Hell's Kitchen Radio #602: Tell Me Lies

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Hosting bands is a real treat when you're in radio. I remember being young in the radio game and getting nervous whenever I knew I had a recording artist coming onto my show. I did not want to mess this up. In those days at KFJC, most of the artists I would interview were either big names (George Clinton), or no names (you name it, they probably aren't around anymore). Either way I needed to be prepared.

And preparing pre-Internet was a chore. If the name was known (James Brown), the prep was simple (a brief history and mostly current project, tour, etc.). If they were a younger band with an album out, then I hoped there was enough bio info on the sleeve to help me prepare. Maybe the label would send something over?

The biggest lesson I learned about interview was to be a better listener. The best interviews are the ones where the follow-up questions are relevant and strong. I want to probe; get to the root. You will know the answer to my questions, but I want you to pause and reflect before you respond. My favorite response will always be "that's a really good question".

Over the years I've taken pride in how well I facilitate an interview. I've had many of my subjects state this was the best interview they've ever had. That's incredibly flattering. I love having my guests, famous or not, feel completely comfortable behind the mic. Some interviews I've hosted with bands have been so good I've invited them back with the caveat they need to guest DJ with me the nest time they're in. They love that, and many have taken me up on it.

Tonight I had Roman from P.O.S. in the studio promoting his upcoming show at the Mabuhay Gardens (FabMab) where he'll be turning 19!!! This was his first radio show, and I loved the conversation. He was so honest and vulnerable, and present. I could not ask for a better subject to talk with. 

Roman has a deep thrash metal pedigree. His father and uncle were in Death Angel, and band I loved while growing up in San Mateo in the 80s. Roman continues this tradition of quality thrash, with blinding-fast guitar, pounding rhythms, and timely lyrics about what it is to be a youth in today's society, living at the end of gangster capitalism.

They have a Bandcamp page where you can find their demo, which we played all four songs on the show. See the playlist below.

Come to Roman's birthday show this Saturday at the FabMab. You may just see me in the pit!

Do you have a band you want interviewed on Radio Valencia? Hit me up via email with music attached and I'll get in touch.

You may have heard the news that Jello Biafra suffered a stroke on Sunday. We're looking into the possibility hosting a fundraiser for him, but want to talk with him first. Stay tuned to the Radio Valencia socials for this.

We're also working on a summer show at On Broadway with their amazing crew, two of whom were in the
studio with me Monday night. Daniel "Asterisk" Haver, and Empress Katrina Zanotto hung out to talk music and running the most important club in San Francisco music history (IMHO). Daniel admitted to two things that you'll need to listen into to find out about. 

There's much to enjoy about this here show, even if there was a bit more roommate radio than I prefer. We laughed a lot, and that's what's most important.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

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Green Green Grass of Home: Tom Jones (Greatest Hits - 1967)
Stars and Stripes of Corruption: Dead Kennedys (Frankenchrist - 1985)
The Money Will Roll Right In: Fang (Land Shark - 1982)

Interview with Roman of P.O.S.

Deceiver: P.O.S.
Isolation: P.O.S.
Inhumanity: P.O.S.
Mauled: P.O.S.

Interview with Roman of P.O.S.

Rebel: The Viletones (7" - 1977)

Sit on My Face Stevie Nicks: The Rotters (7" - 1978)
You Say You Love Me: The Headcoatees (Here Comes Cessation - 1997)

Love Whip: Reverend Horton Heat (Smoke 'em if you Got 'em - 1990)

Cornfed Dames: The Cramps (A Date with Elvis - 1986)

She's The One That's Got It: Allen Page (7" - 1958)

The Girl Can't Dance: Bunker Hill (7" - 1963 with Link Wray)

Do You Have A Job For A Girl Like Me: The Delinquents (7" - 1973)

Your Ass Is Next In Line: The Mummies (Never Been Caught - 1992)
Batman and Robin Over The Rooftops: Sun Ra (Batman & Robin - 1966)

Would It be Worth It: Hands of Time (7" - 1969???)

Sloppy Drunk Blues: Big Joe Williams (Tough Times - 1960)

John The Relevator: Scott H. Biram (Sold Out To The Devil - 2019)
You Got Me: Theoretical Girls (7" - 1978)

Mexican Radio: Wall of Voodoo (Call of the West - 1982)

White Girl: X (Wild Gift - 1981)

Tell Me That You Love Me: James Brown and His Famous Flames (7" - 1966)

Egyptian Shumba: The Tammys (7" - 1964)

What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong (What A Wonderful World - 1967)

The Way We Were: Wild Man Fischer and Mark Mothersbaugh (1989 for Pee Wee's Playhouse's final episode)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #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 #486: Myles Boisen

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I love having talented folks in the studio to interview. There's something about being able to ask those questions about their art that really gets me going. Monday night I was honored to have long time Bay Area guitarist, producer, engineer Myles Boisen drop in to talk about his latest project "No Accident", a mostly prepared piano collection. He was kind enough to bring a bunch of his other recordings, including solo efforts, and tracks produced with his former band, Splatter Trio. He's played on quite a few sessions over the years, including Tom Waits and David Lynch. We spoke about all of this and much more.

I neglected to ask him about his tunings! Dang. Just an excuse to have him on with me again!

What a treat!

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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Rawhide: Dead Kennedys
Hey Good Lookin': The Residents
Get Me Religion: Scott H Biram
You Got To Move: Memphis Minnie

Interview with Myles Boisen

He Bade Her Farewell: Myles Boisen
Little Rootie Tootie: Myles Boisen

Interview with Myles Boisen

Just A Gigolo: Thelonious Monk
The Mumbler: Splatter Trio

Interview with Myles Boisen

Dark Spanish Symphony 50s Version: Wild At Heart OST with Myles Boisen
Knife Chase: Tom Waits
Ital Dub: Joseph's Bones
Travelin' In Dub: Lee Perry

Interview with Myles Boisen

The Hokey Locus: John Schott
I'm Your Man: Mark Growden
The Commuter: Myles Boisen
Life By Another Name: Fred Frith

Interview with Myles Boisen

Returning/Summer: Myles Boisen
Sliding Home: Crying Time
Bronze Puppet: Nubdug Ensemble

Crazy: Myles Boisen's Past, Present, Future

Hell's Kitchen Radio #482: You Had Me At Love Whip

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A very inspired show tonight. Maybe it's the great music I've been listening to that I couldn't wait to share with you? Maybe it's the fact that I had a lot of time to choose my music before my show? Maybe it was the many people who came in and out of the studio and I really wanted to play some great music for them as well? Whatever the reason, this was a great show to host.

There's some psychabilly, psychedelia, funk, soul, folk, retro, goth, prog, jazz, classic rock, and even a dirty old one man band!

Hot damn, there's a lot for everyone here. Try that, Spotify! And you know what, they can't. Even Shazam gets stumped by some of what I play. That's what's so great about non-commercial community radio! You have hosts that know the music, not some algorithm that is programmed to tell you what to like. Do you know that program directors at commercial radio stations are now using Spotify to help them program their stations? Where's the human touch? 

Radio Valencia brings the human touch in spades! 

The Radio Valencia studio is looking better each week: new paint job and soundproofing. We're getting our logo on the awning out front next week! Thanks to our engineering team (aka: JazzNazz) we have the turntables and CD players working better than ever! But we still need you. This is an out-of-pocket venture. Bringing you great programming is our mission, and we can really use your help. Please consider donating to Radio Valencia by going to our PayPal (we are financially sponsored by SF IndieFest) and throwing a few bones our way. Every dime is spent on station needs (rent and equipment mostly). I thank you in advance.

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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Love Whip: Reverend Horton Heat
Some Velvet Morning: Vanilla Fudge

Move Your Hand: Lonnie Smith
I Wanna Be Free: New York Underground Funk Band

Venomous Dogma: Fantastic Negrito
Only Son Of The Ladiesman: Father John Misty
Cold Pillows: Shannon Shaw

Said Goodbye To That Car: Marissa Nadler
Fever Dreams: Scott H Biram
Man's World: Crow Jane

Odd Octubree: brandUn DeShay (ft. Tyler the Creator, Casey Veggies, MF Doom)
Blue Jay Way: The Beatles
Les Vents: Population II

Friday Morning: Khruangbin
Loran's Dance: Idris Muhammad
Darkest Light: Lafayette Afro Rock Band

Madman Across The Water (Piano Demo): Elton John

The Creole Love Call: Roland Kirk
Zombie: CW Stoneking
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

Hell's Kitchen Radio #475: Proto-Post-Perv-Punk

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Oh wow that was really fun. There are those nights when everything just clicks. This was one of those nights. The tunes, the transitions, the mic breaks, and almost 100% of the equipment worked better than expected. That's saying something.

I've been doing this a long time, and others prepare their sets down to the minute, choosing just the right tracks days before their show, and it really shows. I've never been that way. Never. I bring a heap load of music with me, mostly vinyl, but I do have a small CD case I'll reload every so often, and then there's my external HD, loaded with my latest digital acquisitions. BTW, when I buy a new record, I love getting both the vinyl and the digital download. What a world we live in!

Lots of new music tonight, featuring Ty Segall, Kikagaku Moyo, The Bobby Lees, Dogbowl (thanks Jim!), Willie Nelson, Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder, and Boris. There's some Jazz, Punk, Blues, "Gospel", Psychedelic, Proto-Punk, British Prog, and much more. 

Let's see your local commercial radio station even come close to what you get on Radio Valencia.

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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Money: The Flying Lizards
Shot Down: Frisco

Hello - Hi: Ty Segall
Girlfriend: Death Valley Girls

Dancing Blue: Kikagaku Moyo
Venus in Furs: Velvet Underground
TV Eye: The Stooges

Hollywood Junkyard: The Bobby Lees
Original Faubus Fables: Charles Mingus

I See The Light/What's His Name: Scott H. Biram
On My Own: Dogbowl with Jim F

We're Not Happy (Til You're Not Happy): Willie Nelson
Diggin' My Potatoes: Sonny Terry

The Midnight Special: Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder
Tombstone Shadow: Creedence Clearwater Revival
Master of the Universe: Hawkwind
New Potato Caboose: Grateful Dead

Frontier Glitch: Strike Anywhere
Frail Bray: Western Addiction
Summer Trip: Decent Criminal
Give Me The Cure; Fugazi

Eros: Boris + Endon

Hell's Kitchen Radio #473: Keeping Clever Pennies On Your Eyes

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Holy Hell did tax day give me a swift kick in the pants. I really needed this show to distract from the pain. That being said, I'm not against paying taxes; not in the least. I want my children to have great parks, and schools and roads. I want water and air to be clean, and I do not trust the private one iota to care for any of this. So I'll pay the bill. And I won't complain about it. 

And I won't tell you how to feel about it.

You came for the music. And so did I.

I saw the best show last weekend: Scott H. Biram along with JD Pinkus and Shovelman. I was a Radio Valencia co-presents, which I MCd with Ace from RV. We had the Geezer spinning tunes between acts. What a fabulous show filled three solo acts, each remarkable in their own way. Seeing Pinkus was great, since he and I chat it up a lot on Instagram. It was like visiting an old friend. Shovelman is a local boy, as far a Willits is concerned. But he also used to perform with the Vau de Vier Society, as have a number of friends of mine, so I felt kinship with him right away. And that damn shovel! Who knew?

If you haven't seen Scott H. Biram, then do yourself a fine favor and get out to the show when he's in town. He's got fire and brimstone burning in his soul, right along side the fire of the lord themselves. he can go from gospel blues to Slayer in the same stanza! What a treat!

I really enjoy the co-presents we've been doing at Bottom of the Hill. Come on out Tuesday. April 26th to see Jon Spencer and the HITmakers. It's sure to be a treat. I played some new Jon Spencer later in this here show.

What else did I play? I played music from both Pinkus and Biram, so you'll get a taste of what you missed. There's some African guitar wizardry from Mdou Moctar, new Pink Floyd (yes, I said NEW) featuring Ukranian singer Andriy Khlynyuk, Swedish psych from Dungen, schizophrenic rock from Wesley Willis, 25th anniversary tune from Sleater-Kinney, classic Primus, and re-released The Fall, live from 1981.

You just can't get this in too many places. Allow me to be your one stop musical shop.

See you at the next show. Speaking of next shows, Radio Valencia is gearing up for another live fundraiser at Make Out Room in late June. Stay tune for details.

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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Tax Man: The Beatles
Wake Up The Sun: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Been Down Too Long: Scott H. Biram
He's Doing Time In Jail: Wesley Willis with Wesley Willis Fiasco

Is The Season For New Incarnations: Brigid Dawson and the Mother's Network
Tala Tannam: Mdou Moctar
Ljus In I Min Panna (Light in my pan): Dungen

Hey, Hey Rise Up: Pink Floyd ft. Andriy Khlyvnyuk
I Belong To The Beat Generation: Bob and Don
Kyiv Calling: Beton

You Look Funny When You Cry: JD Pinkus
Miss You: The Concretes
March of the Cicadas: Carlton Melton

Dig Me Out: Sleater-Kinney
John The Fisherman: Primus
Dawn of the Falconer: Hot Fog

Junk Man: Jon Spencer and the HITmakers
Enemy of My Enemy: All Them Witches
O.G.: Big Business
Totally Wired: The Fall

Boungoumoune: Orchestre Massako
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong