Hell's Kitchen Radio #586: Frolic In Hell

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Spooky times are heating up at Radio Valencia. This is a good thing.

We had a really great fundraiser last Sunday. Huge thanks to GRHNS Gallery and Bernadette for hosting us. And thanks to the three great bands: Janky Band, Rustangs, and Fantasy for rockin' out hard for everyone. We couldn't have pulled this off without the incredible skill of San Francisco sound man extraordinaire John Karr and his assistant Ethan. And thanks to Sully and 21st Amendment Brewery for throwing us some suds to serve. And thanks to everyone who came out and those who donated online.

All in all it was a really fine day.

As for this show it's mighty extraordinary in its own right. I pulled out some spooky tracks and my trainee, Annika, has a bunch of 50s and 60s-era treats to share. Annika is going to be hosting her own show Fridays 6-8pm. Tune in. She has excellent taste in music, that fits in mighty well at Radio Valencia.

I also paid tribute to Ace Frehley of KISS, who passed away last week. KISS was my first favorite band. I tell the story in the show. Check it out!

We have a number of new shows starting right now. Are you interested in hosting a show with us? Send us a show proposal to station@radiovalencia.fm

What are your plans for Halloween? I'm headed to New Orleans with Spawn of Hell for a weekend of fun and frolics!

In the meantime, check out the playlist below, click the link at the top and enjoy.

jh 

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

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I Walk With A Zombie: Roky Erickson (The Evil One - 1981)
Levitation: Groovie Ghoolies (Born in the Basement - 1994)
I See You In The Boneyard: Flesh Eaters (A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die - 1981)

Human Fly: The Cramps (Bad Music For Bad People - 1984)
A Touch of Evil: Man or Astroman (Shot in the Dark - 1996)
Ghouls Night Out: Misfits (S/T - 1983)

Exquisite Corpse: Bauhaus (The Sky's Gone Out - 1982)
What's He Building?: Tom Waits (Mule Variations - 1999) 
Mars - The Bringer of War: Tomita (Planets - 1976)

Working For A Dead Man: Eric McFadden Trio (Diamonds To Coal - 2010)
Linda Blair: Redd Kross (Born Innocent - 1982)

Black Grease: Black Angels (Passover - 2006)
Stranded in the Jungle: The Cadets (Stranded in the Jungle - 1957) - AD
You're Dead: Norma Tanega (Walkin' My Cat Named Dog - 1966) - AD
Just Me and You: Dreamliners (Just Me and You b/w Best Things In Life - 1961) - AD

I'm Shakin': Little Willie John (Sure Things - 1961) - AD
Ain't Got No Home: Clarence "Frogman" Henry (Ain't Got No Home - The Best of Clarence "Frogman" Henry (Reissue) - 1956) - AD
Whirlpool: Wanda Jackson (The Capitol Singles 1962-1963) - AD
Going Back To Where I Belong: Sugar Pie DeSanto (In The Basement: The Chess Recordings - 1962) - AD

Little Demon: Screamin' Jay Hawkins (Cow Fingers and Mosquito Pie - 1991) - AD
Love Potion No. 9 - Remastered / Single Version: The Clovers (The Best Of The Clovers (Love Potion No. 9) - 1959) - AD
Big Chief: Professor Longhair (New Orleans Funk: The Original Sound of Funk 1960 - 1975)
Mama Roux: Dr. John (New Orleans Funk: The Original Sound of Funk 1960 - 1975)

Parasite: KISS (Hotter Than Hell - 1975)
Cold Gin: KISS (Live - 1975)
Shock Me: KISS (Love Gun - 1977)

Rocket Ride: KISS (Alive II - 1977)
Tattoo Love Boys: Melvins and ShitKid (Bangers EP - 2019)

San Ber'dino: Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention (One Size Fits All - 1975)

Hell's Kitchen Radio #585: Jello and Brimstone

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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

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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 #584: Does This Smell Right To You?

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How about another radio show where I play music that you never knew you needed? I like that idea. In a world where AI is telling you what to wear, watch, vote for, battle, digest, laugh at, point at, throw away, be disgusted towards, why not allow yourself a little freedom to listen to music curated by someone who digs in the crates to bring you something NOT generated by an algorithm?

At least while it's still legal to.  

Don't you get the feeling that we're going to come to a point where we'll decide on the ballot to allow our tech overlords to determine what we think?

Personally I don't believe in free will. True. I don't. I get to make my choices based on what's sitting in front of me. Not making a choice is still a choice. Isn't that a lyric somewhere? Thank you, Rush. 

So, all this being what it is, why not listen to some music that I had the "choice" to play for you tonight.

Highly inspired by Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, my first hour is chock full of Americana nuts, and other aural legumes. Nothing spectacularly new tonight, which is a rarity for me. You may have noticed I've taken to adding the album and release year on my playlist. Eventually I may even get to linking to wear you can buy it! I think I used to do that back in the day...when I used that choice to do so.

In the meantime, use your choice and listen to two hours using your own free will and I'll see you on the other side.

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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Magic: Zig Zags (Strange Masters Vol. 1 - 2024)
Mohawk Town: Paul Leary (Born Stupid - 2021)

King of California: Dave Alvin (King of California - 1994)

Every Grain of Sand: Emmylou Harris (Wrecking Ball - 1995)

The Devil's Chasing Me: Reverend Horton Heat (Full Custom Gospel Sounds of... - 1993)

Midnight Wine: Shannon and the Clams (Year of the Spider - 2021)
Don't Fall Down: The Black Angels (May The Circle Be Unbroken - 2021)

Delia's Gone: Johnny Cash (Murder - 2000)

Tonight, I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown: Jimmy Dale Gilmore (After Awhile - 1991)

Jack the Ripper: Susan and the Surf Tones (Thunderbeach - 1996)

She Rode Me Down: Tindersticks (Falling Down on a Mountain - 2010)

Graveyard Shift: Uncle Tupelo (No Depression - 1990)

Crazy Fingers: Grateful Dead (Blues for Allah - 1975)

The Road Goes On Forever: Robert Earl Keen (No. 2 Live Dinner - 1996)

Kill the Badger: William S. Burroughs (Dead City Radio - 1990)

Dread Locks Corner: Prince Jazzbo (Ital Corner - 1976)

Home Affairs: Osibisa (Osibirock - 1974)

California Dreaming: Eddie Hazel (Game, Dames and Guitar Thangs  - 1977)

Azeta: Lafayette Afro Rock Band (Soul Makossa - 1973)

Black: Ken Nordine (Colors - 1995)

Potholderz: MF Doom (Mmm Food - 2007)

Ya Habibti: Mdou Moctar (Afrique Victime - 2021)

Three Hours: Nick Drake (Five Leaves Left - 1969)

Resolution/Revolution: Linda Lindas (No Obligation - 2024)

In The Great Gettin' Up Morning: The New Gospel Keys

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

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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

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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 #582: Scott Amendola

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Scott Amendola doesn’t just play the drums — he opens up a whole other world with them. He’s one of those rare musicians who can sit behind a kit and make it sound like a full conversation is happening. Over the years he’s worn a lot of hats: composer, bandleader, and the kind of drummer other inventive musicians want in their corner.

Scott grew up in New Jersey, studied at Berklee in Boston, and then made his way west. Out here he became a key part of the amazing TJ Kirk quartet with Charlie Hunter, Will Bernard, and John Schott — their second record, If Four Was One, even got a Grammy nomination.

And he’s not afraid to think big. In 2011 he premiered an orchestral piece called Fade to Orange with the Oakland East Bay Symphony, joined by Nels Cline and Trevor Dunn. That’s the kind of career Scott’s had — one foot in the small, intimate club, and the other in these ambitious projects that stretch way beyond genre.

He’s worked with some of the most exciting names in jazz and beyond, including 

Larry Ochs of ROVA Saxophone Quartet
Mike Patton
John Zorn
Will Blades
Jim Campilongo
Ben Goldberg
Skerik
Cyro Baptista
Jenny Scheinman-violin

It was my absolute pleasure to host Scott in the studio on Monday night where he shared some great stories from his youth, where his grandfather, jazz guitarist played a major inspiration in his life. We spoke about the great risks he took with his music, the amazing people he has been able to record, perform and tour with, as well the current challenges of surviving as a full time musician.

I also asked Scott to bring some music that he enjoys listening to. I surprised him with some of his own live shows. I peppered some tracks in throughout the show. See the playlist below for details.

Go check him out with SticklerPhonics this Thursday night, September 11th at The Back Room in Berkeley.

I know you're going to really enjoy this show.

jh

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

Follow me on Blue Sky
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Dream Brother: Jeff Buckley

Interview with Scott Amendola

When Kabuya Dances: Geri Allen Trio

Interview with Scott Amendola

Wall Town: Amendola vs. Blades (January 31, 2025 San Jose Jazz Break Room)
Well Blazed: SticklerPhonics

Afro Pusherman: Tony Allen
The Good Life: Pat Metheny and Ornette Coleman

Percussion Party! (Improvisation) > Down Tempo Slam (Improvisation) > Space… Sound… (Improvisation): Nels Cline Singers (Friday, March 28, 2025 - The Big Ears Fest)