Never draw attention to the mistakes.

That's really good advice. Don't let them see what's behind the curtain, and all that jazz.

Unless you can make it an art form.

I like to think I have made it some kind of art form, and not just roommate radio.

I don't often bring CDs into the studio; it's almost exclusively vinyl for this dude. But tonight I wanted to play a few tunes to celebrate Bunny Day and St. Stupid's Day, so I brought a few CDs along just to find out the CD player was not in operating condition. And I didn't bring nearly enough vinyl to fill two hours. I did have my trusty 5GB external hard drive filled to the brim with tasty musical treats, but I hadn't prepared to pull anything from there, so there was more improvisation on this night than I am used to.

You can probably hear it in my delivery.

And I had a friend in the studio I forgot was coming by, and I like to play the good host, all the while troubleshooting the CD players, which I was unable to do.

Taking a look at the playlist looks pretty satisfying though. I may sound a little cringe on the mic. Let me know. I can take it. My dad always told me it's healthy to embarrass yourself from time to time: it builds character. If that's the case, John Hell was certainly representing tonight!

Come look behind the curtain.

Enjoy.

jh

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

White Man's Got A God Complex: Last Poets
Religious Vomit: Dead Kennedys
Faith in My Pocket: Mark Growden

Imagine (Take 1): John Lennon
Loose Lucy: Grateful Dead
I've Got A Tiger By The Tail: Buck Owens and His Buckaroos

Gila Monster: King Gizzard
In and Out of Grace: Mudhoney
I Don't Wanna Walk Around with You: Ramones
Stunner: OSees

Psychedelic Orgasm: Kim Gordon
Know Your Rights: The Clash

No Place To Fall: Kevin Morby
She Don't Care: Ty Segall
Jesus Was Way Cool: King Missile
Built For Speed: Howlin' Wolf
Mercy: John Cale

Amphetamine: Rocket From The Tombs
Sister Morphine: Marianne Fatihfull
Gates of Eden: Bob Dylan
White Linen: Blüchunks

Bedside Manners: The Black Crowes
Downtown: Johnny Thunders
Walk On: Dave Alvin and Jimmy Dale Gilmore

Chocolate Jesus: Tom Waits

Monday night I was excited to host songstress Robin Coomer into the Radio Valencia studio, sharing a few new tunes from her upcoming solo release. As always her voice is in top form. Really, there's nothing quite like it.

From Robin's days in Birdsaw, through to LOOP! Station, Shake Well (er, ummm, that's actually a relative of hers I believe???), to inspired collaboration in Secret Songs, and now to a long overdue (IMHO) solo effort, due out this spring.

Check out my interview with Robin the first hour, as well as a few new tracks she shared.

The remainder of the night continues my focus on great female artists in celebration of Women's History Month.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

Femme Fatale: Velvet Underground
Low Spark of High Heeled Boys: The Space Lady

Interview with Robin Coomer

Inside Gun: Robin Coomer

Interview with Robin Coomer

Close Call: Robin Coomer

Interview with Robin Coomer

Smoke In Mirrors: Robin Coomer

Send Me a Postcard: Shocking Blue
How Little Men Care: Margaret Cho and Neil Hamburger
Young, Gifted and Black: Aura and Lee Perry
Tryptich: Prayer/Protest/Peace: Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach

Bridge Over Troubled Water: Aretha Franklin
Wild: The Nuns
Original Sin: Peach Kelly Pop

AirBnB: Kim Gordon
Centrate: Podium
Le Ju de Telephone: Caroline
I Get A Kick Out Of You: Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga

Little Red Rooster: Big Mama Thornton
Mad Moth: The Bobby Lees
Carletta's In Hats Again: Brigid Dawson and the Mother's Network

The Lady is a Tramp: Ella Fitzgerald

Let John Hell care for the kitchen while the ladies let it all hang out. This is Women's Month, and I love to celebrate all that is women. When it comes to music, there really is no dearth in aural options. I have strived to balance my shows out with quality female fare over the years.

This has been hard, but not for the reasons you think.

Not surprisingly, the music industry has been run by male chauvinist capitalists for over one hundred years. And like the casting couches of Hollywood, along with the color line, getting enough quality female representation in music has been hair raising.

Still, there is so much to continue to choose from in female-fronted artists of many genres. What I have for you tonight is only a small sampling of what has been in rotation in the Hell household (and on this show) over the years.

Enjoy this, and join me Monday, March 18th, when I welcome Northern California singer, songwriter, artist, designer Robin Coomer back into the studio to talk up her new solo release.

Tune in and please share.

jh

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

Ball and Chain: Big Mama Thornton
Summertime: Big Brother and the Holding Company

People Get Ready: Aretha Franklin
Hypocrisy: Millie Jackson

Babydoll: Eric McFadden Trio with Robin Coomer
Don't Blame the Buzzard: Sgt Splendor
Do You Take This Man: Diamanda Galas with John Paul Jones
The Devil Has Thrown Him Down: Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Nov 1943)
Do I Want To Stay: Shannon and the Clams

I Swallowed a Dragonfly: Heartless Bastards
Waitress Song: First Aid Kit

Tattooed Love Boys: Shitkid and Melvins
Bring Me the Head of the Preacher Man: Siouxsie and the Banshees
Celebrity Compass: Bongwater
Come On Over (Turn Me On): Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan

Magic Powers: Death Valley Girls
Cross the Breeze: Sonic Youth
California (Demo): Joni Mitchell
Money: The Flying Lizards

Kung Fu Girls: Blondie
Lilac Wine: Nina Simone
Crazy He Calls Me: Billie Holiday

Control: Amyl and the Sniffers
Paint it Black: Avengers
I Like Boys: Missing Persons

I have a hankerin' for a 7 inch special, so here ya go! This may be my third such special in the past decade or so. I can't be expected to remember all of this, thank you very much. HA!

The original idea of the 7 inch single, going back to the 1950s had to do with record labels not thinking the 33 1/3 long playing record was worth investing in. The labels commodified the music industry early and knew they were more likely to turn a profit if they could identify one song to sell to a public hungry for entertainment.

By the 1970s the idea of a single had changed. The A-side was always about the "hit" and the B-side was often something special that wasn't going to appear on the full record. They Beatles always put out 12 song records on Parlophone along with a two-song single that didn't appear on the LP.

For the world of the independent artist the single may be the only music they released. A lot of the songs I play tonight haven't appeared in any other format.

There are a lot of gems here, so take a listen and please share with music fans in your life.

Enjoy.

jh

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

Macho Man: Artless
Kick Out The Jams: Afrika Bambaataa

Emma: Hot Chocolate
Everything's Gonna Be Alright: Steve Mason

One Word For It: Rose Hicks
Brotherman: Mancefield and the Brother Man Band
Give Me My Wife: Bruce Marshall
Andalusia: The Phantom Surfers
Surfatorium: The Neptunas

Paranoid: Ty Segall Band
Valley Girl: Meatbodies
Wait, Let's Go: Thee Oh Sees

The Happiest Guy Around: Tropical Fuck Storm
Wrest The Fist: Melt Banana
What Do I Get? Destroy All Monsters
Zonar Roze: Keith Morris, Ty Segall, John Dwyer, Steven McDonald

Man With a Hole In His Throat: Hello Kitty on Ice
Love Song: The Mutants
Bing Bong: Three Day Stubble


I Wanna Wanna Wanna Wanna Wanna Wanna Wanna Get Rid of You: Psychotic Pineapple
Looking for Laughs: Neil Hamburger
Ge Rouge: Crash Worship
Transmaniacon MC: Altamont

Sunken City: Mike Watt and the Secondmen
Ripping Death: Zig Zags
Courageous Cat: Pure Hell

Couldn't Be Bothered: The Klitz
My Way: Elvis Presley

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

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

My Uzi Weighs A Ton: Brownout
Bodyheat: James Brown

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

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

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

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

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

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

All of this, and I do mean every single, solitary inch of this is a scam. A swindle. A flim flam. You've been had. Grifted. You're a rube.

Aren't we all?

What are you going to do about it? Just keep scrolling. Nothing to see here.

Monday night was all about pulling a fast one. I started out with some Bay Area punk, leading into a Pinkus-related set that was unintentional, but I really pulled it off.

With the closing of Mutiny radio, we're bringing on a few new shows. I was happy to have Sean and the Archivist in the studio with me. Sean took on a set of his own (I marked those tunes with a "S"). I spoke to them both about their time at Mutiny and what we're to expect once they join the Radio Valencia family.

I was once a part of the Pirate Cat community, and I even was instrumental in building their studio on 21st and Florida. I left that station (most do once Monkey gets tired of you), and eventually started Radio Valencia. Monkey left Pirate Cat and comedian Pam Benjamin took over, calling it Mutiny Radio. I prefer to think of other stations as part of the great community network of stations, so it's sad to see them go. I understand you can still hear the live stand up shows Pam is hosting on their site.

In the meantime, let's welcome these new shows. I could not be more excited for the programming happening at Radio Valencia in 2024.

And that's no joke.

Enjoy.

jh

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

Sugar Magnolia: Pop O Pie
The Sight and the Sound: Flipper
The Ninth Wave: The Ventures

Whiskey Woman: The Flamin' Goovies
Amazing Grace: Scott H Biram
Woke Up Dead: JD Pinkus

Deezy: Honky
Casino: Altamont
Captain Comedown: Melvins
Housing, Luxury, Energy: King Buzzo

Grizzly Adams/Anarchy Up Your Ass: Mr. Bungle
Drive Fast, Take Chances: Acid King
Sky Saw: Brian Eno - S
Needle in the Hay: Elliot Smith - S

Leipzig: Thomas Dolby - S
Midnight Hour: Wilson Pickett - S
Breakin' Up: Fabulous Continentals
I Need Love: J Michael and the Bushman
Snitch Baby: Thee Headcoats
Jezebel: The Mummies

Common Man: Negativland
Wouldn't You Miss Me: Syd Barrett

When Fate Deals Its Mortal Blow: The Scientists
You Got It: Mudhoney

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

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

And turn off the damn phone!

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

Frenzy: Iggy Pop
Be My Enemy: The Bobby Lees

Intercepted Message: OSees
Barmy: The Fall

Gilgamesh: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Perambulator: Fela Kuti and Africa 70

Last Call for the Truth: Lucinda Williams
Every Time I Drink: Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real
Drugstore Truck Driving Man: Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels
Powderfinger: Neil Young

Persuasion Architect: Cory Hanson
Journey To Dog Star: Death Valley Girls

Eric's Trip; Sonic Youth
Makeup: Sun Ra and His Outer Space Arkestra
Love Song: The Darts
Moonage Daydream: David Bowie (for his 77th birthday today)

19th Nervous Breakdown: Tuxedomoon
Cheap Tragedies: Avengers

Murder By Guitar: Crime
I Kill Children: Dead Kennedys

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


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

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

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

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

Enjoy and please share.

Dad of Spawn

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

Let's Have a Satanic Orgy: Twin Temple
Por Que: Grupo Fantasma
La Seine: Vanessa Paradis

Brand New City: Mitski
Bsslama Hbibti: Fadoul
Paint It Black (Tutto Nero): Caterina Caselli

The American In Me: The Avengers - jh
Ragazzo Solo, Ragazzo Sola (Space Oddity): David Bowie
Llàmame (Call Me): Blondie

What Is It About Men?: Amy Winehouse
You Never Can Tell: Chuck Berry
Money (That's What I Want): Barrett Strong

Control: Amyl and the Sniffers
Lust for Life: Iggy Pop
Clockwork: Lime Garden

Girls: Beastie Boys
Start Wearing Purple: Gogol Bordello
Savoy Truffle: The Beatles

Kidnap the Sandy Claus: Korn
Merry Christmas From The Family: Robert Earl Keen - jh
I'm Writing A Novel: Father John Misty

Rainy Night in Soho: The Pogues - jh
California Dreaming: Eddie Hazel

Superiority Complex (Big Noise): Illuminati Hotties

When I was considering what year I was going to play for you for my 13th annual Annual Annual, I was a bit stumped. Every year has something amazing to offer. Where do I go? Back to the 50s? I haven't done that decade yet. Something in the past decade? Too soon? I turned 21 in 1991 (you do the math). Sounded perfect to me.
I was living in my first apartment, in Redwood City, CA. I was on the air at KFJC, hosting a morning show. There was no such genre known as Alternative at that time, until Smells Like Teen Spirit hit the airwaves. Thanks Nirvana. Ah, the memories.

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

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

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

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

Enjoy and please share.

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

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

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

Scenario: A Tribe Called Quest
Housework: Fishbone
This Year in History Part One
Squeeze Me Macaroni: Mr. Bungle

Tommy the Cat: Primus
Jesus Was Way Cool: King Missile
Tunic (For Karen): Sonic Youth
This Year in History Part Two
Drain You (BBC Sessions): Nirvana
Emma: Urge Overkill

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

The Power of Pussy (BBC Sessions): Bongwater
The Hurdy Gurdy Man: Butthole Surfers

The Wagon: Dinosaur Jr.
It's Shoved: Melvins

The holidays are upon us, whether we like it or not. Seasonal affective disorder? Raise your hands. Anyone? Anyone? Not me, to be honest, but that doesn't mean I don't feel ya, for those who get down about this time of year. Strangely, when the clock turned back a few weeks ago, seeing it get dark early hit me in a way I don't recall it ever striking me before. I did not like it.

It's sunny today. I should really get out in this, but I'm off work all week, and this couch is super comfy, and I'm not wearing any pants.

Pants are for suckers.

So yeah, I'm off all week because I'm an educator. A teacher. My lessons last an eternity, which is how long it takes to grade all these damn papers! I'm not here to turn you all on to the extra amount of work us teachers bring home; I don't wish to depress you all and add to your SAD. Oh hey, wow, did the DSM mean to make the disorder spell out SAD as an acronym when they named it? WTF DSM? Ironic joke indeed. And the joke is on us all it would appear.

Anyway, eat as much as you want and don't put on any pants for the next month.

And enjoy this show! I was actually training to new Radio Valencia staff members, so I hope this came out OK. Since I was off work I took the time to not only pull some records I wanted to share, but I also put them in some kind of order that made sense to me. I don't often do that.

Take a look at the playlist that follows, and click the link above to listen in.

Enjoy and please share.

Gobble gobble.

Niggers Are Afraid of Revolution: Last Poets
Stagolee: Jesse Fuller

Tater Pie: Sonny Terry
Sloppy Drunk Blues: Big Joe Williams
The Sky is Crying: Dave Alexander

The Way You Look Tonight: Wes Montgomery
A'int Nobody Home: BB King

The Gates/Take Me To The Water: Mark Growden
Common People: Leonard Nimoy
Skinny Minnie: The Mummies
I Don't Like You: Thee Headcoats
Femme Fatale: Ty Segall
Heroin: Burnt Ones

I'm Waiting For The Man: Velvet Underground
1970: Mission of Burma
Dirt: The Stooges

Heart of Darkness: Pere Ubu
Barmy: The Fall

Gilgamesh: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Ha Ha Ha: Flipper
Feels Blind: Bikini Kill

Brainded Warrior: Zig Zags

I had a conversation with a friend online recently, who was listening to a previous show of mine. She commented that it felt like I was speaking directly to her when I said that you may not be listening live, but perhaps somewhere in a distant time?

It's true, you know? I often imagine you listening to these shows many decades (or centuries?) into the future. Once it's out there, it's out there forever. Every word I have spoken, every song I have played. It's all there. I was about to type "do anything you want with it. It's not mine anymore". But then I got to thinking about this world of ours where intellectual copyright and identity theft is a real thing. So go ahead and listen to these old shows, and my comments from those times, but do take it all in context, ok? Thanks.

I also know that my two darling children will possibly read these posts and listen back to my old shows. Anything's possible, right?

Not a lot of new music tonight. Ty Segall has a new release on the horizon: "Three Bells", and I have something off of that. New Beatles. Yes, you heard that right. And it's pretty good. The video almost brought me to tears.

I'm heading to Bottom of the Hill Saturday night to see Radio Valencia's DJ Doug in his quartet 9 Dog Dick. It's their album release party. The headliner is St. Louis' Drunks With Guns. They're loud and the rock! I played them in the second hour tonight. Come on down and rock out with me.

As always, there's something for everyone here, as long as you enjoy 60s psych, 70s soul-jazz, 00s South-Asian garage-revival, 00s subversive hiphop, prog-metal and more.

Have fun and share.

jh

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

Some Velvet Morning: Vanilla Fudge
Inner City Blues: Grover Washington Jr.

Leyla: Altin Gun
Pay Back Africa: Antibalas

Thlah Cinta Berlalu: Koes Barat
Breathless: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Heartattack and Vine: Lydia Lunch (ft. Nels Cline)

My Room: Ty Segall
Girlfriend is Better: Talking Heads
Islands in the Sky: Death Valley Girls

Now and Then: The Beatles
Beef Rapp: MF Doom
Smokin' Cheeba Cheeba: George Benson

Bird Song: David McMurray
I Get A Kick Out Of You: Frank Sinatra
Hell House: Drunks with Guns

Celestial Crown/Barael's Blade: The Sword
Majic Moonjynuh: Queen Crescent

Revenge: Embryo

You have no idea what Radio Valencia has gone through the past few weeks. When it rains it blows. And boy howdy did it blow. What should have taken no longer than 90 minutes to fix, turned into two weeks of saying "what the fuck" over and over again.

Note to self: do not hire a drug addict to "look into the issue".

Noted.

That being said, my own life has been quite topsy-turvy for the past number of months, which has led me to host my show every other week for the foreseeable future. Tonight was one of those nights.

Now that we're up and running we really could use your help. This station has been a labor of love and our own deep pockets, since 2010. We have some amazing shows, some of the best I have ever heard in my 30+ years in radio, and we want to keep this operation going strong for years to come.

We need to pay for regular upkeep of our equipment, purchase new equipment, build a new website, pay rent and bills, and so much more.

Please go to our site and click on the PayPal link on the right side of the page. Any amount helps and we're a 501c3 non-profit, so this would be a tax-deductible donation!!!

Thanks in advance.

For this show it's what you have come to expect from me: a grab bag of what feels good to me at the moment. I always drag along a large amount of vinyl to make the pickings good. I feel good about this show. Take a listen and let me know what you think

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Nuclear War: Sun Ra
16 Shells From a 40 Ought 6: Tom Waits

Money: Roger Waters
NIB: Jazz Sabbath

Anglehead: The Monkeywrench
Road Runner: Thee Headcoatees
Bring It All Home: Led Zeppelin

Moonage Daydream: David Bowie
Nice, Nice, Very Nice: Ambrosia
Nancy From Now On: Father John Misty
Cardboard Pile: Kikagaku Moyo
The Letter: Joe Cocker and Leon Russell

Muddy Water: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Doriella du Fontaine: Lightnin' Rod (Last Poets) with Jimi Hendrix

Spy Girl: The Darts
The Devil's Chasing Me: Reverend Horton Heat

Intercepted Message: Oh Sees
Carletta's In Hats Again: Brigid Dawson and the Mother's Network
Down At The Rock and Roll Club: Richard Hell and the Voidoids

I Don't Mind: Buzzcocks
I Bid Goodnight: Joseph Spence

My high school years (84-88) were mostly spent in San Mateo, California; about 15 miles south of San Francisco. It was a really great place to grow up in the 80s. I was the kind of kid who enjoyed making my way across the high school campus at lunch, talking to many different kids of groups. In the immortal words of Edie McClurg, I was pretty close to "the sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads". I was also one to bring many of these groups together, especially at weekend parties.

I used to hang out with the Odeski brothers: Scott, Howie and Nicki. These three were close in age and loved one another as much as they could hate on one another. I think Scott and Howie had a fight with baseball bats at one time? Their mother owned a lot of property in Foster City (right next to San Mateo), and local officials wanted her to sell much of that property to the city, which she regularly declined, so local law enforcement would harass her sons, often arresting on trumped up charges and then not following through, just to intimidate the family. They were used to it. Foster City cops were notorious in their intimidation tactics towards teens as it was. I learned to hate cops then and there.

They had a big home, and turned their 2-car garage into Nicki's bedroom. And what a room! They put in the work to make it the real deal, along with video games, foosball table, pool table, television, bar, neon signs, and a sweet stereo.

This is where I got my earliest education on Rap and Hip Hop. To be honest, we all called it Rap. I'm not sure when Hip Hop entered the vernacular, but it wasn't around us in the 80s.

Nicki was always playing Rap. He did a lot of record shopping and had the latest 12". LL Cool J, Eric B and Rakim, Ice T, NWA, Public Enemy, Kool Moe Dee, Salt and Peppa, BDM, Biz Markie, Schoolly D, Slick Rick, Too Short, Too Live Crew, and so much more.

I was a DJ at the very popular local ice rink, Ice Capades Chalet, at Fashion Island Mall, nearby. I bought records every week for that job, so I was also buying 45s and 12"s of these artists and so many more. I was also very much into punk, metal, psych and the Grateful Dead, so it's safe to say my early music education was expanding by leaps and bounds with Rap being added in.

I was also working for Good Vibrations Mobile DJs, spinning at weddings (oh so many weddings), school dances, birthday parties, and more. I was allowed to bring the DJ console to my high school every so often to spin at lunch in the quad. That was so much fun. I recall one instance when I placed "Walk This Way" by Run DMC on the turntable and let it roll. It was a huge hit at that time, and I really enjoyed it. Half way through the tune I slowly dragged the needle across the record (SACRILEGIOUS!!!!!) and then started up the Aerosmith version. I did for affect, obviously. I think I even made some comment on the mic like "this isn't how it's supposed to go...riiiiiiiiiipppppp. Here ya go!" So lame, but I was 16, so what do you want?

My years at KFJC (88-97) just added to my growing appreciation of Rap and Hip Hop. And what an excellent era it was for that genre.

So on Monday night I wanted to pay tribute to this long-lasting and ever-evolving genre. I am truly happy it wasn't the fad that so many said it would be. This show isn't any kind of retrospective; it's just me playing some of my favorites in two hours. I kept the mic breaks to a minimum so the music would tell the tale. And yes, most of what I played was released between 87-95. That's my favorite era!

That's not to say there isn't a lot happening now that I don't love. I'm a big MF Doom fan, as well as Kendrick Lamar, and many more. I still shy away from pop of any genre, so the pop Hip Hop doesn't do anything for me.

I may bring Little Lauson Hell on again soon for her to play her favorite Hip Hop of this past decade. She has a lot on her playlist that I need to dive deep into.

Enjoy and please share this gem.

Happy 50th Hip Hop! Let's hear it for many more awesome decades to come!

jh

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF

Laugh, Love, Fuck: The Coup
JBs Comin' Through: Jungle Brothers
The Cactus: 3rd Bass

Car Thief: Beastie Boys
Potholes In My Lawn: De La Soul
Resurrection: Common
Am I Black Enough For Ya: Schoolly D

Ten Crack Commandments: Notorious BIG
Protect Your Neck: Wu Tang Clan
Don't Believe The Hype: Public Enemy

Buck Whylin': Terminator X
One Time For The Rebel: Son of Bazerk
Back in the Old Days of Hip Hop: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

Earth People: Dr. Octagon
Run This Town: Jay-Z (featuring Rihanna)
Come On Down: Big Daddy Kane
Soul Brother #1: Pete Rock and CL Smooth
I'm On The Mic: KRS-One

Rapp Snitch Knishes: MF Doom
Search 4 The Lyte: MC Lyte
Samba Soul: N.A.S.A. (featuring DJ Qbert, Q-Tip and Del the Funkee Homosapien)

Steady Mobbin': Ice Cube
No Shame in My Game: Gang Starr
Sucker MCs: Run DMC

Brother Rap: James Brown

It sure enough felt GOOD to be back in the studio Monday night. I haven't taken this much time off since I started Radio Valencia in 2010. This was my first show since early April. I needed the break, but I was itching to get back. There was a moment Monday afternoon, a few hours before my show, when I thought "i could stay in and watch a show". That's when I knew I just had to make it in to do my show.

The longer you sit, the harder it is to get up.

Get up.

Always get up.

So where have I been? That's a difficult question to answer, and not one I'm quite ready to jump into quite yet. My health is great! It has nothing to do with that. My kids are healthy as well. My life is in flux, but I can honestly say I am the happiest and most at peace in quite a long time. As a matter of fact last Friday afternoon I was on the beach near Albany Bulb (yes, there's a great little beach there and the water was warm that day), staring out at the city and the Golden Gate Bridge, playing in the warm water with Bodhi, noting that I was the happier at that moment than I have been in many years.

I'm not often unhappy. I just have been lacking a measure of harmony and peace. Today I have more harmony and peace. And for this I am grateful.

Now, on with the show!

I wasn't certain how rusty I was going to be, but after having hosted a few thousand shows over the years, I figured as long as I had enough music with me, I could figure out the rest.

How right I was!

I've missed a few tributes over the past few months, so I had to make up for that. Harry Belafonte, Blackie Onassis and Tom Verlaine passed over the past few months. Instead of sets for the dearly departed, you get a single tune for each.

I'm starting off with some jazz and folk blues, before getting louder. And I do get louder. New music from Death Valley Girls, Iggy Pop, Mudhoney, Cory Hanson (of WAND), and King Gizzard pepper the broadcast.

I expect to be hosting my show live every other Monday night for a while. You'll hear an encore presentation (read: rerun) on the Monday's I'm not in. Having hosted over 500 shows on Radio Valencia your sure to enjoy what I have served up for you.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

White Man's Got A God Complex: Last Poets
Freedom Day: Max Roach

Midnight Special: Harry Belafonte
Terraplane Blues: Robert Johnson

When the Levee Breaks: Memphis Minnie
Write Me A Few Lines: Mississippi Fred McDowell
Walkin' Blues: Muddy Waters
Stagolee: Jesse Fuller

Sugar Magnolia: Joe Pop-O-Pie
St. Stephen: Ty Segall
Filipino Boxsprings Hog: Tom Waits

Magic Powers: Death Valley Girls
Toe Cutter/Thumb Buster: Thee Oh Sees
Snakes Crawl: Shannon and the Clams
(Today is) Blackie's Birthday: Urge Overkill

Strung Out Johnny: Iggy Pop
Flush the Fascists: Mudhoney

Friction: Television
Leave the Capitol: The Fall
Safe European Home: The Clash
Fredrick: Patti Smith
Bulunur Mu: Altin Gun

Gila Monster: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Sunday Morning Comin' Down: Kris Kristofferson

Driving Through Heaven: Cory Hanson

It feels like the first time almost every time. I get an itch to share all of this with you Monday nights. No guests tonight, and I honestly just felt like stretching way out tonight, hence the few tracks you see below. There are a few long ones in here that I know are going to take you on a little trip if you allow them to.

I suggest you make the time to sit back and enjoy this one.

Not much else to say. I hope I get to play more music for you again soon.

Enjoy.

jh

Stepping Out: The Fall
The Passenger: Siouxsie and the Banshees

Up From the South: The Budos Band
Seker Oglan: Altin Gun

Encrypted Bounce: Oh Sees
Blue Jay Way: The Beatles

All Dead To Me: Sgt. Splendor
Chocolate Jesus: Tom Waits

No Hay Problema: Pink Martini
Sorcery: Big Band Katowice
Separate Ways: Neil Young

Mountains of the Moon>Dark Star: Grateful Dead (February 27, 1969)
The High Road: Broken Bells

New York Town: Peter Rowan
In That Great Getting Up In The Morning: The New Gospel Keys

There are good times and then there are really good times.

Guess what this night was about?

Eric McFadden and Kate Vargas stopped in Monday night to talk all about their latest project: Sgt. Splendor!

I've been friends with Eric McFadden since the late, great Rotten Ron Donovan introduced us back in 2007. He's been on my show countless times. We've spent many a fine night at clubs and ice cream shops. And then there was New Orleans. Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit.

That all being said, I was introduced to one Adam Mackintosh, singer/songwriter extraordinaire in New Orleans in 2017 for an extra special event, which you can read about here. It was at this event week that I met Adam. We were to be roommates for the few nights we were in town, and he met up with me at a club. It was your run of the mill extremely hot New Orleans night in May, when he walked in wearing a brown three piece suit, ascot and sunglasses, carrying a brown leather suitcase and brown Italian sunglasses, standing 6'5". We were introduced and the first thing I asked him was his thoughts about cockroaches? The place was hot. New Orleans in May, hot.

Adam and I have been best friends ever since.

Eric and Adam haven't seen one another in a few years, and Adam was in town visiting family, so I naturally had him come into the studio. I purposely didn't tell Eric about this, because I like a good reveal. Another great thing about this night was that Eric's partner-in-crime Kate Vargas was along for the ride. I was planning on interviewing them about their great act, Sgt. Splendor, who is on tour right now, and will be playing Bottle Rock in a few months.

You have just got to be listening when I'm talking on mic and there's a knock at the door. I ask Eric to open it. The rest is radio history.

All three of my guests were very vocal tonight about songwriting and performing. I really appreciate them coming down. Give it a listen and I think their enthusiasm will rub off on you.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Down The Street: The Stooges
Bang: Dark Carnival
More Dead: Death Valley Girls

Shapes of Things: Jeff Beck Group
She Shook Me Cold: David Bowie

Fairies Wear Boots: Brownout
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath: Black Sabbath
Magic: Zig Zags

All Dead To Me: Sgt. Splendor
Miss Judy's Farm: The Faces
Nibbadip: Fantaastic Negrito

Crash Dancing: Sgt. Splendor
Everybody's Talking: Bongwater
Strange Days: The Bobby Lees
Red Right Hand: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Whoopie Chateau: Sgt. Splendor
Do It For Love: The Last Dancers

Teenage Phase: Adam MacKintosh
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

I left Twitter a few years ago. It always upset me to scroll through it. I held onto the account so I could share my radio blog on there, tagging the artists I play. I never missed it, and I never thought I would. When Musk took it over I deleted my account. I don't need to share my data with that guy. It appears Twitter drives people to this page. I've gone from ~150 per post to ~10. ugh. I do not want to back to Twitter.

Well I guess you lucky few get to enjoy all this music just for yourselves. Who am I to keep you from sharing it on your own social media platforms?

Just look at what you get: a tribute to Tom Verlaine, some 70s Punk, 60s Blues and Jazz, new John Cale, Molly Tuttle, Ty Segall, Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder. I also have some demos and outtakes from The Who and Funkadelic. I'm all over the damn place.

Let Twitter keep the creep. You have me and I have you, and that's all that counts.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Roadrunner: The Modern Lovers
Anarchy in the UK: Sex Pistols

Friction: Television
Down At The Rock and Roll Club: Richard Hell and the Voidoids
Love Comes In Spurts: Thee Headcoats

Sorcery: Big Band Katowice
Back Home: Yusef Lateef
Nisaba in the Grass: Luna

Night Crawling: John Cale
Earthquake: Kim Gordon

Fearless: Mary Lou Lord
The Waitress Song: First Aid Kit
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out: Janis Joplin and Jorma Kaukonen
Sloppy Drunk Blues: Big Joe Williams

San Francisco Bay Blues: Molly Tuttle
Bumble Bee: Big Mama Thornton

Goin' Mobile (Pete's Demos): The Who
Red Hot Mama (alternative take): Funkadelic
I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide (2022 remake): ZZ Top
Midnight Special: Harry Belefonte

Saturday Pt. 2: Ty Segall
Moth Tongue: Crystal Fairy

Pick A Bale of Cotton: Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

Well 2023 is starting out a bit how 2022 ended: a bit sour. My dad passed in late December, which was a real kick in the gonads, after which I was happy to see 2022 fade away. And now the first few weeks of 2023 have seen the passing of Jeff Beck, David Crosby, Tom Verlaine and more. It's starting to feel a bit how 2016 when so many musical heroes passed starting with David Bowie.

What else does 2023 have in store for us all?

Let the music play!

I invited my buddy, rock photographer Jay Blakesberg into the studio to talk about his history knowing and photographing David Crosby, and to play the music we both grew up on. There's a lot of Crosby-related tunes sprinkled throughout the show, interlaced with our colorful conversation.

Jay is nothing if he isn't a fine conversationalist.

He also was kind enough to bring a copy of his remarkable new coffee table book, RetroBlakesberg, full of photos all taken on film. I love that so many of the shows from the 80s and 90s in the Bay Area I actually attended!!!

Go to his site and check out the book. Pick up a copy. You'll be so happy you did. And if you're on Instagram, be certain to follow him.

Jay gives good radio too. I think we're going to make this a quarterly thing. That is, unless another legendary rock star dies before then. Where's Keith and Iggy? I'm seeing Iggy in a few months, so he better hold on.

Here's my show from this past Monday night. It's been a challenging few weeks since my dad passed away. I like getting my shows posted within a couple of days after broadcast, but you'll have to forgive me for being so late with this.

As always I take two hours and throw pretty much everything at it.

This coming Monday night, January 30th tune in for my guest, rock photographer Jay Blakesberg. We'll be talking about the late David Crosby and more.

What have you been listening to lately? Where are you getting your musical inspiration from?

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Basketball Jones: Cheech and Chong
Swing 42: Django Reinhardt
Trouble in Mind: Janis Joplin and Jorma Kaukonen

Regimental Sgt. Zippo: Elton John
3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds: Jefferson Airplane

God Bless The Child: Kenny Burrell
The Diamond Sea: Sonic Youth

Cryo For Freedom: Larry Boothroyd's Remote Communion
Woke Up Dead: JD Pinkus
I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier, Mama: John Lennon

Hot Rod Lincoln: Bill Kirchen
They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore: Kinky Friedman
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight: Bob Dylan

Back Seat Betty: Miles Davis
London: Angel Bat Dawid

Laughing: David Crosby
Pasties and a G-String: Andre Williams
In That Great Gettin' Up In The Morning: The New Gospel Keys

You know I start this show out talking about why I do what I do. This is all about taking two hours and paining an aural picture for your mind. Spotify can't do that. Commercial radio stations won't do that. They can't risk losing their sponsors. Spotify has no soul. Commercial radio exists to steal your soul and your time. And how insulting are they?

ever be able to guess what I'm going to play on my show. Yes, there are a handful of artists who I have been known to play more often than others.

I was all over the place on this show. Experimental, garage-punk, Americana, Bluegrass, free-Jazz, Soul-Jazz, both American and British Punk, a tribute to Jeff Beck, British Rock, Greek Psych-Groove, Neo-Psych and Gospel. I ask you, where else are you going to hear this? Radio Valencia needs to be bookmarked on your browser and you must get the app!

I can't wait until next week.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Ge Rouge: Crash Worship
Diddy Wah: Ty Segall Band

The Red, The White, and The Blue: Peter Rowan
Dooley's Farm: Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway

Nisaba in the Grass: Luna
Focus on Sanity: John Coltrane and Don Cherry

Driva Man: Max Roach
Inner City Blues: Grover Washington Jr.

Playing in the Band: Bob Weir
Jubilee Street: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Media Control: The Nuns
Bourgeois Town: The Fall
Fast Cars: Buzzcocks

Freeway Jam: Jeff Beck
I'm Ready: Humble Pie
Show Me The Way: Dinosaur Jr.

Tatli Dile Guler Yuze: Altin Gun
Death's Not Your Friend: Wooden Shjips

In That Great Getting Up In The Morning: The New Gospel Keys