Download the Stench of My Love HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
This is a “keep you on your toes” kind of show. And you think you know me? That’s cute. You’re cute. You live alone? That must suck in the time of COVID-19 to live alone. I hope you at least have a cat and Netflix.
The first hour of this here show is some funk, some metal, some psych, and a few other trinkets thrown in for good measure. The second hour is mostly new music, featuring brand spankin’ new music from Oakland’s KnightressM1. Violinist Emily Palen’s power trio has a powerful new release that I am super excited to share with you all, “Polarity Integrate”. What this woman does with a violin should be featured in the most hallowed halls rock and metal! I can’t wait to hear more. Two hours is never enough. I’m always just getting warmed up. And I don’t even dive into my live bootleg stash. I’ve been saving that for Wednesday’s noon-2. John Hell’s Live Bootleg Bonanza is my effort to take the sting of missing live shows off of your shoulders, even if it’s in the middle of your work day. You’re all working from home anyway, aren’t you? Take a look at these tasty slices below, and dive in with gusto.
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Download the misgivings HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
Another round number show in the books. 400 shows is nothing to sneeze at, and looking back at my 30+ years in radio it’s more like 1200 I’m guessing. That’s something to be proud of, and I am. I love having this platform to share my love of music with you all. Thanks for tuning in when you do. You do tune in, don’t you?
I was looking back at shows 100, 200, and 300 to get an idea if I did anything “special” for those shows, and what I found didn’t surprise me at all. They were just ordinary shows, with my playing new music and music that’s new to you. Therefore I present you my most recent show that just happens to have a nice large round number associated with it.
Also, looking at my actual show count on Radio Valencia I see that I have hosted over 400, because I don’t number the many specials I host. It’s all good. Who’s counting?
Tune in Wednesday noon-2PM (PDST) for my next Live Bootleg Bonanza show. This is my third week hosting this. I dive deep into my vast live bootleg library to share a treat with you. And this week I have two shows to share: Allman Brothers from 1970 and a Peel Session featuring T Rex also from 1970. This is going to be great!
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Fairies Wear Boots: Brown Sabbath This Is Not A Song, It’s An Outburst_ Or, The Establishment Blues: Rodriguez For My Crimes: Marissa Nadler
Parchman Farm: Mercury Rev ft. Carise van Houton I Don’t Wanna Grow Up: Tom Waits I’m A Man: Ty Segall Something In The Air: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
I Don’t Mind: Psychic Ills ft. Hope Sandoval Mellow My Mind: Josh Tillman Fourth of July: Negativland Teenage Kicks: The Undertones
Black Temptation: Flesh Eaters Buy Her Candy: Sleater-Kinney Southern Girls: Cheap Trick (Steve Albini mix)
Fourth of July: Dave Alvin Back in the USA: Chuck Berry The Big Gundown: Ennio Morricone I’m So Bored with the USA: The Clash
The Sicilian Clan: John Zorn Cross the Breeze: Sonic Youth The Boss: James Brown Are You Glad To Be In America: James “Blood” Ulmer
Wild America: Iggy Pop Gimme Shelter: Grand Funk Railroad
White Punks On Dope: The Tubes What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong
Download the misgivings HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
How did we get here so fast? Well, it’s been just about ten years, so not exactly fast, but 399 is a pretty big number. To be honest, I’ve hosted more than 400 shows on Radio Valencia since our inception in August 2010. Many of my specials like Rock Fight and the Annual Annual don’t get a show number. So I’m closer to 420 than 400, but let’s not let semantics get in the way of a good time.
There’s always an excuse to party, and in days like these we don’t need many excuses.
I don’t know about you but I’ve been spending a lot of my days with the music flowing. Right now as I sit and write this I’m listening to a Sonic Youth show from November 26, 1992. What a fabulous soundboard!!! Maybe I’ll feature it on my Wednesday afternoon show. Oh wait, I didn’t tell you about my other show on Radio Valencia? I decided to commandeer Wednesday noon-2pm to feature my vast live bootleg library. I’ve hosted two shows so far, the first featuring a Pink Floyd show from 1970, and the second, a Led Zeppelin show from 1975. There’s so much goodness to share, I just can’t keep all of this great music to myself.
You should “like” my Facebook page and see what music I’m listening to, and take a poll to help me choose which bands/shows to play on my Wednesday slot.
As for my Monday show, and show #399, I start with a brand spankin’ new Public Enemy track, showing that we haven’t gotten very far in the past 31 years, let alone 401. There are covers as usual, some funk, some jazz, some punk, everything you have come to love and enjoy after 399 shows in Hell’s Kitchen.
Every set is the set of the night!
I don’t know what I have in store for my official #400 show next Monday night. I’m not very good at planning my shows. Really, I’m not. I try to go with what feels good, so I may need to keep to that formula.
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Fight the Power 2020: Public Enemy Swampland: Melvins with Mark Arm Black Mountain: Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan
Set It On Fire: The Scientists Retribution: Abbey Lincoln Farewell to Ibusa: Afro Funk Banned in DC: Bad Brains
Baby: Psychic Ills Cornflower Suite: Suni McGrath
Funeral For A Great Drunken Bird: All Them Witches Tiger Mountain Peasant Song: First Aid Kit Let’s Go Hunt For Grandpa: Goober and the Peas Space Rinse: Gøggs
Immigrant Punk: Gogol Bordello Earth People: Dr. Octogon Do You Realize?: Flaming Lips Biological Speculation: Funkadelic
Make It NY: Ghostface Killah Lady Day and John Coltrane: Gil Scott-Heron Susperia: Goblin You Gotta Move: RL Burnside
Mistreating Queen: Radio Moscow Bales of Cocaine: Reverend Horton Heat Food Sickles and Girls: The Mummies Ricky: Butthole Surfers
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong
Check out that great new Public Enemy video for the updated “Fight the Power” right here!!!
Download the Gospel HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
I Am Not Your Jukebox!
In no way am I trying to mock the late great philosopher, historian, educator, and writer, James Baldwin. He was a true master; much more eloquent than I could ever hope to be.
However, the truth remains, I am not here for you to put a quarter in and expect your choice of song to jump out. That wouldn’t be fair to you, myself, nor the listener. I rarely take a request, and when I do I only trust a few people that I have known to have a stellar reputation for musical knowledge to throw me a track during me show. Damn, what an elitist bougie bastard I am! No, I’m an artist. I have a two hour aural canvas I’m painting for you with sound.
I do love it when bands send me their music. Case in point, I love this new release from local Bay Area band The Campbell Apartment, and I’m thrilled they shared music from their latest release “Curmudgeon” with me. And thank you Ari and crew for allowing me to choose the track I played tonight! But I’m no sycophant. And it’s hard, you know? I’m friendly with so many amazing musicians, who’s music I really enjoy listening to more often than not. That being said, if you’re sending me music you want me to play, please be prepared for me to choose the track I think best fits on my show. I’m not saying this because some bands have given me flack for not playing their chosen single. I cannot think of the last time that even happened. I’m just trying to keep the boundaries clear.
Got it? Great. Thanks.
I have two goals for my show for the second half of 2020.
Stay alive
Buy more music
Play a more diverse selection of genres
PLAY MORE WOMEN ARTIST!!!
Host other shifts during the week to showcase my live bootleg collection
Get into our new studio and make it the best studio Radio Valencia has had
Interview kick ass musicians who love their craft
Make love
Start a revolution
OK, that was nine goals. I think I’ve got this.
When I said earlier that I don’t take requests, that doesn’t mean you can’t send me what you like. Just don’t ask for it on Monday’s between 8-10PM. I have also decided to take over the Radio Valencia stream during the days when there isn’t a live show being broadcast, to share my live bootleg library with you. Wednesday, June 24th from noon-2pm I have Pink Floyd live at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, April 29, 1970 cued up. What a treat!
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Download the Cleanse HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
I’ll admit it, I have been guilty of purchasing an LP from time to time because of the cover. This doesn’t mean I didn’t want it for the music, it was the cover that pushed me into making the purchase. Recently, my daughter Little Lauson Hell asked me to show her my favorite LP covers. Talk about making her daddy proud! I took my time to consider the criteria: a great cover isn’t just the art, it can also be the story behind the music, the artist, that time, etc. It can be a stark, minimalist cover, such as “Something Else”, by Cannonball Adderley, or a robust cover like “Bitches Brew”, by Miles Davis.
As I was taking her through the journey, I had to pause and remember this wasn’t about showing her my favorite albums, some of which have crap covers. This was about the covers themselves. I spoke to her about growing up buying vinyl, laying on my bed staring at the cover, and reading the liner notes. I get as excited today as I ever have purchasing new vinyl.
So far her favorite covers were the three picture discs for Altamont (Dale Crover side project).
Which reminds me, even if we can’t patronize our favorite local record shop, we can still purchase straight from the labels and the bands. And a reminder that Bandcamp will be hosting their first Friday again, July 3rd, when all proceeds go straight to the artist. They are also having a fundraiser on June 19th (Juneteenth), where all proceeds go to the NAACP. Buy great music, support the artists, and support a great cause. I know I will.
Many of you know that I am a social studies teacher in San Francisco. Specifically I teach Pre-Law, American Democracy, and Economics in a thematic pathway for the past 16 years. I have read and studied the US Constitution for longer than that, and I can attest that it is a comprehensive social contract, that cannot be mastered in one, two, or twenty readings. Before you read a political headline and think you know what the Constitution has to say on the matter, please take the time to do your research, including what the US Supreme Court has to say on the issue. In the meantime, take a gander at the playlist below. New music from my dream team Melvins/Mudhoney, a Ty Segall/Cory Hanson collaboration, some Afro-Funk, avant-Jazz, and many local bands.
Click the link above, sit back, relax, and as always, enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
My War: Mudhoney/Melvins A.D.D.: System of a Down All You Fascists: Billy Bragg and Wilco
The Mask (Part 2): Miles Davis Get Up, Stand Up (Alternate Take): Bob Marley and the Wailers
Milk Bird Flyer: Ty Segall and Cory Hanson Eggs at Night: Damaged Bug Theme de Yoyo: Art Ensemble of Chicago Live at PJs: Beastie Boys
The Great Conspirator: Illogistical Resources Dept. Telephone Girl: Assagai The American in Me: The Avengers
American Cars: Useless Eaters Here She Comes Now: Curtis Harding Everything I Say Just Goes Right Through Her Heart: Peter Laughner Complicated Life: The Kinks
7 Inches: Kate Vargas Mr. Slick: Ken Nordine Devil Moon: Eric McFadden Jesus Didn’t Die For Me: Rube Waddell
House Hunter: Le Butcherettes Yes We Can: Lee Dorsey
Supergirl: The Fugs What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong
Download the Cleanse HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
My listeners inspire me. Truly, you do. Last week was cathartic, and I’m not done with the protest/revolutionary sounds; I just needed a week off to refresh. A few 10+ minute tunes tonight will do.
Lots of new music and music that’s new to you. Last Friday was Bandcamp’s revenue-free day, where all of the proceeds go to the artist and/or a charity supporting #BLM-related organizations.
I have a lot to say on the topic of inequity and inequality in America. I have been a high school social studies teacher, teaching law, civics and economics for 17 years. I’m not going to use this space today to pour my thoughts out, though I may do so soon. Watch this space.
In the meantime, take a look at the playlist below and then click the link above to give it a listen. There are a few long jams, but I think that’s one of the reasons you tune.
And big thanks go out to my old, dear friend. Michael, who is one of the very few who can throw me a tune in the middle of my show, that I have never heard, and get me to play it. That’s a lot of trust right there. And Michael knows his music. That guy ought to have a radio show of his own.
Hmmmmm?
New music right out of the gate from the duo that promises to be dynamic, and I do hope they produce more music together: Ty Segall, and WAND frontman, Cory Hanson. Also a tribute to the late George Floyd by rocker-turned-folkie, Jim McHugh. There’s some new music in the Hell library that makes its way in throughout the show, including Psychic Ills, Bratmobile (had it on vinyl, and now digitally), Sleater-Kinney, Death Valley Girls, Fela Kuti, Oh Sees (HOLY HELL I cannot believe I missed this one in late 2017!!!), local prog-kraut-metal-rockers Glitter Wizard, The Scientists (from their golden era), Flesh Eaters, Mike Watt, Peter Laughner, and more!!!
Whew!
I hope you take more risks in your music selection. I enjoy curating these two hours for you every week. The kindest response I have ever received from a listener was when they told me they listen to me show every week with a pen and paper in hand. Damn, but that feels good.
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
She’s A Beam: Ty Segall and Cory Hanson I Don’t Mind: Psychic Ills
Vigilante Man/George Floyd: Jim McHugh Cherry Bomb: Bratmobile Abre Camino: Death Valley Girls
Go Slow: Fela Kuti Dig Me Out: Sleater-Kinney
Dead Medic: Oh Sees Hall of the Oyster King: Glitter Wizard
In God We Trust: Bent Knee When Fate Deals Its Mortal Blow: The Scientists House Among the Thickets: The Flesh Eaters No One: Mike Watt and the Secondmen
Acid Nightmare: Xarhanga The Wedge: The JBs It’s A Mean Old World: Reverend Pearly Brown Earthquake: Butthole Surfers
The Flip: Cleveland Freckleton Mean Old Frisco: Peter Laughner What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong
Download the Power HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
Sometimes I just need the music to do the talking. I. Am. Pissed. Aren’t you? What fresh kind of hell are we living in today? Unprecedented, unhinged, fragile masculinity, a show of strength, phony religious grandstanding, narcissistic mind fuck, controlling the news cycle. He thinks this is all a TV show and he’s the star, and WHY DON’T YOU LOVE ME??????MOMMY??????DADDY????????
Someone needs a hug.
This show is all about protests and revolution. I have been to my share. There is so much I could have played, and isn’t that telling? I also chose some important speeches I hope you’ll find interesting and important during this time of struggle. Malcolm X, Angela Davis, MLK Jr. Mumia Abu Jamal all have something to say about protest and revolution.
And we thought the pandemic alone was going to define 2020? We’re not even half way through the year, and there’s an election in November, if we can keep it.
Fight the good fight, and all power to the people, always.
Your brother,
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Power to the People: John Lennon My Favorite Mutiny: The Coup Wild In The Streets: Circle Jerks
Tear The Fascists Down: Woody Guthrie The Times They Are A-Changin’: Bob Dylan A Riot is the Language of the Unheard: Martin Luther King Jr. Fight the Power: Public Enemy
Mississippi God Damn: Nina Simone Youth Against Fascism: Sonic Youth Burnin’ and Lootin’: Bob Marley How To Disappear Completely: Radiohead
Inner City Blues: Gil Scott-Heron Becoming and Activist: Angela Davis What’s Going On: Marvin Gaye
The Mob Rules: Black Sabbath Riot: Fishbone Fuck Tha Police: NWA By Any Means Necessary: Malcolm X When The Revolution Comes: Last Poets
Children of the Revolution: T. Rex Nazi Punks, Fuck Off: Dead Kennedys My War: Black Flag Prisons vs. Preschools: Mumia Abu Jamal Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday
Talk About A Revolution: Tracy Chapman What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong
Download the Shame HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my show, via Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
WOW, this show sucked. And let me tell you why.
I had this grand idea to stream from my backyard, where we have new patio furniture. I thought, how fun is this? I get to chill out in Hell’s Lounge and play my favorite music just for you. But it didn’t take into consideration a few things:
My neighbors can hear everything I’m saying on my show, and they think I’m talking to them and keep asking me what I’m doing.
The mosquitoes want to be in on the act. OUCH!
It got dark and I have poor lighting out there.
It took me 10 minutes and three tries to connect to our server and it dropped me about 30 minutes into the show, the moment I went inside to grab an extension cord.
My external hard drive was on its last legs and any sudden micro-movements would disconnect it, leaving me with dead air.
It turns out that it was a combination of a dying hard drive AND a dying USB port.
I sure wanted to enjoy this show. The playlist is diverse and dynamic, but alas the mic breaks are lame.
Seriously though take a look at that playlist. Damn.
My upcoming show is all about revolution. You really should tune in wearing all black.
Try to enjoy.
jh
PS: I purchased a new WD 5TB hard drive last week. Everything is transferred over and ready to rock!
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF
Let’s Start: Fela Ransome-Kuti And The Africa ’70 With Ginger Baker *Not on the broadcast Zombi: Fela Kuti *Not on the broadcast
Always Flying: Thee Oh Sees Fucked Up Motherfucker: Ty Segall Fell In Love With A Girl: White Stripes with Steven McDonald
Paint It Black: The Avengers If I’m In Luck I Might Get Picked Up: Betty Davis Jack the Stipper/Fairies Wear Boots: Black Sabbath
Something I Learned Today: Husker Du River Deep Mountain High: Tina Turner Get Down Moses: Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
I’m Free: King Tuff El Fugitivo: Grupo Fantasma Black Heath: Melvins Their Helicopters Sing: Godspeed You, Black Emperor! Run Run Run: Velvet Underground
Terraplane Blues: Robert Johnson Nowadays A Woman Gotta Hit A Man: Captain Beefheart Earache My Eye: Alice Bowie
I Ain’t Marchin’ Anymore: Phil Ochs The Fish Cheer: Country Joe and the Fish Keep On Keepin’ On: Curtis Mayfield
Aliens: Dr. Octogon I Ain’t New To This: Ice T Rapp Snitch Knishes: MF Doom
Download the Power HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my show, via Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
The myth of the Power Trio has made many a young rocker bang their head in tribute throughout the years. Though there are many trios in many genres, the Power Trio is all about ROCK! I have been wanting to host a special on my favorite trios for quite some time, and I figured being holed up in quarantine is the perfect opportunity to throw down.
And of course I wasn’t able to fit in everyone I wanted in these two short hours. This is a taste. A tease. My name is Hell, after all.
So pull out those air guitars, basses and drums, let your hair down (or put on a wig if you need to), and let’s get rockin’ for the next two hours!
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF
Download the Dream HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
Another week another show from my bed. It’s a great bed, really. I can’t say enough good things about the comfort. You should really try it out with me. Perhaps when all of this hullabaloo is past us, I can have a contest and host the winner in my bed for my show. It wouldn’t be the first time.
When I was a DJ at 89.7FM KFJC (88-97), our late, great engineer Eric Weaver liked to use me as a guinea pig when it came to live remotes. I hosted a number of live morning shows from local cafes, when we had the idea of hosting a show from my bedroom. It was fundraiser time and we figured someone would want a chance of having spending the morning in bed with a dashing young DJ and a crew of engineers, all cramped in my little bedroom. And we were right! We called it “Breakfast in Bed with the Rev! I went by the Reverend Dah Wave back in those days. Truth be told John Hell was born in late August 1994. But that story is for another time.
I can’t recall much about the couple that donated for the chance to spend their morning in bed with me. They were in their 20s, and thought it would be a hoot to spend 6-10am in the San Mateo bedroom with a long haired non-commercial radio DJ, his three roommates, and three staff members of KFJC. Actually one of my roommates was a KFJC staffer (RIP Spiderman). I made everyone pancakes, eggs and bacon for breakfast, and for the mic breaks I made them jump into my bed with me. It had to feel real, so every 10-20 minutes for four hours they had snuggle up with me in my queen-sized bed…with my engineer and another staffer sitting around too.
The music was being played back in the KFJC studios. We would “hand off” to the board op when we were done talking, and coordinate when to come back live to my bedroom.
Why am I telling you all of this? Oh right, I have been doing my shows from my bed ever since this pandemic has started. At least I’m lucky enough to be able to do this. Trust me, I do not take it for granted. I will not just phone in a show. I really love being able to share two hours a week with you. I’m thinking about taking on a second slot where I can play my live show in full. I have thousands. Don’t believe me? Take a look for yourself. I still have a few hundred to add to that list, and it just keeps on growing.
I’ll keep playing the music. You keep listening, and we’ll get through all of this together.
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Long Tall Sally: Little Richard Lucille: Little Richard
Kansas City: Little Richard Heeby-Jeebies: Little Richard
Rip It Up: Little Richard Ready Teddy: Little Richard Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On: Little Richard
Everything I Say Just Goes Right Through Her Heart: Peter Laughner I Heard Her Call My Name: Mr Elevator and The Brain Hotel Sucker Punch: The Mandatory Eight
Speedway: Black Midi A4: Dungen
Control: Amyl and the Sniffers Shitbeard: Cows Boris: Melvins The Moon Shines: Ensemble of the Bulgarian Republic
Isolation: Ty Segall I Never Loved A Man The Way I Loved You: Aretha Franklin I Got My Mojo Working: Ann Cole Papa, Won’t You Let Me Go To Town With You: Bobby Gentry
Je T’Aime, Moi Non Plus: Cibo Matto Bang, Bang: Nancy Sinatra The Lady Loves Me: Elvis Presley and Anne Margaret
Queen Bitch: Green River Nothing in this World Can Stop Me Worrying About That Girl: The Kinks The Mayor: Melle Mel
False Prophet: Bob Dylan Diamond In Your Mind: Tom Waits Happy Boy: The Beat Farmers
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