How I love to teach the next generation of great DJs!!! Tonight I had the pleasure of hosting the next great Radio Valencia DJ, Gatsby Fassbinder, who hosts "Tighten Up Your Wig" every Thursday from 4-6PM. He chose some amazing tracks to play this evening (all of which I marked "GB"). He easily won "Set of the Night" as well. This Gatsby fella is pretty darn good. Give him a listen.

I dished up some tasty treats as well. Last Poets, Nick Cave, William Shatner, new Boris, and new Magnetic Zeros (they appear to be in the verge of dropping the Edward Sharpe prefix).

Something for the whole family to devour, every Monday night, 8-10PM on Radio Valencia.

Next Monday night, guitarist Michael Cobra will guest DJ with me. His last appearance in the kitchen was a memorable one. Take a listen here, and then tune in next week.

Enjoy.

jh

I Love Living In The City: Danko Jones
The White Man's Got A God Complex: Last Poets
There She Goes My Beautiful World: Nick Cave

Theme From Cyrano/Mr. Tambourine Man: William Shatner
What Love Is: Dead Boys
Race Against Time: Public Enemy
Little By Little: Dukes of Hamburg - GB
Planet of the Apes: The Mummies

***Set of the Night*** with DJ Gatsby
See Me Bleed: The Anomalys - GB
Rumble and Brighton Tonight: Stray Cats - GB
Reaper Invert: Wand - GB
Diamond Bollocks: Beck - GB
Featherbedding Lover: Nazz - GB

Fantomasfobia: Messer Chups - GB
Peace-loving Man: Blossom Toes - GB
I Don't Want Nobody: Randy California - GB
Darkest Light: Lafayette Afrorock Band

Arawan: Tinariwen - GB
Klouds: Gonja Sufi - GB

Farewell/Planet of the Cows: Boris with Merzbow
Sun King: The Beatles
Wake Up The Sun: The Magnetic Zeros

The End: Eno, Nico
Brazil: Frank Sinatra

I Love Living in the City: Danko Jones
White Punks On Dope: The Tubes
Common People: Leonard Nimoy

Great Day: Madvillian
Gravel Pit: Wu Tang Clan
If I'm In Luck I Might Just Get Picked Up: Betty Davis

Rapp Snitches Knishes: MF Doom
We People Who Are Darker Than Blue: Curtis Mayfield
The Sadist: Zig Zags

The Wolf Behind My Eyes: CFM
Birds Eye View: Statik Selektah
Wise is the Way: Living Legends
Hurry on Sundown: Hawkwind

Devil's Lake and Whiskey Town: Ovvl
Ancestors: Queen Crescent
Ain't No Thang: Outkast
Buenos Tardes Amigo: Ween

***Set of the Night***
Dick Problems: Dick Like GG
We Don't Quit: Flat Earthers
Steps: Meatbodies
Fish: The Traditional Fools
Satori Part 2: Flower Travellin' Band

Til The Night Meets the Light: Low Flying Hawks
So Real: MED

From last Monday, because you know you were waiting with baited breath...

Just a brief look at the playlist below and you'll see why I consider radio the art of the segue. So many genres packed into this two hour show. And a tasty 25 minute Grateful Dead treat, celebrating a brilliant show from 39 years ago! New music from Charles Moothart, the Melvins, Owl, and something you've never heard before from Boris. There's local music and music that's new to you. Something for the entire family. I wouldn't play Avenue D for the kids though.

Ooh, I even too a request! I so rarely do that. I guess I was just in the mood. I usually have so much music with me that I want to share, that I don't make time for your requests. What if I do an all-request show? Would you like that? May I do that just for little ol' you?

Enjoy.

jh

In The Flesh: Pink Floyd
Squeeze Me Macaroni: Mr. Bungle

So Blue (So Young): Low
Sweeter: Loop!Station
A Wake for the Minotaur: Shearwater and Sharon Van Etten

Avid Fan: Conan Neutron and the Secret Friends
Falling For You: Down in Front
Do I Look Like A Slut: Avenue D
Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky: Lou Donaldson

Slow and Low: Run DMC
Express Yourself: NWA
True Player For Real: MC Lars

Bummer Conversation: Mike and the Melvins
Lunar Heroine: Charles Mootheart

Cave of Whispers: Owl
Are You Ready: Boris

Scarlet Begonias/Fire On The Mountain: Grateful Dead (May 8, 1977)

My Favorite Things (remix): Negativland

Today is a day of celebration! May 3rd is the birthday of the Godfather of Soul, the HARDEST working man in show business (when he was still alive), Mr. Please Please Please, Mr. I Feel Good, Mr. Sex Machine: JAMES BROWN!

And to celebrate what would have been his 83rd birthday, I'm doing the only thing that I can: play one full hour of JB and JB related tunes. Specifically I'm playing some tracks you don't hear much on the radio, as well as a "Funky Drummer" set, as that tune is the most sampled tune in the history of music. I personally believe that drummer Clyde Stubblefield deserves a royalty each time his sick rhythm is copped.

To continue the party join me on KFJC Tuesday night, 6-10, where I host the prime time slot of the annual "Doin' It To Death" 28 hour James Brown birthday party!

In the second hour of tonight's show I feature two of my favorite bands, both of which are coming to town this week: Boris (playing New Parish in Oakland on Thursday, May 5th) and Melvins, featuring Steve McDonald of Redd Kross on bass (playing Slims on Thursday, May 5th, and Friday, May 6th along with Melt Banana and Napalm Death). You get 30 minutes of Melvins, followed by 30 minutes of Boris.

I'm going to both, but am having a hard time understanding why Boris would opt to play on the same night as the Melvins (Thursday), when they owe their existence (actually just their name) to them? It feels sacrilegious.

This is quite possibly the strangest themed show I have ever done. Maybe not.

Enjoy.

jh

Anti-Drug P.S.A.: James Brown
Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing: James Brown

I Feel Good (1975): James Brown
The Boss: James Brown
Caledonia: James Brown

There Was A Time (1970): James Brown
Funky Drummer (Bonus Beat Reprise): James Brown

***Funky Drummer Set***
Rebel Without a Pause: Public Enemy
Magic Number: De La Soul

I Am Stretched On Your Grave: Sinead O'Conner
Fuck the Police: NWA

The Talking Horse: Melvins
Hag Me: Melvins

Return of Spiders: Melvins (Alice Cooper cover)
Boris: Melvins
Billy Fish: Melvins

Blackout: Boris
Statement: Boris

Feedbacker 1: Boris
Tokyo Wonder Land: Boris

Tu La La: Boris

Aw man, really? Not cool, universe. Not cool. This has been one shitty year for music legends. I can kind of understand how Lemmy went. Bowie? That one hurt, but OK, fuck cancer and all that. But Prince? 57 years old. And now we're hearing that it may be a "Michael-Jackson's-doctor-kinda-thing". Do the JWs have something against meds? He was raised a Seventh-Day Adventist. We're they against meds? Or is it the other way around, and he was on too many meds? DAMN!

This one hurts, because he didn't stop being so damn prolific throughout the years. I read a great article about six months ago about how he could and would often record entire records in a matter of hours; overdubs and all. He has a vault of nearly complete releases that he just wasn't ready to release. I have to wonder when, if ever, those recordings will be released.

I first listened to Prince when Purple Rain came out in the summer of 1984. I was just shy of 14, and it was huge almost immediately upon release. The film came out a few months later, and that quickly changed the attire of many of my high school classmates. I was not into the fashion, but his guitar work quickly caught my attention. So many of my friends were metal-heads, and Deadheads, who wouldn't give him the time of day, but when I would play the guitar solo from "When Doves Cry" even they had to admit this guy was on his own level. Though Jimi has been dubbed the number 1 guitar GOD by too many critics (and who am I to disagree?), Prince is a very close second, in my opinion.

My father actually sold a ring to him during Prince's visit to SF in 1985, when he played a sold out Cow Palace. My father was the manager for Granat Brothers Jewelers on Grant and Geary in downtown San Francisco at the time. Prince walked in with his bodyguard, who was this HUGE white former wrestler with long white hair. Prince sat down in a chair, and the bodyguard asked for the manager. My father approached, and the bodyguard looked at my dad, pointed to Prince and growled "Do you know who that is?". My dad said "no". The bodyguard replied "that's Prince. He's going to be the biggest music star in the world!". He then asked to see a number of rings. My father presented them to Prince, who chose a beautiful diamond, ruby, sapphire ring. They paid in cash and walked out. True story.

Now Prince is dead. Prince is dead, and my father ended up going to see him perform at the Cow Palace for that show, which was the Purple Rain tour. I wonder where that ring is today?

I was a mobile and club DJ for many years between 1988-2002. Prince was always in the mix. ALWAYS. How couldn't he be? Prince made the cut in every club DJs set. And if you're a wedding DJ then you have no choice either.

Prince, I hope wherever you are it bathed in purple, with your pick of lovers and guitars. I can imagine a very long receiving line for you, and you not disappointing anyone in attendance.

So for tonight I offer you a showcase of some of my favorite Prince from over the years, as well as a few favorite covers; many of which you would never expect.

You may fade from the scene, but you will never fade from our soul.

RIP Prince. You left us all way too soon, but not without plenty to keep your memory alive.

(The image above was created by my friend Joe Mangrum, a sand artist, who you can see almost daily in Washington Square Park, in NYC. The original photo came from Theo Wargo)

Enjoy.

jh

Batdance: Prince
Sign O the Times: Prince

Creep: Prince (Live 2008 Coachella)
Get On The Good Foot/Rockhard In A Funky Place: TJ Kirk
When Doves Cry: Patti Smith
How Come you Don't Call Me: Alicia Keys

Erotic City: George Clinton and P-Funk All Stars
I Would Die For You: Prince

1999: Gary Numan
If I Was Your Girlfriend: TLC

Little Red Corvette: Prince (Orange Bowl - April 7, 1985 - Miami, FL)
Track 5: Nelson (Prince) - Cymone - Rivkin

While My Guitar Gently Weeps: Petty, Lynn, Winwood, Prince (RRHOF 2004)
Let's Go Crazy: Prince (Saturday Night Live - 40th Anniversary After Party)

Let's Pretend We're Married: Tina Turner
Raspberry Beret: Warren Zevon (Live November 20, 1990)
Movie Star: Miles Davis (Live at Montreux July 7, 1988)

Can I Play With U? Prince and Miles Davis
Kiss: Richard Thompson

Hot times in the ol' studio tonight! Radio as the premier aural artform. Some classic covers on this night, some deeply hidden live tracks, some jazzy goodness, perfect for the hot night that it was. Plenty of witty banter that will tickle your funny bone as well as clue you in to the back story of many of these timeless tunes.

Have you tuned into the "new" KFOG? And I thought they were bad before! Seriously, it does not appear that they have evolved into anything fresh and new! Good job, Cumulus. You fired DJs who cared about the local listeners, all the while playing crappy, lowest-common-denominator pablum, that they had no choice over. I swear I would LOVE for any GM to call me up and ask me to program a station for just one day. ONE DAY! There is too much quality music that KFOG has continuously passed by. Father John Misty? Jenny Lewis? Dave Alvin? COME ON! Lame KFOG has just proved once again why you NEED Radio Valencia. You already knew that though.

Let's start a petition to get KFOG to hire John Hell for one day to do its music programming. If they hate it then I'll quietly leave. If they love it, then I'll have my lawyers call theirs.

Enjoy.

jh

Ok, alright, I know that I told you that I was going to die, and you would no longer have dear old John Hell to kick around anymore. Well, it appears that my orthopedic surgeon actually does know his ass from a hole in the ground, and I'm back to tell the tale.

On March 16th I underwent ACL and meniscus reconstruction. That was fun. Laying on my ass for three weeks was not. My God it was so damn boring. Too much time on the couch. Too much Trailer Park Boys. Actually, there can never be too much Trailer Park Boys. Ricky is such a dick. Bubbles on the other hand is quite brilliant. I watched my share of movies, read a few great books and comics, and caught up on a few records that have been sitting in the stack for too long. But the sitting really took its toll. I have also come to the conclusion that ICE is my best friend.

I have never wanted to get back on the air as much in my life. And let me tell you by the end of my show tonight I was in some serious pain. Look what I do for my art.

There's a good mash up of genres tonight, and a small tribute to the late Merle Haggard, who died last week on his 79th birthday. I've got some new Melvins for you, music from the first Charles Mootheart (CFM) solo effort (he's Ty Segall's guitarist in Fuzz and the Ty Segall Band), along with some soon-to-be-released Zig Zags!!! There are some oddball choices tonight, as I've had a few weeks to consider what to play for you. The next few shows ought to be pretty fun too.

Tell you friends and my enemies that John Hell is back on the air.

See you next Monday night at 8.

Enjoy.

jh

Shit Luck: Modest Mouse
Two Headed Dog: Roky Erikson
Strange: Wire

The Bottle Let Me Down: Merle Haggard
The Bell: First Aid Kit
Shot By Both Sides: Magazine

A Friend In Need Is A Friend You Don't Need/Lifestyle Hammer: Mike and the Melvins
Ain't Gonna Rain Anymore: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Set The Controls for the Heart of the Sun: Pink Floyd

***Set of the Week***
Street Car History: Charles Mootheart (CFM)
Revolution Part 2: Butthole Surfers
Sweet Loafed: Jad Fair and Daniel Johnston
Highway 61 Revisited: Bob Dylan

Moonlight in Glory: Brian Eno and David Byrne
Dancing Barefoot: Patti Smith
Dollar Days: David Bowie

They Came For Us: Zig Zags
Double-Crossing Time: John Mayall's Blues Breakers
Stop Start: Lee Morgan

Poison Apple: Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats
Out of Touch: Lucinda Williams
I Must Have Been Blind: Eugene Chadbourne

Cold In Effect: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

From last Monday night: "This is it! My very last show. I'm having knee surgery on Wednesday and I may not make it back alive. This is your very last chance to hear my voice LIVE on the radio."

So it appears that I made it through the surgery, and I'm alive to tell the tale. Not much of a tale to tell. I have a new ACL, a cleaned up meniscus, and I'm laid up on the couch on lots of meds, healing, listening to music, reading books, watching movies, including the Zappa Roxy film. DAMN! I'm on lots of meds. Did I mention that? I can't recall. I also can't see very well because of said meds, so I don't know if there are any typos. I'm happy I know how to type when I'm not on meds. This may help the current situation. When I was in grocery I used to 10-key like a mo-fo! Seriously, I was the fastest one on the line. I was like a blur. I would talk to customers while I rang them up, and they would be all nervous that I would accidentally charge them the incorrect price for something. I assured them that everything would be spot on, and if it wasn't then I would purchase them a tin of Altoids. I was never off, ever!

The meds also make me stray off topic.

Since last Monday was going to possibly be my final radio show, I pulled out many, but not quite all the stops. Much of the playlist for the night was my typical favorite fair. There are some surprises within, that I didn't mark down. And the witty banter is worth the price of the free admission.

If you are ever in a place where you believe that you are soon going to pass away off this mortal coil, then I encourage you to pull out all (or most) of your favorite anything and enjoy it to the very end. Now that I'm healing, on my couch, on lots of meds (did I mention the meds), it's all about the music and films and books that I get to enjoy. It's about taking a breath, and realizing that we really only do live once, so we better live it up, or get busy dying. We don't often get the opportunity to sit on our asses as prescribed by our doctor. So, when you do have those rare moments, take full advantage of them. Enjoy the arts like you haven't done before, reach out to family and friends and let them know you care, meditate, stare out the window into the wild world, and look forward to eventually rejoining that space, but do it with your newly found appreciation of what it means to take that well-deserved, if not prescribed time off.

Back to healing. Did I mention the meds?

Enjoy.

jh

In The Flesh: Pink Floyd
God of Thunder (DEMO): Kiss
High Roller: Cheap Trick

Chocolate Jesus: Tom Waits
Mercy Seat: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Mudride: Mudhoney
1970: The Stooges

Block of Ice: Thee Oh Sees
Jack the Maggot: FUZZ
Rollin and Tumblin': Baby Face Leroy Trio

Bring It On Home: Sonnyboy Williamson
Headbanger: King Tuff
I'm In Your Mindfuzz: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

***SET OF THE WEEK***
Bang Bang: Nancy Sinatra
Jump In Line: Harry Belefonte
Lexicon Devil: Germs
Happy Boy: The Beat Farmers
Sonic Reducer: Dead Boys

She Belongs To Me: The Nice
Interstellar Overdrive: The Melvins

Yatzar: John Zorn's Electric Masada

ACDC: Sweet
Magic: Zig Zags

Here's last Monday's show. Just take a look at the playlist! WOW! Are you kidding me? And new music from local pop-rockers The Y Axes. I love them live, by the way.

Tonight is my last show for a while. I'm getting knee surgery on Wednesday for a torn ACL and ripped up meniscus. Fun times. I may just die, so you're really going to want to tune in tonight from 8-10PM (PDST). I'm going to play all my favorites. I only have two hours, so who the hell knows what that'll sound like. Perhaps I'll just play them all at the same time. That should be fun...for me.

Enjoy.

jh

What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong
Billie's Blues: Billie Holiday
Stone Crazy: Buddy Guy

Six Miles Next Door: Yusef Lateef
Slowdown: Jack DeJohnette

Cosmic Debris: Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
King's Lead Hat: Brian Eno

'Tis A Pity She Was A Whore: David Bowie
The Reagan's Speak Out On Drugs
Billy is a Runaway: Goggs
Supernaut: Black Sabbath (DJ error!?!?!?!?!?!?!?)
Hold Dawn: The Y Axes

Hideous Woman: The Melvins
Eyes Peeled: METZ
Sweaty Little Girls: Battalion of Saints

More: Boris
Tour de France: Kraftwerk
Tourment in Junior High: Cardinal Sin

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood: Nina Simone
The Weight: Rick Danko and guests (March 1, 1978 - Roxy, LA, CA)
God's Been Drinking: Bernadette Seacrest and Her Yes Men

Pollen: The Blind Shake

I recently added the Drumpf extension to my Chrome. that means even if I type Trump into this blog, when I see it on my computer it'll say Drumpf. HA! Love it. I also added the Kardashian blocker, which kindly also blocks all-things Kanye, Kimye, and Jenner, and whatever other terms I add to it. I don't need the heartburn, knowhatimean? I can even add "John Hell" to it, and it'll block me! Wait, I don't mean to give any of you some wild idea. You need me. You need me to educate you on quality radio programming. You need me to school you on the newest of the new sounds going down in the uptown. I offer for your consideration the following playlist below.

Check out the first hour! So much classic rap and hip hop. I don't play nearly enough of this. I also feature legendary local hiphopsters: Kalri$$ian!!! They are blazing hot, and I cannot wait to get them into my bed, er...I mean, back in the studio. Yes. That is what I meant to say. Studio. Ahem.

There's some good ol' fashion punk rock, Americana, psycho-swing, psychedelia, doom metal, spaghetti-western soundtrack music, new garage rock, and classic Ray Charles just because I can.

Tune in for the music, stay for the witty banter. I can't recall everything I said, but I'm fairly certain there's a quality rant in the somewhere.

Do you tune in for just the music? I want to know. Leave a comment about why you listen, what you enjoy, and what you would like more of (and yes: less of). I'm thinking of creating a simple survey for you all to take. Thanks for your input. I want to make this a show you look forward to each and every Monday night.

Enjoy.

jh

Burn Hollywood, Burn: Public Enemy
Spoonie's Back: Spoonie G
Am I Black Enough For You? Schooly D

High Plains Drifter: Beastie Boys
Medicine Cabinet: Kalri$$ian
The Gong Show Theme: Chuck Barris and Milton DeLugg
Damballa: The Pharaohs
Fried Pies: Wes Montgomery Trio

Hedges: Naked Lights
Like Calling Up Thunder: Gun Club
I'm So Bored with the USA: The Clash
Something I Said?: Ray Condo and his Ricochets

King of California: Dave Alvin
March of the Beggars: Ennio Morricone

Dead or Alive: Dale Crover
Mortal Fire: Black Elk Medicine Band
New Trawgs III: Sic Alps

Most Anything You Want: Iron Butterfly
Run Run Run: White Fence
Whipping Post: Frank Zappa (live)

Kofuku - Now, Apocalypse: Low Flying Hawks

Shrinking Moon For You: Wooden Shjips
Greenbacks: Ray Charles

Taking a week off from hosting my show gives me serious withdrawl-like symptoms. Considering radio is my drug of choice, you'll just have to imagine what it's like.

Anywho, it wasn't easy being away from you all for that long, and for that I apologize. Thanks to Jim G for carrying the load while I was away. He did a great Bowie tribute in my absence. If you haven't heard it, here's the link.

As for tonight, just take a gander at the playlist below! Much in the way of genres, and eras. I also gave tickets away to two upcoming shows, The Soft White Sixties, and The Hooks. If you tune in regularly you too can win yourself tickets to local shows by great bands. Please go out and support live, local music. The bands will thank you, and it just might get you laid.

Enjoy.

jh

Zodiacal Woman: Queen Crescent
Franks Kaktus: Dungen

***SET OF THE WEEK***
Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard On You?: Funkadelic (remix ft. Kendrick Lamar and Ice Cube)
The Turnaround: Big John Patton

Grave Robbers: WAND
Buick Mackane: Ty Segall
Midnight Special: Harry Belefonte
Italian Song: The Gits

Bewlay Brothers: David Bowie
Baby Blue: Shannon and the Clams
Do The Kirk: The Mummies

Beatrice: Phantom Ships
Whiskey Train: Procol Harum
Stopping Man: Spacin'

FB12: Thee Oh Sees
A Word of Advice: The Faith Healers
Be Yourself: Hawkwind

City Lights: The Soft White Sixties
Have a Beer with Fear: Fear
In a Jar: Dinosaur Jr.
Morning Has Broken: Cat Stevens

10,000 Feet and Rising: The Hooks
Cut your Hair: Pavement
Watcher the Skies: Genesis

The Changling: The Doors

Are you serious?!?!? How many does this make now, something like a bakers dozen? Do we get a prize if we hit 20 by March? What's the deal with all this celebrity death? And it's all the good one's too! Of course many of our recent passers-on probably shouldn't have made it out of the 1970s, so it's no wonder they're all drifting off of this mortal coil in their 70s, but still...

Last week we lost two more solid statesman. Maurice White, the founder of Earth Wind and Fire; and Dan Hicks, drummer, singer and songwriter of, who were to be considered the FIRST of the true San Francisco psychedelic bands, The Charlatans, and of his own band Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks.

I did a tribute to both on this evening. They are labeled for your convenience.

There's some new music from local rockers Older Sun, and Texas ass-whoopers, Honky, featuring Butthole Surfers' bassist J.D. Pinkus. Both are off of brand spankin' new 7" 45s on Secret Serpents Records. I got both, and many more at Thee Parkside last weekend watching Dale Crover's side project Altamont.

So who's next on the list to go? I got a good amount of lists for my (not always) annual Run for the Lilies, and so far no one mentioned has passed away. No one had Antonin Scalia, but I'm pretty sure not many people I know will miss that guy too much. And he didn't record any songs that I cared for anyway.

Keep on keepin' on, fly like an eagle, and let choice be your voice.

Enjoy.

jh

Transmaniacon MC: Bl�e Oyster Cult
Far Wells, Mill Valley: Charles Mingus

Freedom Day: Max Roach
Words of Advice: Material

***Tribute to Maurice White***
Sweetback's Song: Earth, Wind and Fire
Power: Earth, Wind and Fire

Evil: Earth, Wind and Fire
Versificator: Bobby Previte

One Hell of a Woman: Older Sun
Gotards Theme Song: Honky

Burning Spear: Thee Oh Sees
ABC: Peach Kelli Pop
With My Looks and Your Brains: Mr. T Experience
I'm Watching You: Jay Reatard

***Dan Hicks Tribute***
One More Cowboy (with Willie Neslson): Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks
That Ain't Right (Gibby Phones it in mix): Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks
Under the Sun: Black Sabbath

Afterburner: Boris
Do It: Rollins Band
See You In The Boneyard: the Flesh Eaters

Notes and Chords Mean Nothing To Me: the Monkeywrench
Ungowa! Victims Family

I can't recall what it was that inspired me to want to play a bunch of international groups tonight, but you can thank me later. The first hour features groups from Egypt, Nigeria, Turkey, India, Mali, and Jamaica. it's got a funky beat, and you can get down to it.

The second hour features a tribute to Paul Kantner, the founder of Jefferson Airplane, and Signe Anderson, the first female lead singer of the same group. They both died on January 28th, both at the age of 74! I'm guessing they had some sort of death pact. I play a couple of live JA/JS tracks, and you have just got to listen to how high Grace Slick is during the Wooden Ships track from 1970. WOW!

There's some new Melvins near the end, as well as Dale Crover-led Altamont near the beginning of the second hour. Altamont is headlining a Valley King Records showcase at Thee Parkside this Saturday night. You have got to be at this show!!! Look, I ended that last sentence with three (count them) exclamation marks! That means I'm triply serious about you being in attendance. Honky was supposed to be there in support, but had scheduling conflicts, so Dale's other side project PORN will play, along with Older Sun. This promises to be a great, and rockin' show. See you all there. Follow the links for more info. Alan Forbes did an amazing poster for the show, and Justin McNeil of Valley King/Secret Serpents announced that split 7"s will be available at the show. GO TO THIS SHOW!

You have until this Friday, February 5th to email me your Run for the Lilies 2016 list of 10 famous people you believe will be dead by the end of 2016. Email me at mrjohnhell@gmail.com Winners will be announce in January 2017, and gifts will be awarded soon after. GET THOSE LISTS IN!!! (see, three exclamation marks)

See you next Monday night, where I may or may not have a special guest and tickets to give away.

Enjoy.

jh

Arawan: Tinariwen
Rasket El Fadaa: Omar Khorshid

The Mod Trade: The Black Beats
Kun Rod Fai, Pai Rod Bus, Kee Chang, Kant Tent: The Hot Pepper
Iron Fist: Lee "Scratch" Perry
Our Thing: Jackie Mittoo

My Lady's Frustrations: Fela Kuti
Afro Funk: Afro Funk

Everybody Get Down: Asiko Rock Group
Express Yourself: NWA

***Set of the Night***
Sweet Child of Mine/All Out of Love: GnR/Air Supply
Nice 'n' Sleazy: The Stranglers
Snortin' Whiskey: Honky

EZ Rider: Altamont
Knives: The Phantom Ships

Chauffeur Blues: Jefferson Airplane
Today: Jefferson Airplane
Wooden Ships: Jefferson Airplane (May 7, 1970 Fillmore East, NYC, NY)

Stairway to Cleveland: Jefferson Starship (May 28, 1982 Moscone Convention Center, SF, CA)

Chicken 'n' Dump: Mike and the Melvins
Don't Come Home A-Drinking With Lovin' On Your Mind: Loretta Lynn

Californian Hills: Ty Segall

Tonight was all about me blindly pulling music from my deep and vast music library, and putting together sets that I thought you would enjoy on the fly. I think you'll enjoy what you hear. There's some new music from Ty Segall, Spacin', Zig Zags, and Earthless, some funky remixes of Nick Cave and Billie Holiday. You get some garage rock, funk, pop, psych, blues, and rap. What more could you ask for in a radio show?

Do you have any idea how lucky you are to have Radio Valencia at your fingertips. Tune in all the time. You'll be glad you did.

You have until Friday, February 5th to send me your deadpoop list for my 2016 Run For The Lilies. Send me a list of 10 famous people you believe will meet their maker by December 31, 2016. The only rule: you cannot participate in their demise. Please send your list to mrjohnhell@gmail.com

See you next Monday night, where I'll be doing a tribute to Paul Kantner, founder of the Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, and Starship, who passed away on Thursday of septic shock following a heart attack days earlier. He was 74. Just another mighty blow to the rock world in this young year.

Enjoy.

jh

Take Me To The Water/I'm Going Back Home: Nina Simone
End To End: Earthless

Giving Up The Ghost: Zig Zags
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: The Mummies
Lieutenant Uhuru: Three Stoned Men
Lesson One: Stone Cold Boners

***Set of the night***
Diversion: Ty Segall and the Muggers
Youth of America: Melvins
Starman: David Bowie

U.S. Ruse: Spacin'
Use Me: Bill Withers
Free the Freaks: CCR Headcleaner

Like A Rolling Stone: Jimi Hendrix with Butterfield Blues Band and BB King (April 15, 1968 Generation Club - New York City, NY)
Arnold Layne: Pink Floyd (September 13, 1967 Star Club, Copenhagen, DK)
Que Sera Sera: Doris Day
Since You've Been Gone: James Brown

Don't Believe the Hype: Public Enemy
Shapes of Things: Jeff Beck Group
Super Heathen Child: Grinderman (Fripp remix)
Sweetness: Yes

Strange Fruit (Tricky Remix): Billy Holiday
Black Mountain: Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan
Anti-Drug PSA: James Brown
I Saw Fuck: Supersuckers

Some nights I get a bug up my butt to do some kind of theme. Tonight it's all about COVERS! Who doesn't love a good cover tune? Sometimes the cover is better than the original (hence Johnny Cash doing the Eagles better than the Eagles...that's not a hard thing to do, btw). Sometimes you had no idea the song was a cover; the artist performed the song better than the original. I should do more cover specials, it almost writes itself.

More great musicians died this past week. WTF is going on?!?!?!? Glenn Frey of the Eagles, Dale "Buffin" Griffin of Mott the Hoople, Gary Loizzo of The American Breed, Mic Gillette of Tower of Power, and the legendary Blowfly all passed into the great bandstand in the sky this past week. I pay tribute in the second hour of the show.

Take a look at the playlist below, and click on the links above to stream or download the show.

No guests this coming Monday night. I have new music from Ty Segall's new band The Muggers, as well as new music from Spacin', and much much more.

Enjoy.

jh

I Heard It On The X: Olivelawn
You're Going To Miss Me: Monomen
The Beat Goes On: Giant Sand

Satisfaction: Cat Power
Iron Man: The Bad Plus
The Wizard: Brown Sabbath

Dreaming: The Cherubs
Tomorrow Never Knows: 801 Live (Eno, Fripp, Manzanera, Watson, Monkman, Phillips, Watson)
Ain't Talkin' About Love: Minutemen
Sunshine of Your Love: Ella Fitzgerald
Wendy: Descendents

Heroin: Burnt One's
Miss You: The Concretes
Emma: Urge Overkill

Desperado: Johnny Cash
What is Hip: Tower of Power

Bend Me, Shape Me: The American Breed
All The Way From Memphis: Mott the Hoople
Blowfly for President: Blowfly

When the Levee Breaks: Led Zeppelin
Don Henley Must Die: Mojo Nixon

When Doves Cry: Patti Smith
One More Cup of Coffee: White Stripes

Magnificent artists are all around us. Have you taken the time to look and see? Do you make the time to enjoy the arts? Do you go to museums? To the cinema? To the clubs? Do you support local bands? Do you see one-person stage shows? Do you fReaK the scene? When did you stop being an artist? Was it in elementary school, when the teacher told you to stop doodling and start paying attention? What did you aspire to be when you were a child? When did that stop? Why?

And then there's Bowie. He taught me that art is all around you. He showed me that everyone can be a part of the show. Life is drama. Life is high and low art. Art is what you make of it. He wrote about the highs and lows of life; what it is to be alone; what it means to want to be loved. He took risks. My father always told me that to live is to takes risks.

And then there's Bowie.

When I heard the news on Sunday night, I was in disbelief. I thought, like many, that his Twitter feed had been hacked. That would be cold, but not impossible. I decided to sleep on it, but in the morning the sad truth rang all too true. The rest of my Monday was sleepwalking through the day, scrolling through my Facebook feed. I have about 1300 "friends" on FB, and over 90% of the posts throughout the day were about Bowie. How do you like that? I've never seen anything quite like it in my 9 years on FB. It was wonderful. No politics. No race issues. No economic crisis. It was all about the celebration of an artist, that we were lucky enough to exist on the same planet with at the same time.

Tonight on my show I pay tribute to Bowie by playing some of my favorites, as well as some excellent live cuts, and some covers and a recent mashup featuring Bowie and Lemmy.

In the first hour I am seriously excited to have in the studio a true up and coming band, Unlikely Heroes, fronted by phenomENON Gaines. This eclectic group are synthesizing HipHop and Punk with beats and melody that is fresh, exciting, and long waited for. I saw a street performance from this young band over the summer, but I'm anticipating seeing them at the club level. They will get the room jumping like the way Gogol Bordello had the Catalyst jumping for three hours a few years back. This band has energy, and the beats and words to back it up. They've played 30 shows since last April, and for a new band that is unheard of. Once you give them a listen, and hear the interview from the show, I think you'll understand the attraction. Enon is an excellent front-man, and they'll be gracing bigger stages in the near future, if there is indeed a God of music justice.

Next Monday on my show, I'm thrilled to have Bay Area club DJ Rasta Cue-Tip aka: RasCue of Cali Agents, and Various Blends. You can check him out on Urban Umpires, or his Soundcloud page before next Monday. He'll be guest DJing for the entire show, 8-10. Tune in.

Also, don't forget to get me your celebrity death list for my 2016 Run for the Lilies. You choose 10 famous people (famous in any way), that you believe will meet their demise by December 31, 2016. The only rule: you may not, in any way, be involved in how they meet their maker. Send your list to mrjohnhell@gmail.com by February 4, 2016. Winner will be announced January 2017.

Enjoy.

jh

Life on Mars: David Bowie
She Shook Me Cold: David Bowie
China Girl: Iggy Pop

Interview with Unlikely Heroes

Young Skywalker: Unlikely Heroes
Gold Rings: Unlikely Heroes

Interview with Unlikely Heroes

For You: Unlikely Heroes

Lazarus: David Bowie
Heroes: David Bowie

***Set of the Night***
Louis Louis Go Home: Davy Jones and the King Bees
Golden Years: Marilyn Manson
Under Pressure (a cappella): David Bowie and Freddy Mercury

"Ace of Dance": Lemmy Stardust Commemorative Mashup
Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy: David Bowie and Bing Crosby
London Bye-Bye: David Bowie

Queen Bitch: Green River
Rebel Rebel: David Bowie (Dallas, TX April 27, 1983)
Young Americans: David Bowie (Tokyo, Japan May 16, 1990)
Hang Onto Yourself: David Bowie (Santa Monica, CA October 20, 1972)

Station to Station: Melvins

Bowie's in Space: Flight of the Conchords

Happy New Year to all from Sir Hell. You didn't know that I'm a "Sir" now, did you? Well there ya go. How you like them apples? Did you have a glorious end of year celebration, or do you consider it to be trite and amateur hour? Either way, I hope you have set some positive intentions for 2016, or at the very least you call a friend and go out to see some live music. I plan on doing all of the above, and often in 2016.

For Monday's show I felt I should pay tribute to the recently fallen rock-comrade Lemmy Kilmister of the seminal metal band Motörhead. I remember first hearing the "hit" Ace of Spades in the early 80s, and knowing pretty much immediately that this band was no joke. I enjoyed Motörhead through the hair-raising glam metal years of the 80s and 90s, and loved that they kept true to their nature: raw and in-your-face loud. Monday I played mostly early tracks and a rare live track from my bootleg library.

Did you know Lemmy was a Joni Mitchell fan? Me either.

Monday also saw the 30th anniversary of the passing of legendary frontman Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy. Damn, where does the time go? I did a little tribute to him as well, including a blistering live version of "The Rocker" live, with six guitarist rocking out on stage!!!

The remainder of the how was a genre grab-bag. Take a look at the playlist below.

I am also excited to introduce my 2016 "Run for the Lilies"! You come up with a list of 10 famous people you believe will be dead by 12-31-2016, and send that list to mrjohnhell@gmail.com by February 01, 2016. The only rule is that you may not participate in the demise of any of the persons on your list. The winner will get a prize to be determined.

This should be a great year for music. Go out and support your local music scene, wherever you live.

Enjoy.

jh

Sinnerman: Nina Simone
Big Log: Robert Plant

FFF: PIL
The Passenger: Iggy Pop
Court and Spark: Joni Mitchell
The Runaway: Danny O'Keefe

Little Girl in Bloom: Thin Lizzy
The Rocker: Thin Lizzy

Suicide: Thin Lizzy (05-14-76 Detroit, MI)
Time of No Reply: Nick Drake

Overkill: Motöhead
All The Aces: Motöhead
Killed By Death: Motöhead

Ace of Spades: Motöhead (March 22, 1982 Newcastle, England)
Truth: Alexander Ebert

Henry Lee: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
It's A Man's World: James Brown and his Famous Flames
Little Child, Running Wild: Curtis Mayfield

That's Life: Frank Sinatra
Hello Dolly: Louis Armstrong
I Get A Kick Out Of You: Tony Bennett

Such a super fun show tonight. Two things I love to do on the radio: interview talented musicians, and share rare music I search high and low for. Tonight you get the best of both worlds.

In the first half hour I had the pleasure to interview a very talented musician and songwriter, Manny Manriquez. Manny graced the airwaves on my show many moons ago, when I was on San Francisco Liberation Radio, while he was fronting SF's Ludivico's Technique, a great local rock band. Manny (or Manslice, as I like to recall him) moved out to Washington D.C. a few years ago, and has slowly been making his way back into the music scene. His new solo project, Outland Warrior, has some serious promise to it. The track he shares on the show tonight was inspired by author Neil Gaiman, one of my all-time favorite authors; so I'm not bias or anything. Really though, once you hear the tune, you'll agree it takes you on a journey. This should be the beginning of something big for Manslice and Outland Warrior.

To close out the show, and the year (I'm taking next Monday off to see Dead and Co.), AND to give one final celebratory farewell to the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead, I chose some brilliant live Dead performances over the years to share with you all. Eight tunes in 90 minutes. Hey, that's a lot for this band. I have the dates and locations posted in the playlist below.

Thanks for tuning in this year. Ever since I was five years old, listening to the family radio at home, I knew I wanted to be a radio DJ. I've been doing a radio show in the SF Bay Area since I started interning at KCSM in San Mateo in the fall of 1988. My nine glorious years at KFJC (88-97) was the most exceptional musical and broadcasting experience my young self could have asked for. Being involved in numerous underground/micro/internet stations has continued to challenge me to make the most of my art. And radio is indeed an artform. I don't know what those clowns in commercial radio think they're doing to benefit anyone, but I can tell you that the fine folks at Radio Valencia really understand what it means to take an empty two-hour canvas and fill it with aural colors that enhance the senses in a myriad of ways. I'm lucky to be here.

Upon my January return, I'll have local club DJ RasCue in the studio to funk it WAY up. You are not going to want to miss this.

Happy holidays. See you on the radio.

jh

Fortress: Thee Oh Sees
Octopus: Syd Barrett

Fairytale Of New York: The Pogues

Interview with Manny Manriquez

The King of the Dreaming: Manny Manriquez

Interview with Manny Manriquez

Shakedown Street: Grateful Dead (06-30-85 Merriweather Post Pavillon)

Bird Song: Grateful Dead (06-22-73 P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, Canada)
Friend of the Devil - Big Railroad Blues: Grateful Dead (09-20-70 Fillmore West, SF, CA)

Cumberland Blues: Grateful Dead (10-24-71 Easttown Theater, Detroit, MI)
Music Never Stopped: Grateful Dead (05-07-78 Field House, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY)

Franklin's Tower: Grateful Dead (03-13-82 Reno Centennial Coliseum, Reno, NV)
Cosmic Charlie: Grateful Dead (01-02-70 Fillmore East, NYC, NY)

St. Stephen: Grateful Dead (10-12-68 Avalon Ballroom, SF, CA)

Tonight it's my BEST OF 2015 show! I don't really trust these shows. It's really what the DJ enjoyed the most throughout the year. But isn't that the idea? You don't want to hear what the major media publications think was the best of the year. You want a seasoned DJ veteran, who has over 25 years of underground, eclectic radio experience to tell you what's best. Yes you do. And then you're going to go out and purchase all that music and go see those artists live in concert. Yes you are. You're going to share this list with your friends, and tell them how much better you are than them, because you know what's really the best, since you tune into such a hip and happening underground radio station, run by the DJs who are truly in the know. Yes we are!

Really though, this was an excellent year in music. Ty Segall had at least four releases, Wand had two; Dungen came out with their first release in seven years. Sleater Kinney came out with a great new record, their first in eight years. Swervedriver released their first LP in 17 years! There was some tasty local cuts that found room in the record stacks too. Queen Crescent, Shannon and the Clams, and Golden Void all graced the airwaves with new cuts in 2015.

This show nowhere scratches the surface of the best of the year, but it's a start. Tune into Radio Valencia throughout the month of December to hear what our many other fine, and experienced DJs have to offer up as their BEST OF 2015. Put it all together and you may just have the best of the best collection of what music was hot in a year that is quickly fading away.

Next Monday night will be my last show for the year. I'm taking December 28th off to go check out Dead and Co. at the Bill Graham Civic. The tour has sounded great. John Mayer doesn't suck as much as I thought he would. Huh, what do you think of that? I look forward to hearing what they have in store. I saw the Grateful Dead perform at the Civic a few times, between 1987-1988. After that, they got too big to perform in venues of that size. Too bad. So next Monday, being my last show of the year, I thought it wise and apropos to wrap up my celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead by playing two hours of LIVE DEAD!!! I know you want to hear that. and who could blame you, really? I've got plenty to play, so tune in 8-10PM (PDST) next Monday night, December 21st.

Have I told you lately how much I love radio?

Enjoy.

jh

Self Hypnosis in 3 Days: WAND
How Long?: Shannon and the Clams

Pish: The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Feel: Ty Segall
Cool Slut: Chastity Belt

The Night Josh Tillman Came to Our Apartment: Father John Misty
Feel Like: Mikal Cronin
The Mirror: Damaged Bug

Sticky Hulks: Thee Oh Sees
Culture Vulture: Queen Crescent
Snakeskin: Deerhunter

Astral Plane: Golden Void
Sapokanikan: Joanna Newsome
Drug Mugger: Ty Segall
Dimed Out: Titus Andronicus

Autodidact: Servedriver
Acetate: Metz
A New Wave: Sleater Kinney

Double Fine: Honky
Sista Festen: Dungen
Slime: Zig Zags

Pollinate: Fuzz
Wilding: Moon Duo
Half-Life Crisis: Jim O'Rourke

Chinatown: Girlpool

The weather is changing in San Francisco. If you live here then you know something is up. If you've only just visited here, or have never been near the city by the bay, then you probably figure that it being near winter, it's bound to be getting chilly in SF. I've lived in the Bay Area since 1982, and though the changing seasons can bring a change in the temp, over the past five years, or so, it's been pretty much 68 degrees, and no chance of rain, 12 months out of the year. Sounds blissful, doesn't it? Tell that to my yard.

Anyway, it's an El Nino year, and the rains have slowly begun to descend upon us folks in the bubble (we know how lucky we've had it, hence: "the bubble"), and I can't really think of anyone who's complaining. I like wearing sweaters. Mine are about five years out of date, but that being said, what was once old is new again!

The same can be said for my playlist. If you haven't heard it, then it's new to you! Lots of genres to choose from tonight, and a second hour full of tasty live cuts, including Ike and Tina Turner on Soul Train, Nina Simone in France, a rare Dead track they only touched upon a few times in their live shows.

Speaking of the Good ol' Grateful Dead, with the year coming to a close I'm considering hosting a full two-hour live Dead show on Monday, December 21st. That would be fun...for me. And I hope for you too. I'll post beforehand if I plan on doing it. There's too much to choose from.

Monday, December 14th will be my BEST OF 2015!!! What a great year for music. Tune in. I'm sure all of the Radio Valencia shows will be doing one form of a Best Of... over the next few weeks. Be sure to check in often.

Enjoy.

jh

I'm Jewish and You Know It: LMFAO
Pasties and a G-String: Tom Waits
Shadrach: Beastie Boys

Earth People: Dr. Octogon
Something Else: Cannonball Adderley
Fear of a Black Planet: Public Enemy
Storming the Death Star: Roots Radics band

Children Crying: The Congos
I Don't Want to be a Soldier, Mama: John Lennon
Every Grain of Sand: Giant Sand
Imagine: George W. Bush

Natbush City Limits: Ike and Tina Turner (Soul Train January 1975)
Long Time Gone: Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (Auditorium Theatre, Chicago IL, 12/13/69)

The Mob Rules: Black Sabbath (August 09, 1992 - Boston, MA)
Song Remains the Same/Rain Song: Led Zeppelin (Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC, Canada
March 19, 1975)

Playing In The Band/Stronger Than Dirt Or Milkin' The Turkey: Grateful Dead (7/16/76 Orpheum Theatre, SF, CA)

Working Man: Rush (01/26/80 Mid-Hudson Civic Center. Poughkeepsie, NY)
Black is the Color of my True Loves Hair: Nina Simone (08/09/2000 Jazz In Marciac, France)