Hell's Kitchen Radio #559: Not My President Special

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

Well, you know, it's always a protest, even in the best of times. Use it, or lose, amiright?

Having a radio show on a Monday means I get to host a lot of national holidays. This isn't my first go-round on President's Day, but it sure feels like an extra special one, if you ask me. And it being Black History Month I felt that I could do a pretty good mash-up to boot.

Folks, it's official, we have a fascist for president. You can't say we don't. Even when people were claiming Shrub (George W. You, know: little Bush) was one, I was always quick to point out that he didn't fit the definition well enough, but if we aren't careful he'll set the stage for some else to come in who truly is one. Well, what do ya know? 

You disagree? That's fine. Tell me all about it in the comment section. I've been teaching history, civics and law for over 20 years now. When you have seen and taught what I have, the boxes get checked.

So luckily I have this here radio show that I can use, until they pry away from my cold, dead hands, to play you the music and share the commentary that you just aren't getting on other radio stations. Even the non-comms like KEXP, KFJC, WFMU, aren't talking openly about the politics of the day. And though Radio Valencia does not endorse a specific political point of view, we allow our DJs to share how they're feeling about the issues of the day. Just offer the disclaimer in there somewhere.

As for the music, it's a fabulous grab bag of funky, punky, junky and political delights.

And thank you all once again for contributing to our first ever "on air" fundraiser. We raised just short of $3000, all of which will go right into operations including a new and improved website coming soonish.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

Follow me on Blue Sky
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook
Follow Radio Valencia on Instagram

If There's A Hell Below: Curtis Mayfield
I'm A Conservative: Iggy Pop

Democracy: Leonard Cohen
This Is Not Normal: Negativland

My Favorite Mutiny: The Coup
The Pusher: Nina Simone
Prison Song: System of a Down
Nazi Punks Fuck Off: Dead Kennedys
Eric B Is President: Eric B and Rakim

Funky President: James Brown
When The Revolution Comes: The Last Poets
It Is What It Is (remix): Drumpf
I'm So Bored With the USA: The Clash

The American In Me: The Avengers
Freedom of Choice: Devo
Fascists Eat Donuts: Pop O Pies
Blowfly for President (feat. Afroman): Blowfly

My Uzi Weighs A Ton: Public Enemy
Rocket Reducer No. 62 (fa la la la la): MC5
Liilalaw: Sahra Halgar

For The Last Time: Freckle
As Tears Go By: Marianne Faithful

Talk To God: GOAT
Good Night, Sleep Tight: Lawrence Welk

Hell's Kitchen Radio #511: No Shame In My Game

Listen in right HERE

Listen into all my shows here!
Subscribe to my show, via 

My high school years (84-88) were mostly spent in San Mateo, California; about 15 miles south of San Francisco. It was a really great place to grow up in the 80s. I was the kind of kid who enjoyed making my way across the high school campus at lunch, talking to many different kids of groups. In the immortal words of Edie McClurg, I was pretty close to "the sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads". I was also one to bring many of these groups together, especially at weekend parties.

I used to hang out with the Odeski brothers: Scott, Howie and Nicki. These three were close in age and loved one another as much as they could hate on one another. I think Scott and Howie had a fight with baseball bats at one time? Their mother owned a lot of property in Foster City (right next to San Mateo), and local officials wanted her to sell much of that property to the city, which she regularly declined, so local law enforcement would harass her sons, often arresting on trumped up charges and then not following through, just to intimidate the family. They were used to it. Foster City cops were notorious in their intimidation tactics towards teens as it was. I learned to hate cops then and there. 

They had a big home, and turned their 2-car garage into Nicki's bedroom. And what a room! They put in the work to make it the real deal, along with video games, foosball table, pool table, television, bar, neon signs, and a sweet stereo. 

This is where I got my earliest education on Rap and Hip Hop. To be honest, we all called it Rap. I'm not sure when Hip Hop entered the vernacular, but it wasn't around us in the 80s.

Nicki was always playing Rap. He did a lot of record shopping and had the latest 12". LL Cool J, Eric B and Rakim, Ice T, NWA, Public Enemy, Kool Moe Dee, Salt and Peppa, BDM, Biz Markie, Schoolly D, Slick Rick, Too Short, Too Live Crew, and so much more.

I was a DJ at the very popular local ice rink, Ice Capades Chalet, at Fashion Island Mall, nearby. I bought records every week for that job, so I was also buying 45s and 12"s of these artists and so many more. I was also very much into punk, metal, psych and the Grateful Dead, so it's safe to say my early music education was expanding by leaps and bounds with Rap being added in.

I was also working for Good Vibrations Mobile DJs, spinning at weddings (oh so many weddings), school dances, birthday parties, and more. I was allowed to bring the DJ console to my high school every so often to spin at lunch in the quad. That was so much fun. I recall one instance when I placed "Walk This Way" by Run DMC on the turntable and let it roll. It was a huge hit at that time, and I really enjoyed it. Half way through the tune I slowly dragged the needle across the record (SACRILEGIOUS!!!!!) and then started up the Aerosmith version. I did for affect, obviously. I think I even made some comment on the mic like "this isn't how it's supposed to go...riiiiiiiiiipppppp. Here ya go!" So lame, but I was 16, so what do you want?

My years at KFJC (88-97) just added to my growing appreciation of Rap and Hip Hop. And what an excellent era it was for that genre. 

So on Monday night I wanted to pay tribute to this long-lasting and ever-evolving genre. I am truly happy it wasn't the fad that so many said it would be. This show isn't any kind of retrospective; it's just me playing some of my favorites in two hours. I kept the mic breaks to a minimum so the music would tell the tale. And yes, most of what I played was released between 87-95. That's my favorite era! 

That's not to say there isn't a lot happening now that I don't love. I'm a big MF Doom fan, as well as Kendrick Lamar, and many more. I still shy away from pop of any genre, so the pop Hip Hop doesn't do anything for me. 

I may bring Little Lauson Hell on again soon for her to play her favorite Hip Hop of this past decade. She has a lot on her playlist that I need to dive deep into. 

Enjoy and please share this gem.

Happy 50th Hip Hop! Let's hear it for many more awesome decades to come!

jh

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

Follow me on Facebook
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram 

Laugh, Love, Fuck: The Coup
JBs Comin' Through: Jungle Brothers
The Cactus: 3rd Bass

Car Thief: Beastie Boys
Potholes In My Lawn: De La Soul
Resurrection: Common
Am I Black Enough For Ya: Schoolly D

Ten Crack Commandments: Notorious BIG
Protect Your Neck: Wu Tang Clan
Don't Believe The Hype: Public Enemy

Buck Whylin': Terminator X
One Time For The Rebel: Son of Bazerk
Back in the Old Days of Hip Hop: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

Earth People: Dr. Octagon
Run This Town: Jay-Z (featuring Rihanna)
Come On Down: Big Daddy Kane
Soul Brother #1: Pete Rock and CL Smooth
I'm On The Mic: KRS-One

Rapp Snitch Knishes: MF Doom
Search 4 The Lyte: MC Lyte
Samba Soul: N.A.S.A. (featuring DJ Qbert, Q-Tip and Del the Funkee Homosapien)

Steady Mobbin': Ice Cube
No Shame in My Game: Gang Starr
Sucker MCs: Run DMC

Brother Rap: James Brown

Hell's Kitchen Radio #419: We Finally Made It To The End And All I Got Was This Lousy Virus

Download The Merriment HERE! 

Listen into all my shows here!
Subscribe to my show, via 
Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!

The end is nigh. And what are your plans? Are you going to head out and revel with your friends, sans mask, giving hugs, kisses, high fives and COVID to each other, and your beloved Nana upon returning home? Good for you for removing yourself from the gene pool. Unfortunately, you're also risking others just to play around on amateur night. 

Stay home, watch a movie, drink a glass of bubbly (alcoholic or non), and head off to bed without anything to regret. We have next year, and all of our loved ones to consider.

Thanks in advance. 

This here is my year-end show. There's a bunch of my faves from 2020, but this isn't a "Best of..." show in the least. There's a bunch of other tunes tossed in from across the ages. In retrospect I really should have played "I Want To Be Sedated". Hmmmmm, just pretend I did, and click on the video link at the bottom.

Let's all just agree that 2020 was relatively bad for everyone around the world, and move on, shall we? I mean really now, a pandemic puts everything else into perspective. You had a bad year? Oh, I am so sorry. WE ALL HAD A BAD YEAR. Your year sucked extra special bad? WOW! You must really want to win some award. This show is for you then. And only you. 

Enjoy.

jh

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

Follow Radio Valencia on Twitter
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram

Little Drummer Boy: Lou Rawls
I Want To Be Evil: Eartha Kitt
Desolation Row (alternate take): Bob Dylan

Gate Crasher: Alice Bag
The Sun and its Horizon: Bill Orcutt
Laugh, Love, Fuck: The Coup

I'm Glad I Could Help Out: King Buzzo and Trevor Dunn
Tougher: Dale Crover
In The Pines: Fantastic Negrito
Abre Camino: Death Valley Girls

Badder Than Bullets: Tommy Guerrero
Wing Ruin: Oh Sees
Lock and Key: KnightressM1
Pull Up The People: MIA
Slavery Days: Burning Spear

Are You Glad To Be In America: James Blood Ulmer
Melvana: East New York Ensemble de Music
Cymbaline: Pink Floyd

Silver Machine: Hawkwind
Ride Your Pony: The Meters
Mr. Tamborine Man: William Shatner
The Hipster Be Bop Junkie: William S Burroughs

Auld Lange Syne: Bob Johnson and the Lonesome Travelers
I Bid You Goodnight: Joseph Spence & The Pinder Family

***Happy New Year to you and yours. Stay safe.***

Hell's Kitchen Radio #333: Half The Beast

Stream the Horror HERE!

Download the Thrills HERE!
Listen into all my shows here!
Subscribe to my show, via 

Where were you when it happened? Where did you hear the news? Who were you with? What were you doing at the time? How did you feel upon initially experiencing this? Who did you tell first? How did you tell them? What was their reaction?

All this and more in my most recent show.

Such a fabulous selection of punk, funk and junk for your earholes to enjoy.

I'm taking next Monday off to go see Ty Segall perform in Berkeley. There will be a Hell's Kitchen Radio classic scheduled, but you may hear another Radio Valencia DJ taking the controls for the night.

jh

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

Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Facebook
Follow Radio Valencia on Twitter
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram

The Lady Loves Me: Elvis Presley/Ann Margaret
So What: Miles Davis

Sunday Morning: Kelly Stoltz
Love Addict: Honey and the Bees
Makin' The Freeway: Firehose
Hit it and Quit it: Funkadelic

Alice: Meatbodies
Taking Too Long: The Wipers
School Teacher: Bob Seger

Come On Over Turn Me On: Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan
Shapes of Things: Jeff Beck Group
Lover, You Should Have Come Over: Jeff Buckley

Expert: PragVEC
Don't Try To Lay No Boogie Woogie on the King of Rock and Roll: Long John Baldry

It's A Shame: First Aid Kit
Anti-Parent Cowboy Killers: Joanna Gruesome
Hear My Train A'Comin': Jimi Hendrix

Get Down Moses: Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
Cars and Shoes: The Coup
Lust For Life: NY Loose

Alta: Ty Segall
Pittsburgh to Lebanon: Butthole Surfers
The Geeks Were Right: The Faint

Roscoe: Midlake

Hell's Kitchen Radio #282: 6th Annual ANNUAL ANNUAL - 2006

Stream another fine year, HERE!
Download your youth, HERE!
Listen into all my shows here, or just scroll down

Way way back in 2011 I had this desire to feature 1971 on my show. What a great year that was for music. This was when bands like Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones were still considered young and relevant. Following this show I made an executive decision to annually feature another great year during the month of November. Preparing for this year's show I was eager to share a more recent year with you. 2006 stood out to me even while we were deep in it. Taking a look at the playlist below I think you'll agree.

I didn't get to nearly all the artists and tracks I wanted to play during my sixth annual ANNUAL ANNUAL, but this here is smattering of the genius that was 2006.

If you're interested in my previous five ANNUAL ANNUAL shows, click the links below.

ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1971
ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1972
ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1973
ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1974
ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1975

See you next ANNUAL ANNUAL. Er, I mean see you next week.

Enjoy.

jh

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

Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Facebook
Follow Radio Valencia on Twitter
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram

The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song: The Flaming Lips
Black Mountain: Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan
Black Sweat: Prince

They Call Me Flava: Public Enemy
Aliens: Dr. Octagon
Living Proof: Cat Power

Jihad: Slayer
Run Devil Run/The Big Guns: Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
Jams Run Free: Sonic Youth
Like the 309: Johnny Cash

Freya: The Sword
Beyond the Horizon: Bob Dylan
You Don't Know Me: Willie Nelson
Laugh/Love/Fuck: The Coup

A History of Drunks: The Melvins
Make Them Suffer: Cannibal Corpse
It Is Us: Mudhoney
Backstage Girl: DJ Shadow

What Keeps Mankind Alive: Tom Waits
If Looks Could Kill: Camera Obscura
Wherever You Go: Built To Spill
Mr. Tough: Yo La Tengo

Akuma No Kuma: Sunn O))) and Boris

One band that didn't make it onto the show this year was Texas' own Midlake. Their sophomore effort "The Trials of Van Occupanther" was a real winner in the Hell household starting in 2006. It still gets a lot of play during road trips. Below is the video for "Roscoe".