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Hell’s Kitchen Radio #353: I Can Taste It

December 19, 9am

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It’s December so it’s time for my obligatory BEST of show…kinda. If anything it’s a chance to play great music! And isn’t that why you tune in week after week? You do tune in, don’t you? That’s interesting. I just realized that I asked “don’t you”, and not “do not you”. Huh.

My show isn’t all about 2018 music, however. Just take a gander at the playlist below and you’ll note the diversity in the sets. Yes folks, we here at Radio Valencia believe the only good radio is diverse radio. Why I play all kinds of diverse genres: metal, heavy metal, death metal, speed metal, stoner metal, and doom metal. Don’t be fooled by our competitors, they only program to the lowest common denominator. We have discovered a way to much much lower.

That being said, there was a lot of great music in 2018. Albums by King TuffOh SeesMudhoneySleep, and of course a few by Ty Segall, are just a glimpse into what was another stellar year for the indie rock/garage scene.

I encourage you to tune in to Radio Valencia throughout the rest of 2018 for more Best of shows from some of the finest DJs west of East Orange, New Jersey.

I’m taking the next two weeks off to celebrate family and friends. I suggest you do the same. I’ll be scheduling some of my favorite Hell’s Kitchen Radio programs to play in my absence. I encourage you to have it playing in the background during your family celebrations. I’m available for Bar Mitzvah’s too!

Happy Holidaze to you and yours from me, and all of us at Radio Valencia. See you in 2019!

jh

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

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Why Can’t I Touch It: Buzzcocks
The White Man’s Got A God Complex: Last Poets
Inner City Blues: Grover Washington Jr.

Birds of Paradise: King Tuff
Keep on Knockin’: Death
No Air: Red Fang
Drown in my own Tears: Ray Charles

Moon Bog: Oh Sees
Motion Pictures: Neil Young
By The Time I Get To Arizona: Brownout

My Wild Sweet Love: First Aid Kit
Isolation: John Lennon
Low Rider: Ty Segall

21st Century Pharisees: Mudhoney
Devil Woman: Charles Mingus

Hillbilly Math: Dale Crover Band

Lady in the Front Row: Redd Kross
Staring at the Sun: Wooden Shjips
The Big Gundown: Ennio Morricone

Pre Strike Sweep: Goggs
Marijuanaut’s Theme: Sleep

Teardrops From My Eyes: Ray Condo

Hell’s Kitchen Radio #346: Why I Do What I Do

October 10, 2pm

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How old were you when you fell in love with music? Do you remember your first love? Who was it? The BeatlesSinatraLed ZeppelinPatsy Cline? Who spoke to you? What did they say? Why did it resonate so deeply?

When I was eight years old in 1978, my aunt bought me four KISS LPs: Rock and Roll Over, Love Gun, Alive 2, and Double Platinum. I was hooked from the first grunt. I couldn’t get enough of the imagery and the riffs. And yes, I fantasized that I was Peter Criss singing “Beth” to my imaginary girlfriend. I joined the KISS Army, dressed as either Gene Simmons or Paul Stanley for consecutive Halloween’s, and overjoyed when I found a discarded copy of Destroyer laying on the street, still in playable condition (playable for a ten year old, anyway). I had posters that covered my walls, and like all of my friends, strongly anticipated the broadcast of “KISS Meets the Phantom Of The Park“.

They are the first band that I wanted to know everything about. Where they were from? What they did before they were a band (Gene Simmons was a school teacher!!!)? Why they chose KISS as a band name? Why they didn’t stick with Wicked Lester? Of course everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of them out of makeup. But I could not hide my disappointment when they decided to ditch the makeup altogether in 1983. What the hell was that all about? Even before the unmasking, the band had moved so far away from their riff-centric rock, full of stories about partying down and getting the girl, and I had discovered another band that would hold my attention, and continues to do so.

When I was 8 or 9, around 1978 or 1979, I was introduced to The Beatles. I was floored. I jumped ship a year or two later from KISS to the Fab Four, and honestly I felt like I was breaking up with someone. I didn’t know at that tender age that I was allowed to have more than one favorite band. Shortly thereafter I added Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead to my ever-growing list of faves. After that the flood gates were open. I started buying my own records when I was 13, and my collection grew by leaps and bounds.

Though much of my record library consisted of what would be “classic rock” by today’s standards, I was really proud of what I had amassed in just a few short years. It wasn’t just quantity in my mind, it was quality too. I joined KFJC in late 1988 and tired very quickly of what was sitting, collecting dust, in my own library. I hungered for more. More genres, more obscure artists, more “classics” waiting to be discovered. In 2010 I purged about 5000 LPs that were taking up too much space in my home and my psyche. Most of this music could be heard on any commercial radio station anyway, so why would I hold onto it all? What I kept (about 1000 LPs) and what I continue to purchase is inspired by my time in non-commercial radio and local artists.

There are too many musical gems waiting to be encountered by the masses. I continue to be involved in radio to share my discoveries with you. Take a look at the playlist below, and all of my playlists. Much of what you see, you have never heard before. Give it a listen. If I play it that means I like it enough to want to share it with you. Hopefully you will like it enough to support that artist. Buy their music. See them live.

Enjoy…I know I do.

jh

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

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When You Get It Grunt If You Can: The JBs
Researching the Blues: Redd Kross
Chicken A La King/Bad Move: Dale Crover
Love How In Love With Love You Are: Adam Mackintosh with Storm Large
I Shot All The Birds: Blind Shake
Apache: Link Wray
Come On Over, Turn Me On: Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan

Psycho Star: King Tuff
You Are What You Love: Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
Feel: Ty Segall

Otis Rush Tribute (1935-2018)
I Can’t Quit You, Babe: Otis Rush
Double Trouble: Otis Rush
Little Red Rooster: Otis Rush

Southern Politician: Willy Deville
Am I Black Enough For Ya: Schoolly-D
Round and Round: OP8
Lord of Lightening: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

Revolution Blues: Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Please Mr. Gunman: Mudhoney
Some Velvet Morning: Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra
Roscoe: Midlake
Pent Juri Hati: Koes Barat

This is my favorite scene from Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park. That Paul Stanley is a real thespian.

Hell’s Kitchen Radio #340: Return of the Return of the Magnificent Seven”s

July 26, 2pm

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Sometimes I giggle when I look at my 7″ collection. It’s true. And when I have to purchase another 7″ box to hold them in, I get all silly, thinking about how I’m going to organize them. True story.

You may recall a year ago when I moved out of SF to Berkeley I misplaced my entire 7″ collection along with a few important books of mine. I found the mis-labeled box a few months later, but not until I had already re-purchased a few of the missing 45s. I was so frustrated thinking that someone would have had the balls to snatch and grab a very heavy box full of my babies. Thankfully I found it buried in my storage shed behind my home, safe and sound, and ready to be played full blast once again.

On my most recent show it’s all about the 7″s (with a few 10″s thrown in, because who doesn’t appreciate a quality 10″?). And it’s not all rock either. Take a look at the playlist below. Rap, soul, garage, punk, Bowie, rock, psych. I’ve got it all covered.

I close out the show with a tribute to the Grateful Dead’s longest tenured keyboardist, Brent Mydland, who’s last show was on this day in 1990 (June 26). I was never a fan of his voice, but he had the Hammond B3 sound down. He just couldn’t battle his demons anymore. I have a memory of walking in the lot during a show during the summer of 1989, reading a copy of Dupree’s Diamond News (a Dead zine/sheet written for and distributed to Heads in the parking lot before shows). DDN made a statement that the “rumors” of Brent being back on heroin were false; he was clean and sober. He would be dead of a vicious overdose. Too bad Jerry wasn’t scared straight from the experience.

I’m out of the office this coming Monday night, and I’m really hoping that our premier fill-in DJ Dial-A-Shot will be taking over. The man ROCKS! I’ll have a classic Hell’s Kitchen Radio show lined up if he doesn’t make it in, and I look forward to manning the helm again the following Monday at 8PM.

Radio Valencia is turning 8 years old on August 11. Be sure to wish us a happy birthday! We like dark chocolate and garage rock.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Don’t Forget to Breathe: The Melvins
Notes and Chords Mean Nothing to Me: Redd Kross

Goin’ Back to Cali: LL Cool J
Emma: Hot Chocolate

Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon: Urge Overkill
People Get Ready: The Chambers Brothers
Fantastic Voyage: David Bowie

***San Mateo Set***
Lieutenant Uhuru: Three Stoned Men
Legend of Sleepy Hollow: The Mummies
Andalusia: The Phantom Surfers

Hey Hey What Can I Do: Led Zeppelin (You have never heard it played like this before)
Deezy: Honky (Jeff Pinkus of Butthole Surfers ROCK band. Think ZZ Top on meth!)
Brainded Warrior: Zig Zags

Kick Out The Jams: Afrika Bambaatta
Rock Box: Run DMC
Macho Man: Artless
Louie Louie: Black Flag

You Stupid Asshole: Mudhoney
Another Way: Mono Men
Let’s Get Funky: Jack O’Fire
Lights Out: Wooden Shjips
Observatory: Carlton Melton

Drone: Here Are The Facts You Requested
Bloody Hammer: Roky Erickson

Dear Mr. Fantasy: Grateful Dead (March 31, 1988 Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey)

Hell’s Kitchen Radio #321: 7th Annual Annual Annual – 1992

November 16, 9am

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It’s that time once again when I get to indulge my inner Dave Morey and focus my show on one special year. This is my seventh annual Annual Annual, and this year it’s all about 1992. I turned 22 in late September and was deeply involved at KFJC as well as attending countless live shows around the Bay Area.

The club scene was really good to me too. South Bay spots like Marsugi’s and One Step Beyond were regular hot spots for us KFJC folks. I also spent a lot time at The Stone in SF, Paradise Lounge, Above Broadway, Slims, um, er, my brain is hurting trying to remember all the places. I recall The Omni924 Gillman StreetBerkeley Square, and Freight and Salvage in the East Bay too. And of course many many Grateful Dead shows up and down the west coast. 1992 was a really fun year for me.

As for the music, the indie scene was at a peak since Nirvana went super duper platinum (is that a ranking?) the previous fall with Nevermind. Major labels were doing everything they could to swipe up the next big thing. Some really horrible knockoff bands were popping up on commercial radio during this time. Some things never change.

I was hosting the 6-10AM morning show on Wednesday’s at KFJC. The music below feels like I took it straight from one of my playlists from that time. It’s possible I did. Granted we weren’t allowed, by FCC rules, to play any music with naughty language, so there are a few tracks on here that I would have loved to have played back then, but could not. Count yourself lucky for the advent of internet radio!

Take a walk down memory lane for the next two hours and enjoy 1992 like it never left us.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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I Say Fuck: Supersuckers
Spear and Magic Helmet: The Gits
Ghettos of the Mind: Pete Rock and CL Smooth
California Uber Alles: Disposable Heroes of Hiphopricy
Love American Style: Mr. T Experience
Professor Booty: Beastie Boys
I Ain’t No Nice Guy: Motorhead
Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Skeeter: King Buzzo (Melvins solo EPs)
Suck My Left One: Bikini Kill
Everything’s Ruined: Faith No More
Caliente: Supersuckers
Stranded on Death Row: Dr. Dre
Youth Against Fascism: Sonic Youth
Officer: The Pharcyde
Murder in the Red Barn: Tom Waits
Always Something: Yo La Tengo
Sweet Old World: Lucinda Williams
Summer Babe (Winter Version): Pavement
Living Wreck: Mudhoney
Sandusky: Uncle Tupelo
Your Ass Is Next In Line: The Mummies
Merry Muthafuckin’ Xmas: Eazy-E
Have A Cigar: Primus
Time Will Tell: Black Crowes

Hell’s Kitchen Radio #304: It’s Getting Dark In Here

May 23, 3pm

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I think I play it a little too safe on my show from time to time. There are nights that I bring a lot of black metal, or speed metal, or, well, anything darker than I usually play for you, but I hold off thinking “they don’t want to hear this stuff”. I think I’ve been insulting you, and for that I am sorry. I just didn’t want to ostracize my audience. I fell into the “lowest-common-denominator” style of programming. Damn, what is wrong with me?

To make up for my radio shortcomings I decided to get fairly dark tonight. There’s some metal, punk and garage thrown in, as well as some pretty choice hard rock cuts. It’s loud, it’s fun, and from the feedback I received during the show, well-considered.

Radio is supposed to be about the art of the segue. I choose music that I believe will move you. That doesn’t mean it will always be a pleasant movement. It does mean that I have thought hard about why I want to play this song, and hope that you will take the time to consume it. I’m painting a two hour audio picture just for you. Isn’t that great?! Just another in the many reasons that I love Radio Valencia.

Next week I’ll probably play two hours of Americana and Bakersfield Country. Also, I have tickets to see Dave and Phil Alvin to give away. Tune in!

This Thursday night at Folio Books on 24th Street in Noe Valley, I’m interviewing music critic and author Joel Selvin about his latest book “Altamont, The Rolling Stones, The Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock’s Darkest Day”. It should make for a great hour. It starts at 7PM. Come on down and meet me and Joel, and get a copy of this great read. I flew through it. I thought I knew everything there was to know about Altamont. Well I do now.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Way Down in the Hole: DoMaJe
The Horned Goddess: The Sword

New Flesh: Fuzz
Flies: Red Fang
No Time For The Blues: OBN IIIs

Let’s Get Killed: The Immortal Lee County Killers
Interstellar Overdrive: The Melvins

Touch Me I’m Sick: Mudhoney
Aquarian: Sleep

Cult Leader: Dopethrone
Farewell: Boris

Magic: Zig Zags
Honky Time: James Hall
Teenage Phase: Adam Mackintosh

Kicking a Can of Worms: Metz
Epoch of the Tyrant: Hot Fog

Squeeze Me Macaroni: Mr. Bungle (01-10-1991 Club Lingerie, Los Angeles, CA)
Suicide: Thin Lizzy (09-25-1980 Sun Plaza, Nakano, Japan)

Uncle Son: The Kinks

Playlist from A Season in Hell: Night of the Vampire 10-31-11

November 1, 8pm

The ghoul in me just loves a frighteningly good holiday. With a name like Hell how couldn’t I? When I was at KFJC I would fill in the Christmas morning shows every year. I would often play Halloween-themed music that morning.

I digress.

Tonight was all-around fun. Thanks for joining me on the Radio Valencia chatterbox, too. I always enjoy chatting with my listeners.

Want to download the show? Go here.

Enjoy.

John Hell

Night of the Living Dead: Misfits
I Was a Teenage Werewolf: The Cramps
Pet Cemetery (Ramones cover): Yo La Tengo

Teenage Lobotomy: The Ramones
Exquisite Corpse: Bauhaus

Bewitched: Beat Happening
The House on the Hill: The Mummies
Halloween: Mudhoney
Monster: Three Day Stubble
The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead: XTC

Night of the Vampire: Roky Erickson
Clothes of the Dead: Bongos, Bass and Bob!

Vampire Blues: Wooden Shjips
My Girlfriend Is A Witch: October Country
Halloween: The Dream Syndicate
Hellfudge: Lard

Viking Demon: Rube Waddell
Werewolves of London: Grateful Dead (05-11-78)
Death Train: Beat Farmers (12-07-85)
Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight?: The Misfits (02-28-82)

Careful with that Axe, Eugene: Pink Floyd (04-29-70)

Tom Violence: Sonic Youth (08-17-90)
Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime: Dean Martin