Hell's Kitchen Radio #597: Best of 2025

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

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

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

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 #585: Jello and Brimstone

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

This show was great fun to produce. I've got a trainee, Annika, in the studio with me and she put together a few really great sets (marked with "AD"). Her taste in international sounds is inspiring to say the least!

We've got a live fundraiser happening Sunday, October 19th, 1-6PM at GRNHS Gallery, 864 Folsom Street (b/w 5th and 6th). We've got three amazing bands, including Janky Band, Rustangs, and Fantasy!!! We also have been from 21st Amendment and non-alcohol for those who desire such. We'll also have some Radio Valencia shirts available.

We couldn't be more excited about this show. We love this gallery space, and these three bands are all known for bringing the heat.

This fundraiser is part rent party, part get the damn website and apps updated!!!

Please come down, or consider donating to our GoFundMe.

See you at the show.

As for this show, take a look at the playlist below, hit the play button at the top and enjoy.

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

I'm A Bad Indian: Dead Pioneers (single 2024)
Rocked By Rape: Evolution Control Committee (Plagiarythm Nation - 2003)

White Riot: The Clash (S/T - 1977)
Suburban Home: The Descendents (Milo Goes To College - 1982)

Children of the Revolution: Arto Lindsey and Marc Ribot (Great Jewish Music: Marc Bolan - 1998)

Candle: Sonic Youth (Daydream Nation - 1988)

White Bird: It's A Beautiful Day (S/T - 1968)

Nedine: Malouma (Nour - 2007) - AD

Petit Pays: Cesaria Evora (Cesaria - 1995) - AD

Tskheli Dzaghli: Niaz Diasamidze, 33A (Akhali Albomi) - AD

Chnam oun Dop-Pram Muy (I'm 16)  - AD

Nobody Go Run Me: King Short Shirt (Ghetto Vibes - 2003) - AD

Argos Farfish: Sharhabil Ahmed (Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection of Music from the Arab World - 2017) - AD

Exuma, The Obeah Man: Exuma (Exuma, The Obeah Man - 1970) - AD

Wake Up The Sun: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (Person - A - 2015)

You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You: Dean Martin (Dino: The Essential Dean Martin - 2004)

I Made A Wish: The Darts (Nightmare Queens - 2025)

Catch These Fists: Wet Leg (Moisturizer - 2025)

Emmaline: Urge Overkill (Supersonic Storybook - 1991)

400 Bucks: Reverend Horton Heat (Split with Supersuckers - 1993)

AA Warm Breeze : Thee Oh Sees (Split with Total Control - 2010)

Badi Sabah Olmadan: Altin Gün (Aşk - 2025)

Down in the Well: Bevis Frond (A Gathering of Fronds - 1992)

Fire and Brimstone: Death Valley Girls (B-side single - 2025)

Emotional Weather Report: Tom Waits (Nighthawks at the Diner - 1975)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #583: Hell Is An Energy

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

Shaking the rust off after being out for two weeks. All it takes is a track to start feeling fresh again, and this show is as fresh as you can get! It's also my birthday show, so I'm bringing a lot of favorites to the fore. I was asked if I was going to play all old songs that I love, which I can easily do, but there are so many new songs that I love too! That's the thing, when you listen to new music all the time, there is a lot to fall in love with.

Classics from Beastie Boys, Last Poets, Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall, Black Angels, Led Zeppelin, PIL, Melvins, Flipper, and Mudhoney. New music from GOAT, Wet Leg, The Darts, and Sahra Halgan. How many genres is that?

Celebrate my birthday with two hours of must-have-music!

I celebrated on my actual birthday, September 30th, by seeing Wet Leg at The Fox in Oakland! Hot damn, what a great show! I love this venue, and if you've been to The Fox, then you do too. And Wet Leg really brought the energy, throughout. They play practically every song off of their two full length releases. The crowd was pumped, and no doubt why. I hope you have the chance to check them out.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is this weekend. I've been going almost every year since it began in 2000. That's crazy that it's been going for 25 years. WTH?!?!?! I got to check out Dan Tyminski, Patti Griffin, Cimafunk (it is HARDLY STRICTLY for a reason), Jeff Tweedy, and Robert Earl Keen Jr. Don't be surprised if my next show features a few of these folks. It may be a hardly strictly show on Monday. 

Stay tuned.

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

Shake Your Rump: Beastie Boys (Paul's Boutique - 1989)
This is Madness: Last Poets (This is Madness - 1971)

I Come From The Mountain: Thee Oh Sees (Floating Coffin - 2013)

20th Century Boy: Ty Segall (Ty Rex - 2015)

Mission District: Black Angels (Directions to See a Ghost - 2008)

Motorcycle Boy: LA Witch (Play With Fire - 2020)

Four Sticks: Led Zeppelin (4th release - 1971)

Dollar Bill: GOAT (GOAT - 2025)

Mangetout: Wet Leg (Moisturizer - 2025)

Straws in the Wind: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (K.G. - 2020)

The Wizard: Brownout (Brown Sabbath Vol. 1 - 2014)

O.F.Y.C. Showcase: The Fall (Your Future Our Clutter - 2010)

Hold My Hand: Death Valley Girls (Under the Spell of Joy - 2020)

My Heart is a Graveyard: The Darts (Nightmare Queens - 2025)

Rise: PIL (Album - 1986)

Hag Me: Melvins (Houdini - 1993)

Sacrifice: Flipper (Gone Fishin' - 1984)

Loose: The Stooges (Fun House - 1970)

If I Think: Mudhoney (Superfuzz Bigmuff - 1989)

Sharaf: Sahra Halgan (Hiddo Dhawr - 2024)

So Much Wine: Barbara Manning (Convenience of Tomorrow - 2023)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #581: Last Goodbye

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

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

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

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

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

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

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

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

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

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

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

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 #577: Rock And Roll Itchy Poo

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

I went to Mosswood Meltdown last Saturday, and it was as good as I expected it to be. Niis, Prison Affair,

OSees and DEVO were the real standouts. The sun cleared for a while and I found myself relaxing under the shade of a tree in the vendors area. I bought myself some 45s (my motorcycle bags aren't large enough to hold LPs. I probably saved some money there).

I eventually found myself directly in front of the soundboard hanging out with a few friends, including our Radio Valencia staff photographer Sean Haley, who brought a bunch of die-cut Radio Valencia stickers for us to pass out. Thanks Sean! 

I've seen the OSees many times, and never tire of them. What a brilliant set they brought. This was my first time seeing DEVO, and WOW is all I can say. There's actually a lot more I can say. I can talk about how both Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale are still on top of their game after 50+ years. I can talk about the stellar video graphics projected
throughout the show. I can talk about the setlist that we all sang along with. It was that good.

I can also talk about showing up on Sunday just to find out that I never did purchase a ticket for that day. D'oh! I went home and streamed the day. Shannon and the Clams put on a brilliant set as they always do. 

Early bird tickets for Mosswood Meltdown 2026 are now on sale. And they are going fast!!! I got mine!

Tune into my Tuesday night Live Bootleg Bonanza and I'm sure you'll be hearing some of the sets from this year.

For tonight's show I played a bunch of the 45s I bought at the Meltdown. It's safe to say this is a very punk-forward program. But it's not exclusive. See the setlist below for details.

And then in the middle of the show I come to find out that Jonathan Richman was performing next door at the Make Out Room!!!!! What the what!!!! So I did what any self respecting DJ would do: I found some never before released bootleg demos of Modern Lovers and I played a track as the show was exiting. I really should have grabbed Jonathan for an interview; the fan boy that I am. Alas, he slipped away before I had a chance to even steal a photo of him.

He was there in support of singer-songwriter Jesse DeNatale and the Dreamers, who are playing every Monday night in July. Go see this show!

I'm heading to the Rock and Roll Flea Market on Alameda at Faction Brewing this Saturday afternoon,
followed by the US Finals Air Guitar Championship at The Independent Saturday night. I'll see you at both.

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

Dance, Dance, Dance To The Radio: M.O.T.O.
Right To Work: Chelsea
Selling Jeans for the USA: Thee Stash

Career Opportunities: The Clash

Hate The Police: The Dicks
9:11: The Outsideinside

No Corespondence: Cheater Slicks

The Fire of Love: The Gun Club

Maggie's Farm: Bob Dylan

When Fate Deals Its Mortal Blow: The Scientists

Ça Plane Pour Moi: Plastic Bertrand

Baby's On Fire: Ayres, Eno, Cale, Nico

Mangetout: Wet Leg
Just Got To Be: The Black Keyes

Show Me The Way: Dinosaur Jr.

I Shot All The Birds: The Blind Shake

Introduction/Frustrating Sound: Radio Moscow

I Don't Live Today: Jimi Hendrix Experience (LA Forum April 26, 1969)

Hard Drive: The Bell Rays

I Swallowed A Dragonfly: Heartless Bastards

No Homo: Lambrini Girls

Stunt Queen: Redd Kross

With Yo Heart Not Yo Hands: Melvins

Ride Down On The Highway (demo): Modern Lovers

Beef Bologna: Fear

Do It: Rollins Band

Petty Thief: Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments

Ha Ha Ha: Flipper
Fuck Donald Trump: YG (feat. Nipsey Hussle)

What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

Hell's Kitchen Radio #550: Inspiration Move Me Brightly

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

Inspiration comes in many forms, but for tonight it was a pile of vinyl and an old friend. We held a very rare in-person Radio Valencia meeting before my show with 18 members of our staff (35 current shows). One of our staffers, the Alchemist, Saturdays 6-10pm, has been a close friend of mine since we first met when working at Tower Records back in 1989. Yes, that's a longterm friend right there.

I recruited him over two years ago, since I knew he had excellent taste in music, and if he was interested, would host an impressive show. He has yet to disappoint.

After the meeting I invited the Alchemist to hang out in the studio with me for my show, and it pushed me to bring an even better show than I already strive for. This guy has taste and I did not wish to disappoint.

Plenty of new songs, including Robin Coomer, WAND, GOAT, the Linda Lindas, and Lorde covering Talking Heads. 

Dig This Inspired show.

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 Facebook
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram 

Dicks Hate The Police: The Dicks
What Do You Want From Life: The Tubes

Me and the Girls: Amyl and the Sniffers
Where Eagles Dare: Misfits

Whoopie Chateaux: Sgt. Splendor
In Dream Every Home A Heartache: Roxy Music
Attractive Target: Negativland
Isotope: McCoy Tyner and Joe Henderson

Yo Me Estreso: The Linda Lindas
I Will Kill for Suzy: Catheads

Close Call: Robin Coomer
High Time: WAND
The Rain: Eddie Gale

Dollar Bill: GOAT
Tally Ho: Psychedelic Porn Crumpets

Chaise Lounge: Wet Leg
Bodies: Sex Pistols
Eagles Over America: ShitKid

Pushing the Extremes: Wipers
Take Me To The River: Lorde

Cream Puff War: Widespread Panic
In The Great Gettin' Up In The Morning: The New Gospel Keys

Hell's Kitchen Radio #541: Let Us Be Your Drug Of Choice

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

You all need an exorcism from streaming services. The withdrawal is worth every drip of sweat and sleepless nights you are bound to experience. Those terrible voices in your head that will keep you up at night reminding you of the next recommended track you are missing when you cut them off cold turkey are going to hurt really bad. The headaches. The night sweats.The terrible desire to log back into your dealer, your pimp, the one who tells you they know what's best for you, for the low low price of $10 a month, but really, at the end of the day, all they want is your SOUL!!!! and $10 a month.

It's worth the pain.

Quit your dealer. Leave them on the street. Live on the right side of musical history.

I've got two hours of aural pleasure that will leave you wondering why you ever doubted the power of radio.

New music from The Bell Reys, and The Bell Reys who I saw at The Stork Club last weekend, along with Middle Aged Queers. GO SEE THAT BAND!!!

Lots of blues, funk, soul, punk, psych, metal, rock, and so much more than would ever be recommended for youknowwho. 

Enjoy and please be the one who tells your friends they too need to drop the apps...except ours.

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 

Theme Song: Middle Aged Queers
Peace Train: Cat Stevens
Tater Pie: Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee

Howlin' Wolf: Muddy Waters
Preachin' The Blues: Son House

13 Is My Number: Dave Alexander
Don't Tell It: James Brown
What It Is: Apollis

Whatever Turns You On: The Bell Rays
Azeta: Lafayette Afro Rock Band

Talk To God (Live): GOAT
Lament for the Aurochs: The Sword
People Who Died: Jim Carroll

Frogs: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Chasing the Bee: Mercury Rev

Roomful of Mirrors: The Pretenders

Chaise Lounge: Wet Leg

Daily Blues: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

Drugs on the Bus: Crystal Fairy

Hell's Kitchen Radio #532: Digital Gremlins

Listen to this show right here!!!

Listen into all my shows here!

Subscribe to my show, via 

Last Monday I had some bug up my butt about playing a bunch of local punk and then the whole thing went sideways, as it should. I'm a creature of habit and my radio habit is to keep myself guessing as much as you. I bring a stack of vinyl and throw something on. It's not rocket science! But the fun comes when I have to figure out what I'm going to play next. 

If I'm having a special or a tribute, then I have an idea of what I'm going to play set-by-set, but even writing that I'm giving myself more credit than I deserve. Really, I just throw a record on and let it direct me; sometimes it actually works!

Tonight I started out with some 70s punk, thinking it was going to rule the night, before I took a left turn with Sonic Youth. Then I wanted to get to current garage-psych-punk, so check out San Luis Obispo's Pancho and the Wizards, who I saw open for Australia's Psychedelic Porn Crumpets at The Independent a few weeks back.

Then I jumped back to the punk with classic San Francisco's Pop-O-Pies. I was crate-digging at a store I will not divulge, and grabbed this treat. Hot damn, it's a fun one.

I opened the next set with a gift to my little one, Bodhi. He's six years old and obsessed with steam trains, and that's putting it lightly. The Amtrak conductors know him by name. I'm not joking. I used to tale him to a local station to watch the trains go by almost daily for three years. He wants to rebuild old steam trains. I truly believe that he believes one day he will do this. Adorable. Anyway, I played his latest jam: "Wreck of the Old 97", as sung by the late great Johnny Cash. 

I hate this song now. Don't tell Bodhi

After a couple Americana and Swing tunes I jumped back into the subversive punk, before celebrating Jello Biafra's birthday with a few tunes. 

I closed out the night with some of my more preferred garage-punk from the past few years.

Why did I write all this? No real clue. Just started typing and here ya go. 

I'm back doing a show live in the studio each week, so please set your calendars for Mondays 8-10PM Pacific.

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 Facebook
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram 

Pablo Picasso: The Modern Lovers
Subway Train: Johnny Thunders

Waiting For The Man: David Bowie
Superstar: Sonic Youth

Die By The Sword: Pancho and the Wizards
Bill's Mandolin: Psychedelic Porn Crumpets
The Catholics Are Attacking: Pop-O-Pies

Wreck of the Old 97: Johnny Cash
King of California: Dave Alvin
Teardrops From My Eyes: Ray Condo and His Ricochets

All the Girls Cry: Toiling Midgets
Swastikas On Parade: The Residents
Diamonds in the Rough: Dead Moon

Kill The Poor: Dead Kennedys
Sharks in the Gene Pool: Jello Biafra with Nomeansno
Lost Orgasm: Jello Biafra
Will the Fetus Be Aborted: Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon
My Biggest Mistake: Joan of Arkansas

Toe Cutter/Thumb Buster: Thee Oh Sees
Handglams: Ty Segall
Pink Gorilla/Enthusiasm/Be Right Too: White Fence

Chaise Lounge: Wet Leg