15 years have been mostly a real joy. If you read this far, what the hell is wrong with you? 

As for the music, I was thinking about playing music from each year we've been on the air, but then I figured why would do that? So, instead, I just did what I do and play great music that I think you need to hear. New music from Wet Leg, Ty Segall, LA Witch, Mark Growden, King Gizzard, and OSees. The rest of the night is me painting the aural landscape with sounds that will please your ears.

Enjoy and please share. And support your local San Francisco community radio station that continues to defy the odds.

jh

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

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IIBS: Charles Mingus (Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus 1964)

Dirt: Iggy and the Stooges (Fun House 1970)

Black Grease: The Black Angels (Passover 2006)
Slip Inside This House: 13th Floor Elevators (Easter Everywhere 1967)

Mangetout: Wet Leg (Moisturizer 2025) 
Fun Times in Babylon: Father John Misty (Fear Fun 2012)
Venus: The Shocking Blue (s/t 1970)

Dear Prudence: Siouxsie and the Banshees (Hyena 1983)

Another California Love Song: Ty Segall (Possession 2025)

Queen of the Underground: GOAT (Levitation Sessions 2023)

S.O.S.: LA Witch (Doggod 2025)

Legend of the Creation of Middle World: (Kyrgyzstan Session ft. Mark Growden 2025)

Volunteered Slavery: Roland Kirk (Volunteered Slavery 1969)

Ballad of the Soldiers Wife: Marianne Faithful and Chris Spedding (Lost in the Stars...Music of Kurt Weill 1985)

Sea of Doubt: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (Phantom Island 2025)

Space Drugs: Spanish Moss (Kelp 2012)

Infected Chrome: OSees (Abomination Revealed At Last 2025)

Suzanne: Nina Simone (To Love Somebody 1969)

Puddin' A'Tain: The Alley Cats

From The First Hello To The Last Goodbye: Jane Morgan

Hell's Kitchen Radio #579: Days Between

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It's not as much fun hosting my show remotely from home. I like my home. It's cozy. You should come over. But hosting in the studio is so much more fun. The energy is different when I'm standing at the console, looking out onto 22nd street to the people passing by, or stopping to look through the window. At home I'm sitting on the floor in my living room with my computer in front of me talking to the cat. 

That all being said, I have did manage to put together a pretty good show without any vinyl, including a tribute to Jerry Garcia who passed away 30 years ago on August 9th! That sure went fast. The days from the 1st through the 9th are considered the "Days Between", where there are a lot of tributes to Jerry. The last 30 minutes of this show I pay homage. 

And on my Tuesday night show: John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza, I play two hours of some stellar live Grateful Dead that focuses on Jerry. Tune in starting at 8pm Pacific.

No, I did not attend the Dead and Company shows in Golden Gate Park this past weekend. I have an issue with charging people money to see live music in a public park. And Dead and Co are really my jam. They're an OK cover band, but if I want to hear a quality Grateful Dead show I can always stream any of their 2000+ shows that are on my hard drive, or available on Archive. Or I can go see Stu Allen and Mars Hotel. 

I did however download all three live video broadcasts of the shows. They've sped up the songs, which is nice, since the two times I saw them a few years back the songs were sooooo slow. Got to hand it to Bobby Weir, his voice isn't nearly what it used to be, but he still gives it all he has. 

My money is on Mickey Hart being the last one standing. 

With all that being said, there's a lot of newish music tonight, including Wet Leg, LA Witch, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Public Enemy, Population II, and OSees. 

I'll be back in the studio next Monday night to celebrate Radio Valencia's 15th anniversary! Can you believe we made it that long? There have been times, especially during COVID, I thought we would be closing the doors forever. Tune in and celebrate with me. 

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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Lucifer Sam/Interstellar Overdrive: Marble Orchard (1991 Savage Sleep)
Gbe Mi Lo: Ofege (1973 Try and Love)

Catch These Fists: Wet Leg
SOS: LA Witch

Fucksake: Frankie and the Witch Fingers (Trash Classic)
Sexegenarian: Public Enemy (Black Sky Over the Projects - Apartment 2025)
Back Door Man (live): The Doors (Waiting for the Sun 50th)
Le The Est Pret (The Tea is Ready): Population II (Maintenant Jamais)
Sharaf: Sahra Halgan (Hiddo Dhawr)

Ouroboros: GOAT (GOAT)
Gild the Lily: Billy Strings (Highway Prayers)

Abominiation: OSees
Fire on the Mountain: Widespread Panic
Kill Jerry Garcia: Colorfinger

Let It Ride: The Soundcarriers (Harmonium 2009)
Daylight: The Kinks (Preservation Act 1 1973)
Pork Roll Egg and Cheese: Ween (the Pod 1991)

Summertime: Coleman Hawkins and Sonny Rollins (Sonny Meets Hawk 1963)
Spidergawd/Eep Hour/The Wheel: Jerry Garcia (Garcia)

Days Between: Otiel Burbridge (Lovely View of Heaven 2023)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #576: Mosswood Preview

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I believe we should never pay to see music performed in a public park. I refuse to pay to go to Outside Lands. And as much as I love the Grateful Dead, I will not be paying to see Dead and Company in Golden Gate Park at the end of the month. Pubic parks are for the people. Our tax dollars pay for them. If a band wants to get paid they should find a private venue and host the show there.

There are exceptions to every rule.

Mosswood Meltdown is this coming weekend, and I couldn't be more giddy about attending. The event, formerly known as "Burger Boogaloo", and hosted my trash-glam favorite John Waters, is the only music festival held in a public space that I have ever considered paying to attend. 

It's a punk rock dream. I can't think of a better way to spend a weekend.

I haven't been since Bikini Kill and Kim Gordon headlined a few years back, and this year's lineup is super exciting: DEVO, Bratmobile, OSees, Shannon and the Clams, along with many more. Though I have to admit L'Trimm's hit "Cars With The Boom" always bugged me when it was first released. But you know, live for the moment. 

I highlight many of this year's lineup in my second hour tonight. See the playlist below for details.

I also went record shopping last week (surprise!) and throw down some tasty fusion with a Les McCann track that'll have you floating. There's also a real crate-diggers find with an original pressing of Hawkwind's third record Doremi Fasol Latido (read that slowly), followed by covers of some Hawkwind tunes (one written by Lemmy and covered by Motorhead) to close out the show.

A fun show, all in all. Take a listen and let me know what you think.

See you in the park. Oh, and if you are looking to attend Mosswood Meltdown next year, they sell two day passes on the cheap a week or so after the event. Even though you don't know the lineup yet, it's always worth it.

“Some call it “The Warped Woodstock’ or ‘An Asshole-free Altamont’ while others holler ‘Coachella, Go-To Hella’. We’re Mosswood Meltdown and we’re going to lose our musical marbles again this year with a line up of lunatic acts that will make even the angriest punk- rocker pogo their way to paradise with a twisted smile on their dirty little faces.”

— John Waters

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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Darkest Light: Lafayette Afro Rock Band
California Dreaming: Eddie Hazel

Come Together: George Benson

Beaux J. Poo Boo: Les McCann
Earth People: Dr. Octagon

Eternal Return: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Game Is My Middle Name: Betty Davis

Uncontrollable Urge: DEVO
Some Special: Bratmobile
Bean Fields: Shannon and the Clams

Think of You: Bleached
Strange World: La Luz
I Want Ya (In My Cell): Prison Affair

Fight Simulator: Osees
Termination Officer: Osees
Low Life: Niis
All I Need Tonight (Is You): Gentleman Jesse
Cars With The Boom: L'Trimm

Lord of Light: Hawkwind
The Watcher: Motorhead

Brainstorm: Monster Magnet

Hell's Kitchen Radio #574: Now Dig This

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Another Monday night and the world isn't completely burning yet. 

We all need an escape from time to time. I take Monday nights seriously. This is like taking a shower: don't bother me while I'm doing this. 

I don't paint or sculpt, but I do consider hosting a radio show like creating an art piece. I have an empty two hour aural canvas that I use to weave music through, hoping to be pleased with the final result. And this is a real challenge. I hope you enjoy what I bring you, but is that my responsibility? I choose music that I think you need to hear. I've been doing this long enough to know that too many people are still only  listening to the music they listened to in high school, as if that was the best music ever produced?!?!?

Many of you don't have the time to do the deep digging that I, and the other Radio Valencia DJs take to find the tastiest of musical treats for you. That's one of the reasons I love to do this show. I eat, drink, and breathe music. It's on right now, as I'm writing this. I read music blogs, artist biographies and memoirs. You need a music nerd like me in your life. 

And let's look at what I offer you on Monday night, shall we? I started with some early folk blues, move to a Bob Dylan outtake that may be one of his greatest songs ever written! You have a brilliant Roland (pre-Rahssan) Kirk cover of a Duke classic. Some brand new Public Enemy that will kick your ass! Then we jump back for a Janis-loving seasonal classic, before I give you two jazz treats you didn't know you needed (but you do). There's some brand new Osees, live Hawkwind, local luminary The Space Lady, new A/lpaca (I have no clue why they spell their name that way?), Japan's Kikagaku Moyo (including a story I share following this about my Sunday motorcycle ride...blissful). Following this I pull out a 20th anniversary release of Japan's Boris (how the Hell has it been 20 years?!?!?!), Texas' Psychic Ills, and Mott the Hoople (a brilliant segue, btw), and local lass Barbara Manning, who all of you must listen to all of the time. I close out the show with new King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, featuring an orchestra (what will they think of next?), Tom Waits covering Kurt Weill, and complete the show with some new Ty Segall (I still have a boy crush on him).

Whew.

That's a lot to throw at any canvas. 

I don't normally go into such detail in these posts, but I wanted to give you an idea of the many cups I'm pulling from when I host a show. I'm not a specialty show, where a host focuses on one genre, week-to-week. I like it all. I love playing new releases for you, and I also enjoy scouring my library at home to pull music I haven't played in a while. There's always an itch that needs to be scratched. 

Take this. Make it yours. Share it. Dig the artists? Go buy their music. See them live. Share it with your friends. 

I think this is what makes Radio Valencia a truly special radio station.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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How Do You Want Your Rollin' Done: Louie Lasky
Got Me Religion: Scott H. Biram

Blind Willie McTell: Bob Dylan

Creole Love Call: Roland Kirk

Siick: Public Enemy

Summertime: Big Brother and the Holding Company

China: The Visitors

Super Bad: Idris Muhammad

Fight Simulator: Osees

Seven By Seven: Hawkwind

Radar Love: The Space Lady

Laughter, Us Us: A/lpaca
Meu Mar: Kikagaku Moyu

Pink: Boris

Back To You: Psychic Ills

All The Young Dudes: Mott The Hoople

Twilight: Barbara Manning

Phantom Island: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

What Keeps Mankind Alive: Tom Waits

Fantastic Tomb: Ty Segall

Hell's Kitchen Radio #548: Radio Reset

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I take all the responsibility. Blame me. It's OK, I've been blamed before. No need to carry all of this on your shoulders. I took the night off before the election to go see King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and I was not able to share with you how to vote. I know, I know, I'm to blame. 

Shower me with your insults. 

What now? How do we carry forward knowing half of our country thinks the other half is bat shit crazy? This is the most polarized our nation as been since the civil war. This is no hyperbole! 

How long is it going to take until those who voted for he-who-shall-not-be-named realize they've been duped? And how many will continue to defend him even when their own house is on fire? This remains to be seen.

In the meantime, you didn't come here to receive a politicized tantrum, you came for the music. And the music I shall deliver. Yes, the first set is a bit pointed, but then again, isn't everything political in the end?

New music from Amyl and the Sniffers, GOAT, OSEES, Dale Crover, and False Flag. I also play a sweet suite from the King Gizzard show I attended at The Frost last week. Holy Hell that was one fine show.

Monday, November 18th I'm hosting my 14th annual Annual Annual! This is when I focus two hours on one great year in music. This time around I'll be throwing 1994 up against the wall. Tune in and reminisce 8-10PM Pacific.

I'll see you on the radio.

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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The Common People: Leonard Nimoy
Nazi Punks, Fuck Off: Dead Kennedys
Fascists Eat Donuts: Pop O Pies

Big Dreams: Amyl and the Sniffers
The Green Manalishi: The Flesh Eaters

Grinder Man: John Lee Hooker

One More Death: GOAT
Tour de Force: Dizzy Gillespie

Lears Ears: OSEES

Hitler Was A Vegetarian: The Residents

Ziggy Stardust: Bauhaus

Spoiled Daisies: Dale Crover (ft. Ty Segall)

You're Gonna Get What's Coming: Thee Headcoatees

Red Cobra #9: The Mummies

Where Eagles Dare: Bratmobile

Green Hell: Misfits

Welcome to the Dust Ward: Fear

Gone Sexual: False Flag

Fly on the Wall: Jesus Lizard

Get Me Religion: Scott H. Biram

I'm In Your Mind/I'm Not In Your Mind/Cellophane/I'm In Your Mind Fuzz: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (Live at The Frost Amphitheater - November 4, 2024)

Gimme Danger: Iggy and the Stooges

White Linen: Blüchunks

What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrongblue