Hell's Kitchen Radio #600: Freaky Mutant Crime

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What a delight it was celebrating my 600th show on Radio Valencia by hosting four musicians who helped shape the punk history in San Francisco. 

Who would have thought when I started my road in radio in the late 80s, that I would grow up to hosts legends of a music scene that was too young to enjoy when it was at its height, but came to love it deeply?

I have always followed my bliss. Music has always been my bliss. I'm not much of a fanboy...Ok, maybe for Ty Segall, but other than that I just really enjoy being around music and musicians, for the love of the art. I like talking music. I love reading about music. My favorite books about music are when the artist is talking about making the art. Keith Richard's book "Life" does this well.

37 years in radio (yikes!) has honored me with seeing some incredible live music, interviewing countless bands, and getting to know some of the finest people to grace a stage. I'm living the life! Monday night I was lucky to host four people who have made their mark on the San Francisco music scene, and will be doing so once again this coming Saturday at the newly reopened Mabuhay Gardens and On Broadway in North Beach.

Fritz and Brendan from The Mutants, Henry Rosenthal (Hank Rank) of Crime, and Ralph Spight of The Freak Accident spent the evening with me telling tales of the heyday of punk in the city, and the venue that sparked the magic. Music from these bands and other bands of the day are sprinkled throughout, all in preparation for a great night at the FabMab and On Broadway.

I am honored to be co-producing this show with Steve DePace of Flipper. Radio Valencia is co-presenting and will be spinning music throughout the night. And I'm your MC!!!

Tickets are almost gone for these two events, so please follow the links embedded in the posters to grab yours before they're gone.

Tune in Friday 8-10PM Pacific for a special on the upcoming live shows, featuring Steve DePace of Flipper, and members of BitchFit and False Flag.

Here's to 600 more shows on Radio Valencia!!!

jh

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

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The Catholics Are Attacking: Pop-O-Pies (The White EP - 1982)

Car Crash: Avengers (ST - 1983)

Wild: The Nuns (S/T - 1980)

White Punks on Dope: The Tubes (S/T - 1975)

B-Side: Sleepers (7" - 1980)
Plastic TV Land on Acid: Pope Paul Pot

San Francisco's Doomed: Crime (San Francisco's Doomed - 1978)
Rock 'N' Enemy No. 1: Crime (San Francisco's Doomed - 1978)

Murder By Guitar: Crime (Murder By Guitar 1976 - 1980)

Party!: The Mutants (Curse of the Easily Amused - Recorded in 1979, Released in 2026)
New Drug (Version 2): The Mutants ( Fun Terminal - 1979)

Noises and Numbers: The Mutants (Curse of the Easily Amused - Recorded in 1979, Released in 2026)

Fairytales: The Freak Accident (The Midnight Show - 2026)

Cat Bird Seat: The Freak Accident (The Midnight Show - 2026)

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 #521: Subscribe Your Soul

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All of this, and I do mean every single, solitary inch of this is a scam. A swindle. A flim flam. You've been had. Grifted. You're a rube. 

Aren't we all?

What are you going to do about it? Just keep scrolling. Nothing to see here.

Monday night was all about pulling a fast one. I started out with some Bay Area punk, leading into a Pinkus-related set that was unintentional, but I really pulled it off. 

With the closing of Mutiny radio, we're bringing on a few new shows. I was happy to have Sean and the Archivist in the studio with me. Sean took on a set of his own (I marked those tunes with a "S"). I spoke to them both about their time at Mutiny and what we're to expect once they join the Radio Valencia family. 

I was once a part of the Pirate Cat community, and I even was instrumental in building their studio on 21st and Florida. I left that station (most do once Monkey gets tired of you), and eventually started Radio Valencia. Monkey left Pirate Cat and comedian Pam Benjamin took over, calling it Mutiny Radio. I prefer to think of other stations as part of the great community network of stations, so it's sad to see them go. I understand you can still hear the live stand up shows Pam is hosting on their site.

In the meantime, let's welcome these new shows. I could not be more excited for the programming happening at Radio Valencia in 2024.

And that's no joke.

Enjoy.

jh 

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

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Sugar Magnolia: Pop O Pie
The Sight and the Sound: Flipper
The Ninth Wave: The Ventures

Whiskey Woman: The Flamin' Goovies
Amazing Grace: Scott H Biram
Woke Up Dead: JD Pinkus

Deezy: Honky
Casino: Altamont
Captain Comedown: Melvins
Housing, Luxury, Energy: King Buzzo

Grizzly Adams/Anarchy Up Your Ass: Mr. Bungle
Drive Fast, Take Chances: Acid King
Sky Saw: Brian Eno - S
Needle in the Hay: Elliot Smith - S

Leipzig: Thomas Dolby - S
Midnight Hour: Wilson Pickett - S
Breakin' Up: Fabulous Continentals
I Need Love: J Michael and the Bushman 
Snitch Baby: Thee Headcoats
Jezebel: The Mummies

Common Man: Negativland
Wouldn't You Miss Me: Syd Barrett

When Fate Deals Its Mortal Blow: The Scientists
You Got It: Mudhoney

Hell's Kitchen Radio #428: Sold To Hell

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Well damn if that wasn't fun. During the week I'm always listening to music; my own collection and a lot of non-commercial radio: Radio Valencia, KALC and KFJC mostly. Thankfully the Shazam app exists. I cannot tell you how often I use that app. Personally I believe it to be the greatest app ever made in the history of app-kind. Quite possibly it's the greatest invention since the printing press! OK maybe since radio. What do I know? 

My point: many of the artists I still get turned onto come from listening to quality radio stations, with hosts who really know their music. 

What a time to be quarantined! 

I'm hoping we're allowed into our new studio soon. I miss having people to interview from week to week. And we've got these great new digs on 22nd street, right next door to the Make Out Room. I really hope they're able to survive this pandemic. Word came today that the iconic Revolution Cafe has closed their doors, permanently. I would fly my flag at half mast if I had one. 

Carrying on, here's a bunch of music that will sweep away the ennui, unless you get off on that kind of sensation? I will never yuck your yum. 

Brand new Melvins and Mr. Bungle are in the show, along with a lot of artists I don't think I have ever played on here before. Also some new Iggy Pop where he channels the spirit of a dead Welsh poet. Iggy can gargle salt water and I would still love how it sounds. 

I want to start featuring more local independent artists who I know have suffered through COVID-19. I've got some Kate Vargas and her man, Eric McFadden in the second hour. They could always use your love. 

See you next Monday starting at 6pm Pacific for my live bootleg bonanza, where I play full live shows from my live bootleg library. This blog has posts from the previous shows so you can take a look at what you missed. Then stick around from 8-10PM Pacific for my two hour music mix Hell's Kitchen Radio.

Enjoy.

jh

Fuck Around: Melvins
Gaze the Haze: Watchout!

Fascists Eat Donuts: Pop O Pies
Dead Man Walking: Praxis
Break Your Mind: The Darts

Kicker Conspiracy: The Fall
Colossal Youth: Young Marble Giants
Pool On A Plate: Naked Lights
Son of Mustang Ford: Swervedriver

Loss For Words: Mr. Bungle
Tippi Toes: Primus
The Sun and its Horizon: Bill Orcutt
Chik Chikka: Mulatu Astake and the Heliocentrics

The Partisan: Electrelane
Sold America: Damaged Bug
Kolbasti: Altin Gun
Lonesome Cowboy Bill: Velvet Underground
Panik: Bratmobile
Westgate: Amyl and the Sniffers

Shocks Almighty: Lee Scratch Perry
There's A Party: N.A.S.A. (feat. George Clinton and Chali 2na)
What A Man: Linda Lyndell
Got My Mojo Working: Ann Cole

7 Inches: Kate Vargas
Babydoll: Eric McFadden
Done Got Old: Heartless Bastards
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night: Iggy Pop

Certain Men: Negativland
Talkin' New York: Bob Dylan
Good Night, Sleep Tight: Lawrence Welk Singers

And because you need to watch Iggy deliver this classic Dylan Thomas poem, here it is:

A Season in Hell #137: In the OOOOOOZ

I've been a comic reader most of my life. Spiderman was my earliest hero, and it was he that took me through my formative years. I eventually made my way to Batman, via The Dark Knight series. That was some strong medicine, I tell you. Today, comics have made their way to the big screen, and it's like everyone is claiming that they've read every single issue of Ant Man, or Dr. Strange. There's money to be made, they'll tell ya!

Tonight, on my show, I'm happy to have Md Light, author of gen:oooz (pronounced gen ooooooooz). It's a dark tale of bioengineering gone wrong...or right, depending on how you see it. I love the dialectical approach. Md Light has his brain on hyperdrive for this one, as it's a strong story, full of deep symbolism from the very ancient to the futuristic utopian societies only Philip K. Dick could conjure up.

The interview takes up much of the first hour, along with lots of new music. The second hour and a half (I was on for an extra half hour tonight) is a grab bad of goodness.

There's something for the whole family.

To go on a streaming adventure, click here.
To download the secret formula, click here.
To enjoy all of my escapades, click here, or just scroll down.

Enjoy.

jh

Do It: Rollins Band
Punk (La vie antérieure): Deerhunter

Cockroach: Crocodiles
She's On Top: Sic Alps

Interview with Md Light

Summer Days: GRMLN
A Steady Stream of Love (Little Antoine & the Sparrows): Sonny Smith

Interview with Md Light

Sneaky n Sleazy: Unpopable
Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved: James Brown

Interview with Md Light

Dr. Mule: The Melvins
Black Betty: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Attitude: The Kinks
Art School: The Jam

Method of Error: Boris
In Every Dream Home a Heartache: Roxy Music
Carpe Diem: The Fugs
Timothy Leary Lives: Pop-O-Pies

I Come From the Mt.: Thee Oh Sees
Poison Apple: Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats
I Want to Marry a Lighthouse Keeper: Erika Eigen
Worship the Devil: Glitter Wizard

The Mercy Seat: Johnny Cash
Sly: Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters
Ring of Fire: Wall of Voodoo

Balm in Gilead: Rahsaan Roland Kirk