Hell's Kitchen Radio #522: Tell Me True

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Mondays are fun days...for me. I was realizing I have been hosting a radio show Mondays 8pm since 2000, when I started at San Francisco Liberation Radio. SFLR's history is a rich one and I encourage you to check it out. In short, it was started by Food Not Bombs. They were upset that their arrests for feeding the homeless weren't getting enough media attention, so member Richard Edmondson started the station in his van. Eventually it ended up in his apartment in the Richmond District.

I was working at Trader Joe's in Daly City when I saw a shopper wearing a SFLR t-shirt. I had to inquire. They hipped me to the station, I made a call, and started there a few weeks later.

The rest, as they say, is history. And what a history it is, including the raid by the FCC using SFPD. We were a very politicized staff. And we were a pirate radio station, so it was only a matter of time before the Man came knocking. Or more like battering ramming, which they did.

We fought the good fight, and even set some precedent in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Because of our fight urban areas are allowed to file for low power FM (LPFM) licenses. Before our case against the feds, the FCC policy only allowed rural areas to file for a LPFM. Yay SFLR!

I left there after the raid, ended up at Pirate Cat, then FCCFree, and eventually built Radio Valencia, all hosting the Monday 8pm slot. Time flies.

As for this show, it's more of what you have come to expect: diverse, and leaning punk. But there's quite a bit more than that, including a couple sets from a new member of our staff: The Archivist, who will be on Sundays 8-10pm Pacific. Coincidentally, he used to be a student of mine many moons ago. He has excellent musical taste, which has nothing to do with me. 

There's a tribute to Wayne Kramer, who passed away last week, and a happy birthday to Bob Marley. 

Oh, one final comment about Mondays: the Giants have a winning record on Monday nights. True story.

Huge thanks to my old buddy Scott Beale of Laughing Squid for coming by back in 2003 to take these great photos.

And another big thanks to Amacker for the pics she took of the SFLR benefit in October 2003, following the FCC raid.

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 Sails of Charon: Scorpions
El Cerrito: Thinking Fellers Union Local 282

My Uzi Weighs A Ton: Brownout
Bodyheat: James Brown

By The Time I Get To Arizona: Evolution Control Committee
By The Time I Get To Phoenix: Dean Martin
White Man's Got A God Complex: The Last Poets
Superbad: Idris Muhammad
Cannibal Capital: Guerrilla Toss - The Archivist

Almost Ready: Dinosaur Jr. - The Archivist
Something You Can't See: Desert Session - The Archivist
Geza Butler: Sleep - The Archivist
Now Ah Lissen
East Bay: Billy Cobham - The Archivist

Poison: Wayne Kramer with Melvins
Skunk (Sonically Speaking): MC5

The Bell: Ty Segall
Pray Til You Sweat: The Flesh Eaters

Doin' The Kirk: The Mummies
Zip Code Gentlemen: Zip Code Rapists
The Citadel: Redd Kross
Radio One: The Clash

Slave Driver: Bob Marley and the Wailers
Fishermen Dub: Lee Scratch Perry

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 #520: Hellage Nightmare

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New year, new Hell! You know what I mean? Raise your hand if you are just loathing what this year is going to bring? I'm talking about November 2024. I know. I know. I'm not going to get too far ahead of myself. Seriously though, we need to place our attention on local, national and global issues, along with our own day-to-day existence. How are we supposed to juggle all of this? 

Make time for the things that bring you the most joy. Can you play an instrument? Play it for 30 minutes a day. Do you love to paint? Pull out those brushes and get at it! Mediate? Read? Exercise? Do whatever brings you joy. We need the balance or we'll go nuts.

And turn off the damn phone!

Hi, my name is John and I'm addicted to my phone.

I've made it a habit for many years now to plug my phone in at 8PM in the kitchen. It's so nice to set that thing down. I also read an interesting study recently that said people who get at least six hours sleep a night and have a routine sleep schedule are healthier than those who get eight hours or more a night but have no sleep schedule. I'm in bed by 10:30 every work night. 

I don't ever have new year's resolutions, but I do have the intention of maintaining my sleep routine, which includes turning the phone off by 8.

My biggest intention for this coming year is to turn you on to the best music I can find...and fight to keep the orange buffoon out of office, and for a permanent ceasefire in Palestine.

Check out my first show of the year, below, which includes music I purchased in 2023. New music from Iggy Pop, Bobby Lees, OSees, King Gizzard, Lucinda Williams, Lukas Nelson, Cory Hanson, Death Valley Girls, and The Darts. New finds from Gram Parsons, Neil Young, Fela Kuti, Sun Ra, and Sonic Youth. I close out the show with some classic San Francisco Punk. I'm reading a great new book on the history of Bay Area Punk: "Who Cares Anyway", by Will York. Holy Hell is this a great book.

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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Frenzy: Iggy Pop

Be My Enemy: The Bobby Lees

Intercepted Message: OSees

Barmy: The Fall

Gilgamesh: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

Perambulator: Fela Kuti and Africa 70

Last Call for the Truth: Lucinda Williams

Every Time I Drink: Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real

Drugstore Truck Driving Man: Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels

Powderfinger: Neil Young

Persuasion Architect: Cory Hanson

Journey To Dog Star: Death Valley Girls

Eric's Trip; Sonic Youth

Makeup: Sun Ra and His Outer Space Arkestra

Love Song: The Darts

Moonage Daydream: David Bowie (for his 77th birthday today)

19th Nervous Breakdown: Tuxedomoon

Cheap Tragedies: Avengers

Murder By Guitar: Crime

I Kill Children: Dead Kennedys

Hell's Kitchen Radio #519: Satan's Commode with Spawn

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I was really really looking forward to this show and it paid off in spades! My fabulous daughter, once known as Little Lauson Kai, told me that she was going to take over my show Monday night for two hours of musical whiplash. 

Now known as Spawn, she put together a really fine program, including interviewing me during the breaks! I was not prepared for that part. 

Lauson has been coming into the studio with me since she was seven years old. Now 19, she's got wonderful musical taste, and a gift for gab. I wonder where all that came from? 

As for her selections, I could not be more impressed. Seriously, there were a few tunes I was not aware even existed. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this show. I think you will too.

I only chose three songs tonight, noted with "jh" next to the tracks.

Want more from the Spawn of Hell?

First show in 2012
Second show in 2014
Third show also in 2014
Fourth show in spring of 2015
Fifth show in the summer of 2015
Sixth show in summer 2016 along with Saucy!
Seventh show was also during summer 2016
Eight show was December 2016
Ninth show was July 2017
Tenth show was in August 2017
Eleventh show was July 2018
Twelfth show was April 2019
Lucky Thirteen was April 2020

Fourteenth Show from July 2021

Fifteenth show from January 2022

Enjoy and please share.

Dad of Spawn

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

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Let's Have a Satanic Orgy: Twin Temple

Por Que: Grupo Fantasma

La Seine: Vanessa Paradis

Brand New City: Mitski

Bsslama Hbibti: Fadoul

Paint It Black (Tutto Nero): Caterina Caselli

The American In Me: The Avengers - jh

Ragazzo Solo, Ragazzo Sola (Space Oddity): David Bowie

Llàmame (Call Me): Blondie

What Is It About Men?: Amy Winehouse

You Never Can Tell: Chuck Berry

Money (That's What I Want): Barrett Strong

Control: Amyl and the Sniffers

Lust for Life: Iggy Pop

Clockwork: Lime Garden

Girls: Beastie Boys

Start Wearing Purple: Gogol Bordello

Savoy Truffle: The Beatles

Kidnap the Sandy Claus: Korn

Merry Christmas From The Family: Robert Earl Keen - jh

I'm Writing A Novel: Father John Misty

Rainy Night in Soho: The Pogues - jh

California Dreaming: Eddie Hazel

Superiority Complex (Big Noise): Illuminati Hotties

Hell's Kitchen Radio #518: 13th Annual Annual: 1991

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When I was considering what year I was going to play for you for my 13th annual Annual Annual, I was a bit stumped. Every year has something amazing to offer. Where do I go? Back to the 50s? I haven't done that decade yet. Something in the past decade? Too soon? I turned 21 in 1991 (you do the math). Sounded perfect to me.

I was living in my first apartment, in Redwood City, CA. I was on the air at KFJC, hosting a morning show. There was no such genre known as Alternative at that time, until Smells Like Teen Spirit hit the airwaves. Thanks Nirvana. Ah, the memories. 

And college radio was popping back in 1991. Hip Hop, metal, indie-rock, industrial, shoegaze. There was so much to play back then. So many bands went on to influence the generation that followed. I'm not one to live in the past, but a show like this one allows me to shine a light on a year that really set a standard for what would follow.

Sadly, this was, in my opinion, the last year that non-commercial and college radio would be on the forefront when it came to breaking new artists. The consolidation of radio, Napster, and then streaming took that power out the hands of programmers, those who live and breathe music, and placed it into the hands of the corporatocracy. I was interning at KRQR back then in San Fransisco. I recall the music director blindly putting the playlist together for the DJs, without a thought of what songs worked well together. She was pulling from national lists of songs in the AOR top 20. Now MDs just allow Spotify to dictate the playlists. It's insulting. I'll remind you all that I do not have a Spotify account.

That's why you tuned in tonight, and that's why I have this show to share with you, that will take you back to a time when the artists and the DJs teamed together to bring your something special on the regular. 

If you're interested in the previous 11 editions of my Annual Annual, take a look below.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

2011 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1971
2012 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1972
2013 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1973
2014 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1974
2015 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1975
2016 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 2006
2017 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1992
2018 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1983
2019 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1969
2020 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1980
2021 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1978
2022 - ANNUAL ANNUAL - 1968

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

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Hog Leg: Melvins
Ring Ring Ring: De La Soul
Buck Whylin': Terminator X

By The Time I Get To Arizona: Public Enemy
Ace in the Hole: 3rd Bass

Scenario: A Tribe Called Quest

Housework: Fishbone

This Year in History Part One

Squeeze Me Macaroni: Mr. Bungle

Tommy the Cat: Primus
Jesus Was Way Cool: King Missile

Tunic (For Karen): Sonic Youth

This Year in History Part Two
Drain You (BBC Sessions): Nirvana
Emma: Urge Overkill

Little Fluffy Clouds: The Orb
Doctor Jeep: Sisters of Mercy
Rave Down: Swervedriver

The Power of Pussy (BBC Sessions): Bongwater

The Hurdy Gurdy Man: Butthole Surfers

The Wagon: Dinosaur Jr.

It's Shoved: Melvins