How is it I just can come to getting these shows up any sooner than almost a week after broadcast these days? What the ever loving fuck?!?!?!?

Could it be I'm short on bandwidth?

Ummmmm, I don't know.

Full time teacher, heading into the final weeks of the school year, where I need to get my seniors across the line, produce an annual show for 1400 in attendance; grade essays, final draft for the final exams, run student elections, raise an eight year old, guide a 21 year old, co-produce a few live shows this summer, help run a community radio station.

Yeah, I don't know.

The best part about my show last Monday, atcually there were a few great things; was hosting musician and sound engineer Chris Greacen from Elegant Trash. He brought some incredible live tracks with him and lively conversation. And to top it off we share the same birthday!!! Chris was in talking up the Bang The Bay series of shows that happen at the Mabuhay Gardens, Ivy Room, and Point Emery. Check them out when they come to your town.

It was not like looking in a mirror, but you know.

And then the Common Sense Advisory Committee showed up!

It was like putting on your favorite sweater. Full disclosure: I don't wear sweaters, but if I did you know I'd be wearing this group all day every day. Katrina, Daniel, Ignacio and Molly showed up (don't even ask where John was....HA!!!) to be my live studio audience. They are distracting in all the ways I truly appreciate being distracted. It's like a game of test the DJ. Can they distract me enough for there to be dead air? Tune in and find out.

I'm hilarious...and delirious. Seriously, I have no bandwidth.

Great music throughout the night. Live music from recent Mabuhay Gardens shows as recorded by my guest, Chris. New release from local faves, False Flag. I also have new music from Sprints and Primitive Ring.

Daniel brought some classic treats from Filth and Skip Spence, as well as a huge surprise for me, which I'll bring in this Monday night.

OK, I'm falling down now, so you go ahead and click that link at the top and listen to two hours of the best music you didn't know you needed.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Do It: Rollins Band (Do It - 1987)
City Kids: Pink Fairies (Kings of Oblivion - 1973)

Interview with Chris Greacen

G20 - > Solar Van Saturdays: Elegant Trash (Live at Fab Mab - 03/11/2026)

Interview with Chris Greacen

Fresno: Lost Cosmos (Live at Fab Mab - 03/11/2026)

Interview with Chris Greacen

Clencher (Live at Fab Mab - 02/11/2026)
Swtichcrooks (Live at Fab Mab - 03/11/2026)

Interview with Chris Greacen

Sleepers A.D. (Live at Fab Mab - 04/08/2026)
Don't Hide Your Hate: Filth (7" - 1978)
In Frisco: Pop-o_Pies (7" - 1993)
Little Hands: Skip Spence (Oar - 1968)

Never Gonna Be: False Flag (7" - 2026)
Moth Tongue: Crystal Fairy (S/T - 2017)
I Wanna Lose: LA Witch (Play with Fire - 2020)

Coming Alive: Sprints (All That is Over - 2026)
Empires Falling: Black Angels (Wilderness of Mirrors 2022)
Ouroboros: GOAT (s/t - 2025)

TV City: Primitive Ring (7" - 2026)
Swampland: The Scientists (A Place Called Bad - 2016)
Bottle Up and Go: The Monkeywrench (S/T - 1992)

Victoria: The Kinks (Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) - 1969)

Well, it's just you and little ol' me, until Daniel comes by. Daniel is always welcome to come by. So are you! Why don't you write?

Anyway, I didn't have anyone scheduled to come by Monday night. This is first in a while, where I have no guests. I have Lee Hoffman of Elegant Trash coming by next Monday night, May 11, to talk about his Punk the Bay shows he's promoting Wednesday nights at the FabMab.

On this show I was just feeling good sharing some new music I picked up in the past few weeks: Clown Alley, Sprints, Bill Orcutt, The Freak Accident, Alice Bag, OSees, Surprise Privilege, White Fence, Hawkwind, FUZZ, Reatards, Flipper, Deviants...

You know what, most of this show is music I bought over the past month or so.

I may have a problem. I bought two records today that are certain to get played here soon enough. And why not?

I was at a memorial for Robert "Doc" Pelzel, of KFJC, on Saturday. A good 100 family, friends, and current and former station staff were present. It was a real pleasure to see these fine folks and share stories about Doc.

Doc was the station advisor, who officially worked for Foothill Junior College, where KFJC is located. He was a true advocate for the station, and kept the institution administration off our backs, and made sure we received our budget every year. He came to KFJC in 1979, following a stint at KALX in Berkeley. I arrived at KFJC in 1989.

Doc encouraged us all to be as weird as we wanted to be. Take risks. He was similar to my dad, who used to say "there's no reward without risk". I learned what it meant to take my dream of being a radio DJ, and push it to the ultimate limit. I co-produced a nationwide broadcast at over 20 stations, from SXSW in 1994 because of Doc. I co-founded Radio Free Burning Man, also in 1994, because of Doc.

Hundreds of incredible DJs have gone through the KFJC doors, and each of us benefitted from having Doc there, giving us an infinitely long, transparent leash, where we were encouraged to freak the scene in the way that non-commercial radio is supposed to do.

The listeners benefitted from hearing music that never would have reached their ears if it weren't for the DJs given the freedom to do so.

Bands wouldn't have sent us the music they were inspired to play if we didn't have the DJs excited to play the next new sound.

As a teacher I understand that we teach infinity. We never know where our teaching ends. It's safe to say that Doc advised us to infinity. We play music for you that you take and pass on. Maybe you started a band because of what we played? And some of us went on to start other radio stations, paying it forward!

I think Doc is proud. I know he is, because were told one of the last things he said was that he was sad that he couldn't keep engaging in all this fun.

We'll pay the fun forward, Doc. Always pay it forward.

Thanks for taking a risk on all of us.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Mars for the Rich: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (Infest the Rats Nest - 2019)
In The Cartoon: Clown Alley (Circus of Chaos - 1986)

I Hunt You Pray: LA Witch (DOGGOD - 2025)
I'm Your Man: Mark Growden (Saint Judas - 2010)

Decepticon: Sprints (7" - 2026)
Captain Crunch: MF Doom/Czarface (Czarface meets Metalface - 2018)
Slap That Bass: The Middlebury College Dissapated-Eight - 1984)
Destroy The Handicapped: Fang (Land Shark - 1982)

Hot Head: Orcutt/Shelley/Miller (7" - 2026)
The Midnight Show: The Freak Accident (The Midnight Show - 2026)
Gluttony: Alice Bag (Decline of Western Civilization - 1980)

Joro: OSees (Cara Maluco - 2026)
Wasteman: Surprise Privilege (Feed Me - 2025
Trailer Trash: MV and EE (Fuzzweed - 2013)

Reflections in a Shop Window on Polk: White Fence (Orange - 2026)
Lost Jonnie: Hawkwind (Hall of the Mountain Grill - 1974)

21st Century Schizoid Man: FUZZ (FUZZ's Fourth Dream)
Tonight I'll Come: Reatards (Grown Up, Fucked Up - 1999)
I Saw You Shine: Flipper (Generic - 1982)
Garbage: Deviants (Ptooff! - 1968)
Internal Dialogue: False Flag (Gun Time - 2025)

New Self: The Bobby Lees (New Self - 2026)
Not of this World: Zig Zags (Deadbeat at Dawn - 2025)
Dan Folgerberg: Michael Mills
San Francisco: John Lee Hooker (The Big Soul of... - 1963)

I Heard It On The X: ZZ Top (Fandango - 1975)
Radio Moscow: Kent State (Rodney on the ROQ - 1982)

When I prepare for an interview with a musician, it's mostly based on their music that I craft the questions. I want to know where the ideas for the stories came from. I want to know how they crafted the song, where the melody came from. Then I start to dig. I need to know their influences, musical and otherwise.

This is when it gets fun.

Tell me where you grew up. What was the first music that caught your attention? Who in your life do you credit with turning you on to the music that helped define your own journey?

Once in a blue moon do I interview someone I've only met a few times but feel a quick kinship with.

Mitch Polzak is one of these people. I've seen Mitch play at the Ivy Room in Albany a few times, and once on his home court in Port Costa, where he once was mayor.

Mitch will look you right in the eyes when he's playing, and you know he's playing just for you. And he is! He told me this himself last Monday when he was my guest. I told him that he had to guest DJ with me, and he did not disappoint! He brought 33 LPs along with him and everything that aired on Monday night was his choosing, except for my opening set and the single Mitch Polzak tune that I pulled out, and it's thanks to his delightful partner, Amanda, that "Sugrarfoot Rag" was chosen.

We caught each other saying "you too?!?!" a lot during the show, and a lot of laughter throughout. The music ranges from delta blues, bluegrass, folk, Bakersfield Country, train songs, trucker songs, and honky tonk.

What a magnificent night this was.

I hope you take the time to listen into the music and enjoy our banter. Better yet, please take yourself and a loved one out to see Mitch perform live. You'll find Mitch was looking for you all along.

Enjoy and please share

jh

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

Honky Tonk Blues: Hank Williams
Wham Bam: Buck Owens
It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels: Kitty Wells
Cannon Ball: Merle Travis

Watch My Fingers: Lightning Hopkins
Cumberland Gap: Flatt and Scruggs
Ballad of 40 Dollars: Tom T Hall
Road Runner: Blackie Forestier

Sugarfoot Rag: Mitch Polzak
Sad Hour: Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
Randall Collins: Norman Blake
The Longer You Wait: Merle Haggard

Let The Good Times Roll: Buck Owens
Nitro Express: Redd Simpson
Bucking Mule (Piano): Uncle John Patterson
Tombstone Every Mile: Dick Curless
Caffein, Nicotine, Benzedrine: Gary Stewart
For A Few Dollars More: Ennio Morricone

Cause of it All: Howlin' Wolf
I Got Love If You Want It: Slim Harpo
Fire On The Strings: Joe Maphis
Stone Walls and Steel Bars: Jimmy Martin and Ralph Stanley

This Time: Waylon Jennings
Rain: Charlie Feathers
Alabama Jubilee: Roy Clark

Graystone Chapel: Johnny Cash

There are reasons to feel despair, and there are reasons to celebrate. I think we can do both at the same time. Two things can be right at the same time. Time waits for no one, and it won't wait for Hell. Hell is for other people's children. Children are the future. There is no future. There is only now.

Can you tell I'm tired?

I just finished helping Little Lauson Hell (AKA: Spawn) do her taxes. What a kick in the ass that was.

I'm pretty brain dead. Deadhead. Head on a poll. Poll taxes. TAXES?!?!??!

That was terrible.

And you and I both know what they're using our taxes for! And since the IRS basically doesn't exist at all anymore, what's going to happen if we all just don't file?

I'm so tired I couldn't remember a better word for "don't" in the previous sentence. I'm misspelling words all over the damn place! You wouldn't know that though since I have a lot of white out.

And I'm distracted with Lauson and our kitty Chairman Meow Mao (AKA Maui) chilling out next to me. Lauson loves our kitty.

Sorry. I was gone for a moment, We both had to take a kitty break. If you know, you know.

Did you know that David Yow of The Jesus Lizard has a tumbler blog about cats?

True story.

I think I was going to write something about music since I did host my show on Monday night. I bought a few records over the weekend and I share a lot of it tonight! Orcutt, Shelley, Miller; The Exploited, Sprints, Primitive Ring, and The Bobby Lees!!!!!!!

I kinda blew my load with all this great new music. Too bad, so sad.

So tired. I really need to call it a night and not regret my decisions.

Enjoy....if you dare.

jh

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

Some Velvet Morning: Vanilla Fudge (Near The Beginning - 1968)
Black Rat: Big Mama Mae Thornton (With Chicago Blues Band - 1966)

Hot Head: Orcutt, Shelley, Miller (with David Yow) (Hot Head Single - 2026)
Eight Miles High: Husker Du (Duck and Cover - 1990)

Back Home: Yusef Lateef (Blue Yusef Lateef - 1968)
The Whip: Frantics (Louie's Limbo Lounge - 1988)
Intro/Sweet Jane: Lou Reed (Rock and Roll Animal - 1974)
Let's Start A War: The Exploited (Let's Start A War - 1985)

Deceptacon: Sprints (7" - 2026)
Spear and Magic Helmet: The Gits (Enter: The Conquering Chicken - 1993)

You're What I Need: Jenny Don't and the Spurs (Broken Hearted Blue - 2023)
Sugarfoot Rag: Mitch Polzak (Down South Blues - 2023)
We're Desperate: X (The Decline of Western Civilization - 1980)
Burn Out: Redd Kross (Rodney on the Roq, Vol. 2 - 1981)
This Is Not Normal: Negativland (True/False - 2019)

Poisonous Gift: Primitive Ring (7" - 2025)
Higgs Boson Blues: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Push the Sky Away - 2012)

Napoleon: The Bobby Lees (New Self - 2026)
In Every Home A Heartache: Roxy Music (For Your Pleasure - 1973)
Say it Too: Death Valley Girls (Islands in the Sky - 2023)

Dungeon Vision: Earth Tongue (Dungeon Vision - 2026)
Love Song: The Darts (Snake Oil - 2022)

Reject All Americans: Bikini Kill (Reject All Americans - 1996)

I anticipated a fun time on Monday night, but nothing could have prepared me for this multi-generational celebration of the local music scene. As I had been publicizing over the past week, I had drummer/artist Prairie Prince of The Tubes coming in, along with his bestie, author/screenwriter/director/producer/band manager Edwin Heaven. They were coming in to promote their Thursday night program at the Mabuhay Gardens, which is also featuring a live set from local rockers and all-around tastemakers False Flag.

This show on Thursday night is free, by the way. And it's 21+. Be warned.
What I wasn't totally prepared for were all the special guests. And Monday night was truly special.

My Prom Committee team of Katrina and Daniel from the FabMab were in the studio, as well as our latest RV staffer Jasper, who is slated to take over Saturdays 4-6pm in the upcoming weeks. You are all going to love her!

And then comes False Flag! Pretty and Strong Sims came to hang out, along with drummer Monroe. And they brought a brand new song with them, that really kicked the crap out of me...figuratively. Get your head outta the gutter.

It was full, and very rambunctious house, with Daniel teaching both Jasper and Strong how to use a yo-yo, Edwin attending to his Yorkie, Tulip; Prairie trying not to allow the jetlag get to him after returning from a show in NYC, and Katrina circling the room capturing it all for prosperity.

After my interview with Prairie about his new album, Colours and Passions, and my talk with Edwin about his new memoir "The Night I Got David Bowie Laid Sorta", Strong and Pretty sat in to talk about the state of the music scene in San Francisco, and to share the aforementioned track "Never Gonna Be". Katrina and I are in agreement that this band is bound for stardom, and need to get their music onto a soundtrack, pronto.

There is so much fun conversation and music on this show, that I may need to loop it throughout the rest of this week.

Fun things are afoot at Radio Valencia, and in this incredible scene that three generations of music-related folk all agreed with on Monday night.

See you at the show...any show. Every show!

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

Whitey On The Moon: Gil Scott-Heron (Small Talk at 125th and Lennox - 1970)
Moonage Daydream: David Bowie (The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust - 1972)
Flesh: Ken Nordine (Colors - 1966)
Dear God: XTC (Skylarking - 1987)

Interview with Prairie Prince

Flesh Terror: Prairie Prince (Colours and Passions - 2026)

Interview with Prairie Prince (Colours and Passions - 2026)

Orange Joy: Prairie Prince (Colours and Passions - 2026)
White Punks on Dope: The Tubes (The Tubes - 1977)

Interview with Edwin Heaven

WWIII: The Nuns (The Nuns - 1980)
Down on the Street: Iggy and the Stooges (Fun House - 1970

Interview with Edwin Heaven

(I Saw You) Shine: Flipper (Generic - 1982)

Interview with Edwin and Prairie

The American in Me: Avengers (s/t - 1983)
Suicide Child: The Nuns (The Nuns - 1980)

Never Gonna Be: False Flag (unreleased - 2026)

These days even when I have no guest the studio is hoppin'! I love the energy that's been flowing through the Radio Valencia studios these days. It fills me with a lot of pride for what we've been doing here over the past 15+ years. I often keep the door wide open to attract passers-by to come through and check us out. This has actually led to a few new shows that have been making us sound fresher than ever!

I've been hosting a lot of guests over the past few months and I really thought it would just be you and me on Monday night, other than having a new host shadow me for the evening.

And then...

Daniel Haver of the FabMab came through with artist Dexter Hixon, who had been out "improving" the SF landscape and promoting some upcoming shows. Dexter designed the ceiling art at I Hate Records in the lower Haight, owned by Pretty Sims of False Flag and Cody of Surprise Privilege. He also makes some unique characters known as Siliclones. I played a song by his dad's 90s band Hive in the second hour.

I love having a radio station that doubles as a clubhouse for the local music scene. It's a dream come true.

As for the music tonight, it's as you would expect: many genres and eras.

This Monday, April 6, starting at 8pm Pacific, I'm excited to host legendary drummer Prairie Prince from The Tubes, Journey and Todd Rundgren. He'll be in to talk about his first solo album "Colours and Passions" that feature an incredible lineup: Todd Rundgren, Ross Valory, Buckethead, Jello Biafra, Ralph Spight, Cyril Jordan, Neil Hamburger, and the late great Ralph Carney.

I'll also have the quintessential "I was there" guy for SF’s punk and underground scenes, Edwin Heaven. His memoir "The Night I Got David Bowie Laid. Sorta" isn't just a collection of stories; it's a frantic, non-linear love letter to a version of San Francisco that feels like it’s slipping away.

These two have been best friends for 50 years and I can guarantee the conversation will get take a few turns throughout the night.

You do not want to miss this show!

Money: The Flying Lizards (S/T/ - 1979)
I Would Kill For Suzy: The Catheads (Hubba - 1987)

Don't Blame Me: The Freak Accident (The Midnight Show - 2026)
In Your Mind: The Terminals (Last Days of the Sun - 2008)

Mojo Navigator: Country Joe and the Fish (Together - 1967)
Louie, Louie: The Sonics (The Best of Louie Louie - 1983)
Carmelita: Warren Zevon (S/T - 1976)
Love Rolled: Mitch Polzak (Down South Blues - 2023)
My Baby's Gone: Jenny Don't and the Spurs (Broken Hearted Blue - 2023)

Muffin Man: Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and the Mothers of Invention (Bongo Fury - 1976)
Chartreuse: Ken Nordine (Colors - 1995)
Political Song For Michael Jackson to Sing: Minutemen (Double Nickels on the Dime - 1983)

Sunday Morning: Kelly Stoltz (The Velvet Underground and Nico...Castle Face - 2012)
The Ballad of El Goodo: Big Star (Number 1 - 1972)
I Swallowed A Dragonfly: Heatless Bastards (All This Time - 2006)
Live Loop: Butterscotch Tuna (Explosion in Texas Comp - 1994)

Cartographers: Linda Lindas (No Obligation - 2024)
Words of Advice/Kim Like the Great Gatsby: William S Burroughs (Smack My Crack - 1987)

I Once Was A Contender: Kate Vargas (Golden Hour in the House of Lugosi - 2025)
Gold: Hive (S/T 1995)
There She Goes My Beautiful World: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Abattoir Blues - 2004)

Volunteered Slavery: Roland Kirk (Volunteered Slavery - 1969)
Fairies Wear Boots: Brown Sabbath (Brounout - 2016)

Who Was In My Room Last Night: Butthole Surfers Independent Worm Saloon- 1993)

Radio is seduction. I like seduction. it just feels good. And who doesn't like to feel good. And this here show just keeps getting hotter and hotter until it climaxes in just the perfect way at just the perfect moment. And like any good seduction, there are twists and turns, a pull back here and there, a tease, a touch, a tickle. And throughout there are hints at what's to come.

Not go give anything away, but I should have worn gloves.

Every time I have Daniel from the FabMab into the studio I'm afraid the turntables are going to catch on fire. The banter, the wit, the inside jokes! All of it is worth it when you get to hear what we both brought in for your pleasure to night.

The anticipation is just killing me.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Tattoo Love Boys: Melvins and ShitKid (EP - 2021)
Hey Hey What Can I Do: Led Zeppelin (7" - 1970...but I slooooooooowed it down)

TV Is From Outer Space: Butch Willis and the Rocks (Forthcoming - 1986)
Lexicon Devil: Germs (7" - 1978)
Deuce: Redd Kross (Teenage Babes from Monsanto - 1984)

Requiem of Confusion: Shinki Chen (And His Friends - 1971)
I Don't Want It: Montrose (S/T - 1973)
Algo Ha Cambiado: Pappo (Pappo's Blues, Vol. 1 - 1970)
Fighting Cock: Rotomagus (7" - 1971)
Anti-Love Song: Betty Davis (S/T - 1973)

Hypodermic Needle: Novak's Kapelle (7" - 1968)
Babydoll: Eric McFadden Trio with Robin Coomer (Diamonds to Coal - 2010)
Chocolate Piano: Orang-Utan (S/T - 1971)
She Shook Me Cold: David Bowie (The Man Who Sold The World - 1971)

Satan: Freshwater (7" - 1970)
Mohawk Town: Paul Leary (Born Stupid - 2021)
Come On Over (Turn Me On): Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan (Sunday At Devil Dirt - 2008)

The Fire of Love: The Gun Club (Miami - 1982)
Broke My Own: Shannon Shaw (In Nashville - 2018)
You Got It: Pearl Harbor and the Explosions (S/T - 1980)
Only Son of a Ladies Man: Father John Misty (Fear Fun - 2012)

Nervous Breakdown: Black Flag (7" - 1978)
Rise: PIL (Album - 1978)

So much has changed in the past few weeks, that I think it's creeping into the music I play for you. You can't tell? Then you aren't paying attention.

We put on such a fine show at the FabMab and On Broadway on February 28th, I'm still floating above the floor. And I think about what Bowie said about doing your art: don't get too comfortable, and don't do it for the listeners; it'll compromise you.

How true.

There are many weeks, in the middle of my show, when I'm playing something with a sweet groove, that I think about playing a 15 minute long, dissonant track, but I often hold back, not wanting to alienate my audience. What's that about? I come from a long history of left-of-the-dial DJs who pride themselves on pushing the limits. I've written before about the two schools I carried on with at the mythic KFJC: always play something "accessible", versus "fuck 'em if they don't like it".

I've tried to walk the line in the middle over the years, but I'll admit I err on the side of the former a wee bit too often.

I need to recommit to pushing the sound in the direction that always brings me the most joy. This is not a selfish act. This is why you tune in. I take requests about .05% of the time, so it's not like I'm abandoning you.

Tonight was good ol' quality music that I tapped my toes along to the whole show.

I've got music spanning seven decades...or is it eight?

This Monday night Daniel Haver of Mabuhay Gardens is joining me to guest DJ. He has a $1000 7"-45 he's threatening to bring in. I may need to change the needles.

We have an exciting show Radio Valencia is co-presenting, and yours truly is producing on June 13th. Set your calendars. You do not want to miss this!

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

Wake Up The Sun: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (Person A - 2015)
Let Me Roll It: Paul McCartney and Wings (Band on the Run - 1973)

Up In My Soul: The Darts (Halloween Love Songs - 2026)
Loose: Iggy and the Stooges (Fun House - 1970)

Candy Sam: Ty Segall and the Muggers (Live at the BBC - 2026)
Handsome Nick: People's Temple (Musical Garden - 2014)
Pedro - Toulon: The Pedro Toulon Connect (I Mean Alarmed - 2021)
Lilac Wine: Jeff Buckley (Grace - 1994)

Odds Against Tomorrow: Bill Orcutt (Odds Against Tomorrow - 2019)
Bad Luck: Sonny Terry (Sonny is King - 1962)

Die By The Sword: Pancho and the Wizards (Cemetery - 2019)
Hallogallo: Neu! (Neu! - 1972)
SS Cygni: Chrome (Alien Soundtracks - 1977)

Evil People: Mien (Miien - 2025)
Prince of Darkness: Bow Wow Wow (7" - 1981)

Fatalidad: Money Chicha (Chicha Summit - 2021)
Little Red Hen: Taj Mahal (Oooh So Good 'n' Blues - 1973)
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp: Led Zeppelin (III - 1970)
Liar: Bikini Kill (S/T - 1992)

I'm Not A Loser: Amyl and the Sniffers (Big Attraction - 2019)
The Green Manalishi: The Flesh Eaters (I Used To Be Pretty - 2018)
Jack O'Diamonds: Odetta (Mojo - The Complete Unknown - 2025)

Blue 'n' Boogie: Miles Davis (Walkin' - 1955)

Hosting bands is a real treat when you're in radio. I remember being young in the radio game and getting nervous whenever I knew I had a recording artist coming onto my show. I did not want to mess this up. In those days at KFJC, most of the artists I would interview were either big names (George Clinton), or no names (you name it, they probably aren't around anymore). Either way I needed to be prepared.

And preparing pre-Internet was a chore. If the name was known (James Brown), the prep was simple (a brief history and mostly current project, tour, etc.). If they were a younger band with an album out, then I hoped there was enough bio info on the sleeve to help me prepare. Maybe the label would send something over?

The biggest lesson I learned about interview was to be a better listener. The best interviews are the ones where the follow-up questions are relevant and strong. I want to probe; get to the root. You will know the answer to my questions, but I want you to pause and reflect before you respond. My favorite response will always be "that's a really good question".

Over the years I've taken pride in how well I facilitate an interview. I've had many of my subjects state this was the best interview they've ever had. That's incredibly flattering. I love having my guests, famous or not, feel completely comfortable behind the mic. Some interviews I've hosted with bands have been so good I've invited them back with the caveat they need to guest DJ with me the nest time they're in. They love that, and many have taken me up on it.

Tonight I had Roman from P.O.S. in the studio promoting his upcoming show at the Mabuhay Gardens (FabMab) where he'll be turning 19!!! This was his first radio show, and I loved the conversation. He was so honest and vulnerable, and present. I could not ask for a better subject to talk with.

Roman has a deep thrash metal pedigree. His father and uncle were in Death Angel, and band I loved while growing up in San Mateo in the 80s. Roman continues this tradition of quality thrash, with blinding-fast guitar, pounding rhythms, and timely lyrics about what it is to be a youth in today's society, living at the end of gangster capitalism.

They have a Bandcamp page where you can find their demo, which we played all four songs on the show. See the playlist below.

Come to Roman's birthday show this Saturday at the FabMab. You may just see me in the pit!

Do you have a band you want interviewed on Radio Valencia? Hit me up via email with music attached and I'll get in touch.

You may have heard the news that Jello Biafra suffered a stroke on Sunday. We're looking into the possibility hosting a fundraiser for him, but want to talk with him first. Stay tuned to the Radio Valencia socials for this.

We're also working on a summer show at On Broadway with their amazing crew, two of whom were in the studio with me Monday night. Daniel "Asterisk" Haver, and Empress Katrina Zonotto hung out to talk music and running the most important club in San Francisco music history (IMHO). Daniel admitted to two things that you'll need to listen into to find out about.

There's much to enjoy about this here show, even if there was a bit more roommate radio than I prefer. We laughed a lot, and that's what's most important.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Green Green Grass of Home: Tom Jones (Greatest Hits - 1965)
Stars and Stripes of Corruption: Dead Kennedys (Frankenchrist - 1985)
The Money Will Roll Right In: Fang (Land Shark - 1982)

Interview with Roman of P.O.S.

Deceiver: P.O.S.
Isolation: P.O.S.
Inhumanity: P.O.S.
Mauled: P.O.S.

Interview with Roman of P.O.S.

Rebel: The Viletones (7" - 1977)
Sit on My Face Stevie Nicks: The Rotters (7" - 1978)
You Say You Love Me: The Headcoatees (Here Comes Cessation - 1997)
Love Whip: Reverend Horton Heat (Smoke 'em if you Got 'em - 1990)

Cornfed Dames: The Cramps (A Date with Elvis - 1986)
She's The One That's Got It: Allen Page (7" - 1958)
The Girl Can't Dance: Bunker Hill (7" - 1963 with Link Wray)
Do You Have A Job For A Girl Like Me: The Delinquents (7" - 1973)

Your Ass Is Next In Line: The Mummies (Never Been Caught - 1992)
Batman and Robin Over The Rooftops: Sun Ra (Batman & Robin - 1966)
Would It be Worth It: Hands of Time (7" - ???)
Sloppy Drunk Blues: Big Joe Williams (Tough Times - 1960)

John The Relevator: Scott H. Biram (Sold Out To The Devil - 2019)
You Got Me: Theoretical Girls (7" - 1978)
Mexican Radio: Wall of Voodoo (Call of the West - 1982)
White Girl: X (Wild Gift - 1981)

Tell Me That You Love Me: James Brown and His Famous Flames (7" - 1967)
Egyptian Shumba: The Tammys (7" - 1964)
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong (What A Wonderful World - 1967)
The Way We Were: Wild Man Fischer and Mark Mothersbaugh (1989 for Pee Wee's Playhouse's final episode)

And the hits just keep on rolling.

Following our exciting Saturday at the FabMab and On Broadway, celebrating the 50th anniversary of punk rock in San Francisco, booker of the Mabuhay Gardens (and General Manager???) Daniel Haver, who was kind enough to bring down a bunch of delightfully rare 45s.
I ended up having the legendary Connie Champagne in the studio, who was meeting Daniel there to pick up her music stand.

Connie spent many great years singing with The Mutants, along with her own solo career, and singing alongside other luminaries such as Michael Belfer, Debora Iyall, Cyndi Lauper, and Jim Carroll.


She won the SF Weekly Wammie Award for Outstanding Cabaret Performer, and is known for portraying Judy Garland in productions including Christmas With the Crawfords in 2001 and Imagine Judy Garland: An Evening With Connie Champagne in 2003. She won a 2007 San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Award (BACTC) for her role in Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

She's funny, irreverent, an excellent storyteller, and ready with a well-timed quip. It was a real pleasure - albeit a surprising one - hosting her tonight.

Really, she was just swinging by to pick up her music stand.

Much of the music tonight was a mix of what I brought down, mixed with what Daniel wanted to feature on 45". And then Connie made a bunch of requests, including a song of David Johnasen's that she covered! This woman has a story for every song. And I'm sure a song for every story.

You do not want to miss this one.

I may get to a formal write up about the FabMab/On Broadway show, including a bunch of pics I took. I have to thank Jess Lynn Goss of Mission Local for the wonderful write up on the show, which includes a bunch of great picture from the night, including one of my dear sweet daughter, Lauson Hell!!!!

Monday night I'm hosting Ramon from the band P.O.S. (Product and Society) and son of a member of Death Angel)), who is having his birthday party at the Fab Mab on March 13th. Come on down!

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

I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier: John Lennon (Imagine - 1971)
Nuclear War: Sun Ra (A Fireside Chat With Lucifer - 1982)

Bend Me, Shape Me: The Models (7" - 1966)
Black Grease: The Black Angles (Passover - 2006)

Mind Your Business: Delta 5 (7" - 1979)
Death Train: The Bobby Lees (Bellevue - 2024)
Ça Plane Pour Moi: Plastic Bertrand (Ça Plane Pour Moi - 1978)
Toxic Revenge: Shannon and the Clams (Sleep Talk - 2011)

Interview with Connie Champagne

Slash Your Face: The Dogs (7" - 1978)
Gacy's Place: The Mentally Ill (7" - 1979)
Instant Coffee Land: Bruce Chowning (7" - 1979)
Motorcycle Boy: LA Witch (Play with Fire - 2020)
Everything's Gonna Be Alright: Big Mama Mae Thornton (With Muddy Waters Band - 1966)

Frenchette: Connie Champagne (La Strada - 1991)
So Hard: Some Japanese Band
Don't Talk About My Music: Dickens (7" - 1971)
I'm Bored: Iggy Pop (New Values - 1979)

Demolicion: Los Saicos (7" - 1965)
A Donde Van Los Muertos: Kinky (Reina - 2006)

Linda: Sleepers (7" - 1978)

Leading up to our epc co-presents at the fabled Mabuhay Gardens and On Broadway I hosted a rare Friday night special with two up and coming bands: False Flag and Bitchfit. Both bands played the evening showcase on Saturday night, upstairs at the On Broadway in support of Flipper and Friends and the 50th anniversary celebration of punk in San Francisco and the opening of the Fab Mab.

False Flag features sisters Pretty Sims (bass/vocals), Strong Sims (guitar/vocals) and Bayden Tubelle (drums). The will assault all manners of pretense once the curtain drops and they will not let up until they've been dragged from the stage, cables wrapped around their limbs like a junkie waiting for just one more aural fix. Lyrics born of urban decay and blight from a male-dominated culture, False Flag aren't just re-writing what the many-facetted genre of punk looks like in 2026, they honestly don't care what you think about them. They don't do this for you. They do what every band that has ever been worth their weight has done: they do it for themselves, and you should thank your lucky stars they let you be along for the ride.

We played some songs and talked about music, their band, the record store I Hate Records that Pretty is also running (like they aren't busy enough), and setting the story straight on what exactly happened on that BART train.

Following False Flag the young start ups, Bitchfit from Oakland came through. They opened the show on Saturday night, and even though they don't have anything released yet, their reputation of fierce females on this scene proceeded itself. Full of charisma, confidence and hardcore ethos, Talulah (drums) and Ailish (bass/vocals) talked about bringing topics like body positivity, human rights politics and what we should be angry about today!

Witnessing both bands on stage Saturday night was a treat. The torch is firmly placed in the fists of both of these bands.

The image at the top is the poster created by the one and only Richie Goodtimes for the event. Thanks Richie.

Check out the interviews here, along with music from False Flag and a bunch of other punks I love.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Glorious: Polkacide
Party!: The Mutants

Interview with False Flag

How To Ruin Your Life: False Flag
Ha Ha Ha: Flipper
California Uber Alles: Dead Kennedys

Interview with False Flag

Corpus Christi: Avengers
One Man War: False Flag

Interview with False Flag

The Midnight Show: The Freak Accident
Fascists Eat Donuts: Pop-O-Pies
Boris: Melvins

Business on Parade: MDC
The Shah Sleeps in Lee Harvey's Grave: Butthole Surfers
Put A Little Love In Your Heart: Circle Jerks
Police Truck: Dead Kennedys

Interview with Bitch Fit

Midnight Creep: The Darts
Hellfudge: Lard

Interview with Bitch Fit

Keith Moon: Mike Krol
Frock Block: OSees
X Offender: Blondie

Nothing In This World Stop Me Thinking About That Girl: The Kinks
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

My posts are never written using AI of any kind. This shitty writing is mine and mine alone.

What a delight it was celebrating my 600th show on Radio Valencia by hosting four musicians who helped shape the punk history in San Francisco.

Who would have thought when I started my road in radio in the late 80s, that I would grow up to hosts legends of a music scene that was too young to enjoy when it was at its height, but came to love it deeply?

I have always followed my bliss. Music has always been my bliss. I'm not much of a fanboy...Ok, maybe for Ty Segall, but other than that I just really enjoy being around music and musicians, for the love of the art. I like talking music. I love reading about music. My favorite books about music are when the artist is talking about making the art. Keith Richard's book "Life" does this well.

37 years in radio (yikes!) has honored me with seeing some incredible live music, interviewing countless bands, and getting to know some of the finest people to grace a stage. I'm living the life! Monday night I was lucky to host four people who have made their mark on the San Francisco music scene, and will be doing so once again this coming Saturday at the newly reopened Mabuhay Gardens and On Broadway in North Beach.

Fritz and Brendan from The Mutants, Henry Rosenthal (Hank Rank) of Crime, and Ralph Spight of The Freak Accident spent the evening with me telling tales of the heyday of punk in the city, and the venue that sparked the magic. Music from these bands and other bands of the day are sprinkled throughout, all in preparation for a great night at the FabMab and On Broadway.

I am honored to be co-producing this show with Steve DePace of Flipper. Radio Valencia is co-presenting and will be spinning music throughout the night. And I'm your MC!!!

Tickets are almost gone for these two events, so please go to the Radio Valencia events page to grab yours before they're gone.

Tune in Friday 8-10PM Pacific for a special on the upcoming live shows, featuring Steve DePace of Flipper, and members of BitchFit and False Flag.

Here's to 600 more shows on Radio Valencia!!!

jh

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


The Catholics Are Attacking: Pop-O-Pies (The White EP - 1982)
Car Crash: Avengers (ST - 1983)

Wild: The Nuns (S/T - 1980)
White Punks on Dope: The Tubes (S/T - 1975)

B-Side: Sleepers (7" - 1980)
Plastic TV Land on Acid: Pope Paul Pot

San Francisco's Doomed: Crime (San Francisco's Doomed - 1978)
Rock 'N' Enemy No. 1: Crime (San Francisco's Doomed - 1978)
Murder By Guitar: Crime (Murder By Guitar 1976 - 1980)

Party!: The Mutants (Curse of the Easily Amused - Recorded in 1979, Released in 2026)
New Drug (Version 2): The Mutants ( Fun Terminal - 1979)
Noises and Numbers: The Mutants (Curse of the Easily Amused - Recorded in 1979, Released in 2026)

Fairytales: The Freak Accident (The Midnight Show - 2026)
Cat Bird Seat: The Freak Accident (The Midnight Show - 2026)

I found that I was drawn to jazz and soulful international music this past week. Someone recently asked me how I prepare for my shows. I've written about this before, but I think it bares repeating. I don't host a specialty show, or genre-specific show, so I play whatever feels good, week to week. It's true, I often default towards the punk or garage, but even that's more rare than one would think. I'm a huge Deadhead (more of a Dead fReAk) but you're not going to hear them too often on here, and I think that's because they're such a heavy in my everyday life, that I use this show to focus on the other music that turns me on.

And there's a lot that turns me on.

I also like to keep you guessing. I was driving home after my show listening to KALX, and the DJ was playing an excellent thrash punk track, and followed it up with something that was neo-classical. I swear I almost pulled over to call and thank him. I applauded in the car, while driving. True story.

I feel that it's the responsibility of DJs at independent stations (Radio Valencia, KFJC, KALX, WFMU, KEXP, etc) to push the limits of what we have become comfortable with; not just what the listener is used to hearing. I take pride in a lot of what I share with you.

I do have my guilty pleasures, however. Even in this show I played a few tracks that I've shared over the years. It felt right at the time. And I will probably do it again.

But now I'm inspired to keep taking the risks that I should. Next week prepare for thrash metal to be followed by folk, followed by electronica. I can do that. You can't stop me.

Speaking of next week, it's my 600th show at Radio Valencia!!! I think I want to have a party. Wanna come? You need to bring snacks.

And as if you didn't know this already, Radio Valencia is co-presenting a huge show on February 28th at the newly reformed Mabuhay Gardens and On Broadway in celebration of 50 years of punk in San Francisco. I'm co-producing this along with Steve DePace of Flipper. See the attached fliers for details, and click on the links (in the fliers) to get your tickets.

These shows will sell out, so get them now!!!

See you next Monday night for my 600th!

Enjoy and please share.

There Is Power in the Union: Billy Bragg
I Want To Marry A Lighthouse Keeper: Erika Eigen
The Hands of Time: The Perfect Circle (S/T - 1977)

California Dreaming: Eddie Hazel (Games, Dames, and Guitar Thangs - 1977)
Unfunky UFO: Parliament (Mothership Connection - 1975)

Kush: Dizzy Gillespie (Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac - 1967)

Baroona: Kourosh Yaghmaei (Back From The Brink - 1973 - 1979)
Last Bongo in Belgium: Incredible Bongo Band (40 Years of Incredible Bongo Band - 1973)

The Horse Song: Iggy Pop (Zombie Birdhouse - 1981)
Roforofo Fight: Fela Kuti (Roforofo Fight - 1972)

Ring the Alarm: Tenor Saw (7" - 1985)
Gatur Bait: The Gaturs (Wasted - 1971)
Boodle-De-Bum-Bum: Carolina Chocolate Drops (Leaving Eden- 2012)
Anti-Love Song: Betty Davis (Betty Davis - 1974)
Spinning Wheel (Take 2): James Brown (Live At Home With His Bad Self: The After Show - 1971)

Conception: Miles Davis (The New Sounds - 1951)
The Rain: Eddie Gale (Ghetto Music - 1968)

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

Well, isn't this special? It's not a special. There's a specialization in the ability to bring your something special. I was told once it takes 20 years to master anything truly special. That being said, this here is a special non-specialty specialized....er, um...show.

Really.

I was really feeling it tonight. This was a show of segues and many genres.

I'm sure you've heard by now that Radio Valencia is co-presenting a huge show, in association with SF Music Week on February 28th at the legendary venues Mabuhay Gardens and On Broadway in celebration of 50 years of punk in San Francisco.

Come in the afternoon, starting at 2pm, to the Fab Mab, for a punk history presentation, followed by a panel featuring members of Flipper, Avengers and Crime, as well as V. Vale. I Hate Records will be selling records on site. The best pizza place in the country, Tony's Napoletana, is sponsoring and we'll have pizza available for those who show up early.

In the evening we're having a great show upstairs starting at 7:30, featuring Bitchfit, False Flag, The Freak Accident, Fang and Flipper. Members of Avengers and Dead Kennedys will be joining in the fun. Heaps Normal and Escape From New York Pizza are sponsoring.

You are going to tell everyone you were at this show!

Morning Has Broken: Cat Stevens (Teaser and the Firecat - 1971)
Space Ho's Coast to Coast: MF Doom and Madlib (Madvillian: Madvillainy Remixes - 2008)

Two Sevens Clash: Culture (Two Sevens Clash -1977)
Jungle Lion: The Upsetters (Double Seven - 1973)

Flying Hye: John Berberian and The Middle Eastern Ensemble (S/T - 1969)
Black Mountain Side: Led Zeppelin (1 - 1968)
Within You Without You: The Beatles (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - 1967)
Free Money: Patti Smith Group (Horses - 1975)

Sunderberry Dream: FUZZ (Fuzz's Fourth Dream - 2026)
If I Think: Mudhoney (Superfuzz Bigmuff - 1988)
Frenzy: Iggy Pop (Every Loser - 2023)

Roll Another Number: Neil Young and Crazy Horse (Tonight's The Night - 1975)
Since You've Been Gone: Aretha Franklin (Lady Soul - 1968)
Beaux J. Poo Boo: Les McCann (Invitation to Openness - 1972)

False Witness: False Flag (One Million Tons - 2024)
Black Sabbath: Michael Mills (Hidden And Satanic Messages In Rock Music -???)
Lord of This World: Black Sabbath (Master of Reality - 1971)
Freya: The Sword (Age of Winters - 2006)
American BB: The Jesus Lizard (Down - 1994)

Fast Cars: Buzzcocks (Another Music in a Different Kitchen - 1978)
Rowche Rumble: The Fall (Live at St. Helens Technical College - 1981)
No Time For The Blues: OBNIII's (Live in San Francisco - 2013)

No Place to Fall: Kevin Morby (7" - 2022)
Late Night: Shannon Lay (Geist - 2022)
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

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

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)

Listen to this show right here!!!
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Damn.

I knew when I was in my early 20s that eventually they would all be gone. That's a thought we all probably have about our favorite artist: one day they'll be gone. For the most part we note it and move on. But what about when that band is our calling? The go-to band. The band that you have invested so much of your musical life to?

They're still going to go.


Brent went in 1990. Jerry went in 1995. Phil in 2024. The way Bobby, the youngest, worked out, daily, I think we all expected him to be the last to go. When we heard of his passing it was a shock. I'm not on social media I don't know if there were stories of him having a cancer scare last summer, which the family said he was able to get past; lung issues eventually did him in.

Bobby was known to spit out the lyrics, and I mean literally. If you stood in the crowd in front of him there were chances you would get a shower. He was such a crooner in the 90s, really playing to the crowd.

I've written a lot about my time seeing the Grateful Dead over the years. The 40th anniversary of my first show just passed: December 30, 1985. Post-Dead I saw a few of the incarnations. I saw Phil a few times, went to the two days of Fare Thee Well in 2015 in Santa Clara, saw Dead and Co twice a decade or so ago. I'm happy the music continued to bring so much joy to so many people, and brought in a lot more fans.

Bobby postulated about the music lasting 300 years. I'd have to imagine that's possible. There are so many people who have been inspired by the music created by Jerry and the boys, that it is conceivable it will grow and morph into the band that be "most triumphant and unite the world". And here you thought it would be Wyld Stallyns.

So here we are, closer than ever to being the orphans we knew we would one day be. Has anyone checked in on Billy, Mickey, TC, Ned and Bruce? If you know, you know.

As for this here tribute, I think Bobby would appreciate what he sees. I start out with an acoustic set, with a few special guests. I then move on to a proper first set, with those first set songs you've come to know and love, before moving onto the second set jams we all live for.


There is minimal set breaks throughout the show. I marked each track with the date of the performance. There were two shows in 1978, when Jerry had laryngitis, that each song was a Bobby songs. These are all Bobby songs, with only four cover songs. On my blog I've linked all the shows to Archive so you can listen to them all the way through. And you want to do that. All the links are soundboard or matrix (mix of soundboard and audience. I grew up thinking I only wanted to listen to pristine soundboards, but once I started to give audience recordings a listen that what I listen to almost exclusively. The sound of the crowd interacting with the music is a real treat.

What else is there to say? Thanks Ace, it's been a true pleasure. Oh, I always wanted to ask how the hell you grew to look so damn old all of a sudden? And why the beard? You went from being so young a fit, to someone's grandfather over night.

You still rocked like a young man. See you on the other side; wherever that is

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

Green, Green Grass of Home - May 31, 1969
Dark Hollow - September 20, 1970 with Dave Grisman
Wake Up Little Susie - June 4, 1970 with David Nelson and John "Marmaduke" Dawson
Monkey and the Engineer - October 11, 1980
Cassidy - October 14, 1980

Jack Straw - January 22, 1978
Beat It On Down The Line - April 26, 1971 with Duane Allman
Yellow Dog Story - May 24, 1969
Mexicali Blues - August 27, 1972
New New Minglewood Blues - March 9, 1981

Greatest Story Ever Told - September 28, 1972 (with St. Stephen jam)
The Music Never Stopped - May 9, 1977

Estimated Prophet - December 26, 1979
Take a Step Back - May 8, 1977
Playin' In The Band - February 18, 1971 (the first one)
New Potato Caboose - February 14, 1968

Throwing Stones - October 09, 1989
Sugar Magnolia - November 11, 1973

What a jolly fine night this was. My good buddy John Karr, who runs sound at Rickshaw Stop came by with his colleague, Carmen Caruso, to talk up the club and spin some tunes from some upcoming shows. What makes this a hoot is that the staff of Rickshaw Stop are the one's curating the shows. This doesn't happen often, and when it does the staff bring together some really strong showcases.

I love talking music with people who know music. And it's a real treat to talk cross industry: radio and nightclub. We're all linked, you know. Artist, radio, clubs, record stores, promoters, critics. When we get together it's like we're comparing notes; a mind meld.

Carmen is also the fierce leader of the band Agouti, who is playing one of the showcases. The set that features her band also includes the other two who are on the bill, the Thursday. John and Carmen put this showcase together.

The following set of bands, featuring Gumby's Junk, is for the showcase that John Karr has put together for Thursday, January 22nd.

I love when people who know and love music as much as I do turn me on to really great stuff. Feel free to share what you love with me. It may just get a spin.

John and I also tease an event that Radio Valencia is co-presenting at the end of February. I am just popping at the seams to tell you about it, but you'll just have to wait until next week for the official announcement. Suffice it to say if you hunger for the deep Punk history of San Francisco then you are going to flip for this!

Check out the playlist below and click on the link above to listen in.

Go see live local music and support the artists by buying their records and merch!

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Truckin': Pop O Pies (The White EP - 1982)
Linda Blair: Redd Kross
Music Never Stopped: Grateful Dead (Blues for Allah - 1975)

Dragons: Agouti (Nodes - 2019)
Friendo: Grooblen (EP - 2025)
Living In A Flood: Everyone is Dirty (Caramels for Grandpa - 2023)

Stayin Alive by the Bee Gees: Gumby's Junk (Business and Pleasure - 2025)
Discover What Your Monsters Are: Rip Room (Alight and Resound - 2022)
Goblin Gruel Part 1: Inner Ear Brigade (Perkunas - 2024)

The Light, The Sound: Flipper (Gone Fishin' - 1984)
Paint It Black: Avengers (S/T - 1983)
Frustration: Crime (San Francisco's Doomed - 1978)
Wild: The Nuns (S/T - 1980)

Holiday in Cambodia: Dead Kennedys (Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables - 1980)
Bar-B-Que Pope: Butthole Surfers (Brown Reason To Live - 1983)

Irony Man: The Freak Accident (Octopus Head - 2022)
Youth of America: Melvins (Electroretard - 2001)

Silver Machine: Hawkwind (Live at the BBC 1972 - 2010)
A Writhing Jar: Bill Orcutt (Odds Again Tomorrow

I just read that for the first time since 2000 California is 100% drought free. For those who are 25 they have only known life either in a drought, going into a drought, or coming out of one. If that snow pack is deep then this might just be a good year for the Golden state!

And it's a new year for Radio Valencia! We've had a lot of ups and downs over the year, especially since COVID, but 2025 was a banner year! I am thrilled about the many new shows we've added, and even more so about the people staffing them. The tech side is getting a huge boost from some folks on staff who come with the credentials to bring us into the 21st century. Stay tuned in!

In the next week I have huge news to announce about a show I'm co-producing out the wilds of North Beach, at a once legendary venue that has new life being breathed into it. I am so excited about this, but I will not jump the gun. This will be a Radio Valencia co-presents, and you are going to want to be there. This is the kind of event that more people will claim to have attended than the venue can actually hold.

Wheeeeeeeeeeee!

As for this here show, being the first of the new year, I felt the need for a bit of a refresh. Some classic psych, blues, Black Power, folk, spiritual jazz, garage, krautrock, chicha, and so much more.

Take a look at the playlist below, and click that link to give it a listen.

This coming Monday night I'm excited to have San Francisco's top soundman, John Karr in the studio, playing music from the many shows he engineers around the city and talking up this upcoming show I spoke about above. Oooh boy, this is going to be fun.

You do not want to miss this show.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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


Some Velvet Morning: Vanilla Fudge (Near the Beginning - 1968)
White Man's Got A God Complex: Last Poets (This is Madness - 1971)

Crawlin' King Snake: John Lee Hooker (I'm John Lee Hooker - 1960)
My Time After A While: Buddy Guy (Chess Masters - 1984)

Memory of a Free Festival: David Bowie (Conversation Piece 5 CD Box Set - 2019)
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues: Bob Dylan (Highway 61 Revisited - 1965)
Peace Frog/Blue Sunday: The Doors (Morrison Hotel - 1968)

There She Goes My Beautiful World: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Abattoir Blues - 2004)
Looking for Your Door (Chrome): OSees (Levitation Sessions II - 2021)

21st Century Schizoid Man: King Crimson (In The Court of the Crimson King - 1969)
Hare Krishna: Alice Coltrane (Universal Consciousness - 1971)

What's In My Head (Demo): FUZZ (Fuzz's Fourth Dream - 2025)
Broken Hearted Blue: Jenny Don't and the Spurs (Broken Hearted Blue - 2023)

Spray: Can (Future Days - 1973)
Footprints: Wayne Shorter (Adam's Apple - 1966)

King Solomon's Marbles: Grateful Dead (Blues for Allah - 1975)
Ojos Azure: Money Chicha (Chicha Summit - 2021)

Gaia: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (Omnium Gatherum - 2022)

It took eight years, but my son Bodhi finally popped his radio cherry. Ew, that didn't sound right. That being said, he was really excited to come into the Radio Valencia studios Monday night to play his favorite K-Pop tunes for you all.

I was thinking back to Lauson's first show when she played songs I wouldn't normally play for you all. Who cares?!?!? The joy of having this little guy in the studio outstripped any esoteric, dissonant tune I could have made you sit through. Then again, I think you know what I think about pop music.

I wasn't about to yuck his yum.

Bodhi and I listen to a lot of music and home, so he's already used to dad's taste. I encouraged him to play the songs that he likes, so you get a few tracks from the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack. He loves the idea of this movie, but it's still a little scary fo him to
sit through. You have no idea how thrilled I am that he's not desensitized to scary films yet. He'll hide behind the couch sometimes. Considering what I accidentally did to Lauson when she was 5 or 6, I couldn't be happier that Bodhi will still cover his eyes.

It's all about the music for this little guy. He also pulled out a track from the Minecraft movie.

Mom (Sgt. Sauce) was also in the studio, showing full support for our offspring. It's been many moons since she stepped behind the mic, and as always brought some great music along.

I've marked their selections with "B" and "SS".

I do what I do throughout, including interviewing our shrewd eight year old on all things of interest.

Take a listen to the next generation of music aficionados here, and enjoy the banter along with the pop!


Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

When The Levee Breaks: Led Zeppelin (IV - 1971)

Soda Pop: Saja Boys (K-Pop Demon Hunters - 2025) - B
Nancy From Now On: Father John Misty (Fear Fun - 2012)

Surf Rider: Il Est Vilaine (Surf Rider - 2015) - SS
Here and Now: The Black Angels (Wilderness of Mirrors - 2022)
The Wizard: Brownout (Brown Sabbath Vol. 1 - 2014)

Your Idol: Saja Boys (K-Pop Demon Hunters - 2025) - B
Motorcycle Boy: LA Witch (Play with Fire - 2020)
Ghouls: Wooden Shjips (Back To Land - 2013)

I Got Heaven: Mannequin Pussy (Live at KEXP - 2024) - SS
Memories of a Cut Off Head: OCS (Memories of a Cut Off Head - 2017)
The Waitress Song: First Aid Kit (Stay Gold - 2014)

Takedown: Huntrix (K-Pop Demon Hunters - 2025) - B
The Vow: Shannon and the Clams (The Moon is in the Wrong Place - 2024)
Jesus Christ: Big Star (Complete Third - Vol 3: Final Masters - 2017)

If System of a Down were from India: Nooran Sisters and SOAD - SS
Nimerudi (Salmagundi Version): GOAT + MC Yallah
Vay Dunya: Altin Gun (Gece - 2019)

How It's Done: Huntrix (K-Pop Demon Hunters - 2025) - B
Steve's Lava Chicken: Jack Black (Minecraft Movie - 2025) - B
Creep: Cover by mom and son - SS
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

Ok, ok, ok, ok, ok. No really, ok. It's ok. It's fine. It's ok. Ok.

Whew. OK. ok

What was it I was trying to say?

ok

No, not that. That couldn't have been all? Maybe it was.

Music moves me. And hosting a radio show allows me to take what moves me and shove it down your throat. And I mean that in the nicest way.

ok

A friend tuned into the last half hour of this show and commented that my show is so eclectic with the Beatles, psych, punk and alt.

They missed the other 15 genres I played!

ok

For some really odd reason I was in the mood for some electronica tonight. I am NEVER in the mood for electronica. Our former DJ, Timmiii, had the best electronica show I have ever heard, and I knew I could never do it justice, so I just shied away from playing much on my show. Tonight something called me, so you'll hear an early Silver Apples, and Harald Grosskopf. The Osees bring their full new Can-style in their latest release. The Seastones track will help your plants grow.

Funk, Jazz, Neo-soul, Hip-Hop, Krautrock, and Dub round out most of the show. New music from Orcutt, Shelley, Miller blew me away. Go see them live. I also have new music from Kate Vargas and Psychedelic Porn Crumpets.

Tune in for more than 30 minutes and you never know where you'll travel.

OK?

ok.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Kansas City: James Brown (Cold Sweat - 1967)
School Days: Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker (Diz 'N' Bird in Concert - 1953)

You Better Have A Gun: Fantastic Negrito (White Jesus, Black Problems - 2022)
By The Time I Get To Arizona: Brownout (Fear of a Brown Planet - 2018)

Suicide: ICE (Each Man Makes His Destiny - 1973)
To All The Girls/Shake Your Rump: Beastie Boys (Paul's Boutique - 1989)
Emphasis: Harald Grosskopf (Krautrock Eruption - 2025)
Lovefingers: Silver Apples (S/T - 1968)

Don't Blow the Experiment: Osees (Live at the Broad Museum - 2025)

Time We Left This World Today: Hawkwind (Doremi Faso Latido - 1972)
V-B: Ned Lagin and Phil Lesh (Seastones - 1975)

Dread Lion: Lee Perry and the Upsetters (Super Ape - 1976)
Bankrobber/Robber Dub: The Clash (Black Market Cash - 1980)

A Star is Born: Orcutt, Shelley, Miller (S/T - 2025)
Dirt: Iggy and the Stooges (Funhouse - 1970)

Serrated Knife: Kate Vargas (Golden Hour in the House of Lugosi - 2025)
My Home Town: Mark Mothersbaugh (Potatoes: A Collection of Folk Songs from Ralph Records - 1987)
The Badge Means You Suck: AK-47 (Bloodstains Across Texas - 1992)

Bowling with Tim: Psychedelic Porn Crumpets (Pogo Rodeo - 2025)
Get Back (Take 8): The Beatles (Anthology Vol. 4 - 2025)