Hot damn, it's my favorite time of year: the weather is cooler, the leaves are falling, Halloween, Thanksgiving, holiday break from school and my Annual Annual!!!

This is my 15th annual Annual Annual, and I have to admit I was a bit perplexed thinking about what year I wanted to focus on this year. I'm not going to get into why I do this show, or offer a history of the past 15 years of hosting it. There are links below to all the previous specials, so you can go there to learn about it.

I will tell you last October I realized the date of this show was fast approaching and I needed to get on the ball quick, or it was not going to be a pleasant night. So I did what any DJ with 35+ years of underground radio experience, who owns a few thousand records, loves every genre, reads countless books on music, and is always keeping up with the latest sounds: I asked my friends what year I should do.

And 1981 rose to the top.

What a year that was for music. Punk had splintered into many forms: post-punk, industrial, goth, new wave, hardcore, alt, and experimental. Metal had also evolved to include NWOBM, and early thrash, as well as some early glam. Hiphop was still in its infancy, and reggae and international were flourishing.

So I did what any other self-respecting radio host would do with a two hour timeslot: I produced a four hour show.

I broke this up into four one-hour segments that I have posted at the top of every hour below.

I have so much fun hosting this special that I can hardly wait until next year. Then again I have no clue which year to choose.

There's a lot to dislike about the politics and commercial fare of 1981, but the music I have for you isn't of them.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

HOUR 1 — Hardcore / Punk / Alt-Roots
Straight Edge: Minor Threat (7")
What We Want is Free: Articles of Faith (7")
Lights Out: Angry Samoans (Back From Samoa -1982 (recorded in 1981)
American Wino: The Lewd (7")
Abolish Government/Silent Majority: T.S.O.L. (T.S.O.L.)
Smash the State: DOA (Hardcore '81)

Sex Bomb: Flipper (7")
Youth of America: Wipers (Youth of America)
Academy Fight Song: Mission of Burma (Signals, Calls, and Marches EP)
***Commercials from 1981***
Sex Beat: The Gun Club (Fire of Love)

Sick Boy: G.B.H. (City Baby Attacked By Rats)
Never Again: Discharge (Never Again)
Statues: Husker Du (7")

Marie Marie: The Blasters (S/T)
Radio Free Europe (Hib-Tone): REM (Murmer)
White Sweater: Romeo Void (It's A Condition)
See You In The Boneyard: The Flesh Eaters (A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die)

HOUR 2 — Post-Punk / Goth / Experimental
Nick the Stripper: The Birthday Party (Prayers on Fire)
Winning: The Sound (From The Lions Mouth)
About the Weather: Magazine (Magic, Murder and the Weather)

Middle Mass: The Fall (Slates)
Come Again: Au Pairs (Playing with a Different Sex)
Only Loved at Night: The Raincoats (Odyshapes)

Kick in the Eye: Bauhaus (Mask)
Follow the Leaders: Killing Joke (What's THIS For...!)
Dumb Waiters: Psychedelic Furs (Talk Talk Talk)

Makeshift Swahili: This Heat (Deceit)
HOUR 3 — Metal / NWOBHM / Early Thrash
Welcome to Hell: Venom (Welcome to Hell)
Don't Need Your Money: Raven (Rock Until You Drop)
Purgatory: Iron Maiden (Killers)

Ace of Spades: Motorhead (No Sleep Til Hammersmith)
C'Mon Let's Go: Girlschool (Hit and Run)
Heavy Metal Ears: Picture (Heavy Metal Ears)
Heavy Metal Mania: Holocaust (The Nightcomers)

I'm Alive: Cirith Ungol (Frost and Fire)
Swords and Tequila: Riot (Fire Down Below)
Riding with the Angels: Samson (with future Iron Maiden peeps) (Shock Tactics)

Gangland: Tygers of Pan Tang (Spellbound)
Princess of the Night: Saxon (Denim and Leather)
School Love: Anvil (Hard 'n' Heavy)

HOUR 4 — Reggae / Dub / Hip-Hop / Global
Youth of Englington: Black Uhuru (Red)
Dance of the Vampires: Scientist (Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires)
Brain Damage: Dennis Bovell (Brain Damage)

The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (12" single)
Moody: ESG (ESG EP)
This Bed's Too Big Without You: Sheila Hylton
Tally Ho!: The Clean (7")

Der Mussolini: DAF (Alles ist Gut)
Heartbeat: Chris and Cosey (Heartbeat)
Make Room: Fad Gadget (7")

Bob Hope Takes Risks: Rip, Rig and Panic (7")
Shumba: Thomas Mapfuno (7")

We had a sweet celebration of the life of "Naked" Rob Gongora, who hosted Terrible Tuesdays on Radio Valencia from 2010 - 2019. He passed away in October from brain cancer.

FUCK CANCER!

Rob was a really wonderful guy. He was always there with a quick quip. Witty to the end and super inclusive. I was honored to speak at his memorial on Saturday at Cypress Lawn in Colma. We followed that up with a celebration of his life at his favorite watering hole: Gold Cane, on Haight Street. The night ended with three bands at Bottom the Hill: Candy Whips, Golden Brain, and Terry Gross.

Rob would have been there if he could.

I've lost too many friends in the past 20+ years to cancer and suicide. Too many. Knowing a lot of creative types means that the odds are many will go too soon. But cancer is just so unfair. I just heard of two more people in my circle, both of whom beat off cancer, now have it once again; one was told it's inoperable.

FUCK CANCER!

I don't buy into the "you only live once" hype. I think I live every day. I only die once. Therefore I'm going to appreciate every moment I have. Have I told you lately that I love you?

Make that call, send that text. I could not be more serious. We need to stay connected, or we too will succumb sooner than we need to.

Having a pet helps too. I've got Chairman Meow Mau , AKA: Maui, our fabulous tortoiseshell, with a strong personality to let me know that she loves me and needs me, and if she was just a little bit bigger, would eat me.

I was interviewed for a podcast the other day (I'll post when it's available) and I was asked by the host, James Ferrigno (AKA: Vico from San Francisco Liberation Radio, where we met when I was on air there 2000 - 2003), about what keeps me going? My dad always said "there's no reward without risk". I took that seriously. I took some great risks starting in my teens. Many weren't very healthy, so I've amended his quote to add "health risk". That being said, some of my biggest growth over the years probably didn't include the word healthy.

My dad also used to say "invite everyone to the party, let them decline the invitation". I'm a firm subscriber to the benefits of inclusion. I like to bring people together. And I like to see what we can do with all that energy.

When you bring creatives together there's always going to be some friction. I like to play with that and watch the magic happen. I don't often reminisce, so during the interview I really had to stop to recall many of the events I helped bring to light. There's been so much fun living over the years, that I don't often slow down to remember it all. There's nothing wrong with that, since I've always been about what's happening nest.

This is all to say that I miss my departed friends and family, especially my dad, but that's never slowed me down. As a matter of fact, if anything, it's made me keenly aware that I have a responsibility to keep living and producing.

Here's a show I had fun producing for you.

I opened with the band that Naked Rob and I love the most: Melvins! From there it's anything goes. I did a but of record shopping on Sunday; a bunch of used records. I especially am excited about the Diz and Bird, Eugene Chadbourne, David Peel, and Ralph Karney/Kramer/Chris Hild records.

This is what non-commercial radio is all about!

I also play some requests! If you know me you know how rare this is. Maybe I need to do this more often?

I'm hosting music critic Dave Pehling next Monday night to promote the record swap that's happening at Make Out Room on November 22nd.

I'm hosting my 15th annual Annual Annual on Monday, November 24th. Two hours from one year, and this time around it's all about 1981. What an amazing year for punk, post-punk, N.O.W.T.H.M. (tune in to find out what that is), and so much more.

Take a look at the playlist below and click the link to listen in.

Enjoy and please share. And go out and play!

jh

Honey Bucket: Melvins (Houdini - 1993)
Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac: Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie "Yardbird" Parker (Diz N' Bird In Concert - 1953 Paris)

Here Comes A Cop: David Peel and the Lower East Side (Have a Marijuana - 1967)
Three Stoned Men Chant/Hey Brother Roll A Joint: Three Stoned Men (Higher Than God - 1991)
Bo Diddley Was A Communist: Eugene Chadbourne (Vermin of the Blues - 1987)

Summertime Blues: The Who (Who's Next/Life House (1971) Super Deluxe - 2023)
Young Man's Blues: Altamont (Our Darling - 2001)
Shanty Town: Desmond Dekker and the Aces (Ska Madness! - 2010)
Somebody Have Mercy: Sam Cooke (The Harlem Square Club - 1963)

My Baby's Gone: Jenny Don't And The Spurs (Broken Hearted Blue - 2023)
It's A Dark Day: Reverend Horton Heat (Smoke 'em if you Got 'em - 1990)

Clown: Carney/Hild/Kramer (Happiness Finally Came To Them - 1988)
The Words of Jamal: Pop-O-Pies (Joe's Second Record - 1984)
Who Stole The Keeshka?: Polkacide (S/T - 1986)
The Shah Sleeps in Lee Harvey's Grave (Live PCPPEP - 1984)
Stagolee: Jesse Fuller (Jazz, Folk Songs, Spirituals and Blues - 1958)

Spanish Castle Magic (Take 2): Jimi Hendrix Experience (Axis: Bold As Love Sessions - 2025)
You Know My Name (Look Up My Number): The Beatles (Anthology 2 - 1996)

Help On The Way/Slipknot/Franklin's Tower: Grateful Dead (Blues for Allah 50th Anniversary Deluxe - 2025)
Burbanks Dream: Golden Void (Berkana - 2015)

Looniversal: Psychedelic Porn Crumpets (Pogo Rodeo - 2025)
Freaks to the Front: Amyl and the Sniffers (Comfort To Me - 2021)

I Can't Help Falling In Love With You: Chrissy Hynde and Mark Lanegan (Duets Special - 2025)

I just got back from New Orleans with my daughter, Spawn of Hell. We were there celebrating her 21st birthday, and I could not think of a better place to take her. I love this town! So much great music and food. The weather wasn't too hot or humid, the beignets were fluffy, the cocktails were flowing, the gumbo was steamy and the crawfish étouffée was delightful.

NOLA is a walking town, and we put that to the test. We walked 10
miles on Saturday and another 7 on Sunday. Most of our walking was through the French Quarter, as well as up and down Frenchmen Street hitting up as many of the clubs as we could.

I think my finest memory will always be us walking towards Frenchmen Street and she says she hears a band that sounds familiar in the distance. We walk towards the music and it turns out to be one of her favorite bands of the past couple years: Dirty Rotten Vipers. She was over the moon! They were playing on the street and the crowd was very enthusiastic. We also made our way over to the Blue Nile, a club I like to visit when I'm in town. This is the same club I met my brother-from-another-mother, and brilliant singer/songwriter Adam MacKintosh.

I digress.

The band was a funk/jazz ensemble that featured a drummer that was getting pretty lit, but never dropped the beat. The main cat, who played trombone and sang, asked for anyone celebrating a birthday to get on stage, so Spawn and four other women made their way up while the band celebrated them all.

We spent some time in Algiers Point, where Memphis Minnie lived and wrote "When the Levee Breaks", which I open the show with.

Did you know the first pharmacy in the United States was in New Orleans? I didn't know this either. They have a museum in its place now. We took the tour. We also toured the Museum of Death. If you like serial killers this place is for you! We were hoping for a bit more science-related information around death, but alas, sensationalism ruled the day. We also went to an excellent haunted house inside a former mortuary. I give it four stars. If I was a teenager that hadn't seen as many horror films as I have, I would have been scared out of my wits. All that said, we were spooked good. Spawn insisted that she go in front during the three floor tour, knowing that a jump scare was expected around every corner. They were good for that.

I've been wanting to take my daughter to NOLA for her 21st birthday since she was 12, and we're both so happy we went. Excellent people, food, music, drink and views. It's a beautiful city. Get there. Have fun. You're welcome.

My first hour was inspired by our trip, but is in no way NOAL-exclusive. Lots of roots, blues, soul, jazz, hiphop and funk, before I segue to some singer/songwriter, Americana/Punk, lo-fi, and a tribute to Donna Jean Godchaux, the former singer from the Grateful Dead (1972-1979) who passed away last week. I got to meet her when Jerry died. Her son Zion used to date a dear friend of mine, and when Jerry died, Donna came for the memorial in Golden Gate Park and we all went together.

Go on and enjoy the music. That's really all what it get to: the music.

jh

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

When The Levee Breaks: Memphis Minnie (Blues Classics By Memphis Minnie - Arhoolie Records)
Left Me A Mule To Ride: Big Joe Williams (Tough Times - 1959)
Frankie and Albert: Taj Mahal (Ooh, So Good 'n Blues - 1973)

Black Is: Last Poets (MOJO: Revolution Blues - 2018)
Munaye: Mulatu Astatke (Mulatu of Ethiopia - 1972)

Redebe: Johnny Dyani (Witchdoctor's Son - 1978)
Flute Loop: Beastie Boys (Ill Communication - 1994)
Kon Karne: MF Doom (Mmm Food - 2007)
Anti Love Song: Betty Davis (S/T - 1973)

Jesus Christ: Bob Dylan (Through the Open Window: The Bootleg Series Vol. 18 - 2025)
Corrina, Corrina: Bob Dylan (Through the Open Window: The Bootleg Series Vol. 18 - 2025)

Every Grain of Sand: Giant Sand (Swerve - 1990)
A Change Is Gonna Come: The Gits (Enter: The Conquering Chicken - 1993)
From Her to Eternity: Nick Cave (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - 1984)

Sway: Chrissie Hynde and Lucinda Williams (Duets Special - 2025)
The Girls Are Naked: The Creation (Action Painting - 2017)
Keep Your Big Mouth Shut: Thee Headcoatees (Here Comes Cessation - 1997)

Sunrise: Grateful Dead (In tribute to Donna Jean - May 26, 1977)
The Music Never Stopped: Grateful Dead - April 24, 1978)

Salsa Verde: Psychedelic Porn Crumpets (Pogo Rodeo - 2025)
Spanish Fly: Boss Hog (Drinkin' Lechin' and Lyin' - 1989)

Respect: Aretha Franklin (Live At The Fillmore East - 1971)

Spooky times are heating up at Radio Valencia. This is a good thing.

We had a really great fundraiser last Sunday. Huge thanks to GRHNS Gallery and Bernadette for hosting us. And thanks to the three great bands: Janky Band, Rustangs, and Fantasy for rockin' out hard for everyone. We couldn't have pulled this off without the incredible skill of San Francisco sound man extraordinaire John Karr and his assistant Ethan. And thanks to Sully and 21st Amendment Brewery for throwing us some suds to serve. And thanks to everyone who came out and those who donated online.

All in all it was a really fine day.

As for this show it's mighty extraordinary in its own right. I pulled out some spooky tracks and my trainee, Annika, has a bunch of 50s and 60s-era treats to share. Annika is going to be hosting her own show Fridays 6-8pm. Tune in. She has excellent taste in music, that fits in mighty well at Radio Valencia.

I also paid tribute to Ace Frehley of KISS, who passed away last week. KISS was my first favorite band. I tell the story in the show. Check it out!

We have a number of new shows starting right now. Are you interested in hosting a show with us? Send us a show proposal to station@radiovalencia.fm

What are your plans for Halloween? I'm headed to New Orleans with Spawn of Hell for a weekend of fun and frolics!

In the meantime, check out the playlist below, click the link at the top and enjoy.

jh

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

I Walk With A Zombie: Roky Erickson (The Evil One - 1981)
Levitation: Groovie Ghoolies (Born in the Basement - 1994)
I See You In The Boneyard: Flesh Eaters (A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die - 1981)

Human Fly: The Cramps (Bad Music For Bad People - 1984)
A Touch of Evil: Man or Astroman (Shot in the Dark - 1996)
Ghouls Night Out: Misfits (S/T - 1983)

Exquisite Corpse: Bauhaus (The Sky's Gone Out - 1982)
What's He Building?: Tom Waits (Mule Variations - 1999)
Mars - The Bringer of War: Tomita (Planets - 1976)

Working For A Dead Man: Eric McFadden Trio (Diamonds To Coal - 2010)
Linda Blair: Redd Kross (Born Innocent - 1982)

Black Grease: Black Angels (Passover - 2006)
Stranded in the Jungle: The Cadets (Stranded in the Jungle - 1957) - AD
You're Dead: Norma Tanega (Walkin' My Cat Named Dog - 1966) - AD
Just Me and You: Dreamliners (Just Me and You b/w Best Things In Life - 1961) - AD

I'm Shakin': Little Willie John (Sure Things - 1961) - AD
Ain't Got No Home: Clarence "Frogman" Henry (Ain't Got No Home - The Best of Clarence "Frogman" Henry (Reissue) - 1956) - AD
Whirlpool: Wanda Jackson (The Capitol Singles 1962-1963) - AD
Going Back To Where I Belong: Sugar Pie DeSanto (In The Basement: The Chess Recordings - 1962) - AD

Little Demon: Screamin' Jay Hawkins (Cow Fingers and Mosquito Pie - 1991) - AD
Love Potion No. 9 - Remastered / Single Version: The Clovers (The Best Of The Clovers (Love Potion No. 9) - 1959) - AD
Big Chief: Professor Longhair (New Orleans Funk: The Original Sound of Funk 1960 - 1975)
Mama Roux: Dr. John (New Orleans Funk: The Original Sound of Funk 1960 - 1975)

Parasite: KISS (Hotter Than Hell - 1975)
Cold Gin: KISS (Live - 1975)
Shock Me: KISS (Love Gun - 1977)

Rocket Ride: KISS (Alive II - 1977)
Tattoo Love Boys: Melvins and ShitKid (Bangers EP - 2019)

San Ber'dino: Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention (One Size Fits All - 1975)

This show was great fun to produce. I've got a trainee, Annika, in the studio with me and she put together a few really great sets (marked with "AD"). Her taste in international sounds is inspiring to say the least!


We've got a live fundraiser happening Sunday, October 19th, 1-6PM at GRNHS Gallery, 864 Folsom Street (b/w 5th and 6th). We've got three amazing bands, including Janky Band, Rustangs, and Fantasy!!! We also have been from 21st Amendment and non-alcohol for those who desire such. We'll also have some Radio Valencia shirts available.

We couldn't be more excited about this show. We love this gallery space, and these three bands are all known for bringing the heat.

This fundraiser is part rent party, part get the damn website and apps updated!!!

Please come down, or consider donating to our GoFundMe.

See you at the show.


As for this show, take a look at the playlist below, hit the play button at the top and enjoy.

jh

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

I'm A Bad Indian: Dead Pioneers (single 2024)
Rocked By Rape: Evolution Control Committee (Plagiarythm Nation - 2003)

White Riot: The Clash (S/T - 1977)
Suburban Home: The Descendents (Milo Goes To College - 1982)
Children of the Revolution: Arto Lindsey and Marc Ribot (Great Jewish Music: Marc Bolan - 1998)

Candle: Sonic Youth (Daydream Nation - 1988)
White Bird: It's A Beautiful Day (S/T - 1968)
Nedine: Malouma (Nour - 2007) - AD
Petit Pays: Cesaria Evora (Cesaria - 1995) - AD
Tskheli Dzaghli: Niaz Diasamidze, 33A (Akhali Albomi) - AD
Chnam oun Dop-Pram Muy (I'm 16) - AD

Nobody Go Run Me: King Short Shirt (Ghetto Vibes - 2003) - AD
Argos Farfish: Sharhabil Ahmed (Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection of Music from the Arab World - 2017) - AD

Exuma, The Obeah Man: Exuma (Exuma, The Obeah Man - 1970) - AD
Wake Up The Sun: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (Person - A - 2015)
You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You: Dean Martin (Dino: The Essential Dean Martin - 2004)
I Made A Wish: The Darts (Nightmare Queens - 2025)

Catch These Fists: Wet Leg (Moisturizer - 2025)
Emmaline: Urge Overkill (Supersonic Storybook - 1991)
400 Bucks: Reverend Horton Heat (Split with Supersuckers - 1993)
AA Warm Breeze : Thee Oh Sees (Split with Total Control - 2010)

Badi Sabah Olmadan: Altin Gün (Aşk - 2025)
Down in the Well: Bevis Frond (A Gathering of Fronds - 1992)

Fire and Brimstone: Death Valley Girls (B-side single - 2025)
Emotional Weather Report: Tom Waits (Nighthawks at the Diner - 1975)

How about another radio show where I play music that you never knew you needed? I like that idea. In a world where AI is telling you what to wear, watch, vote for, battle, digest, laugh at, point at, throw away, be disgusted towards, why not allow yourself a little freedom to listen to music curated by someone who digs in the crates to bring you something NOT generated by an algorithm?

At least while it's still legal to.

Don't you get the feeling that we're going to come to a point where we'll decide on the ballot to allow our tech overlords to determine what we think?

Personally I don't believe in free will. True. I don't. I get to make my choices based on what's sitting in front of me. Not making a choice is still a choice. Isn't that a lyric somewhere? Thank you, Rush.

So, all this being what it is, why not listen to some music that I had the "choice" to play for you tonight.

Highly inspired by Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, my first hour is chock full of Americana nuts, and other aural legumes. Nothing spectacularly new tonight, which is a rarity for me. You may have noticed I've taken to adding the album and release year on my playlist. Eventually I may even get to linking to wear you can buy it! I think I used to do that back in the day...when I used that choice to do so.

In the meantime, use your choice and listen to two hours using your own free will and I'll see you on the other side.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Magic: Zig Zags (Strange Masters Vol. 1 - 2024)
Mohawk Town: Paul Leary (Born Stupid - 2021)

King of California: Dave Alvin (King of California - 1994)
Every Grain of Sand: Emmylou Harris (Wrecking Ball - 1995)

The Devil's Chasing Me: Reverend Horton Heat (Full Custom Gospel Sounds of... - 1993)
Midnight Wine: Shannon and the Clams (Year of the Spider - 2021)
Don't Fall Down: The Black Angels (May The Circle Be Unbroken - 2021)
Delia's Gone: Johnny Cash (Murder - 2000)
Tonight, I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown: Jimmy Dale Gilmore (After Awhile - 1991)
Jack the Ripper: Susan and the Surf Tones (Thunderbeach - 1996)

She Rode Me Down: Tindersticks (Falling Down on a Mountain - 2010)
Graveyard Shift: Uncle Tupelo (No Depression - 1990)

Crazy Fingers: Grateful Dead (Blues for Allah - 1975)
The Road Goes On Forever: Robert Earl Keen (No. 2 Live Dinner - 1996)
Kill the Badger: William S. Burroughs (Dead City Radio - 1990)

Dread Locks Corner: Prince Jazzbo (Ital Corner - 1976)
Home Affairs: Osibisa (Osibirock - 1974)

California Dreaming: Eddie Hazel (Game, Dames and Guitar Thangs - 1977)
Azeta: Lafayette Afro Rock Band (Soul Makossa - 1973)
Black: Ken Nordine (Colors - 1995)
Potholderz: MF Doom (Mmm Food - 2007)

Ya Habibti: Mdou Moctar (Afrique Victime - 2021)
Three Hours: Nick Drake (Five Leaves Left - 1969)

Resolution/Revolution: Linda Lindas (No Obligation - 2024)
In The Great Gettin' Up Morning: The New Gospel Keys

Listen to this show right here!!!
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Shaking the rust off after being out for two weeks. All it takes is a track to start feeling fresh again, and this show is as fresh as you can get! It's also my birthday show, so I'm bringing a lot of favorites to the fore. I was asked if I was going to play all old songs that I love, which I can easily do, but there are so many new songs that I love too! That's the thing, when you listen to new music all the time, there is a lot to fall in love with.

Classics from Beastie Boys, Last Poets, Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall, Black Angels, Led Zeppelin, PIL, Melvins, Flipper, and Mudhoney. New music from GOAT, Wet Leg, The Darts, and Sahra Halgan. How many genres is that?

Celebrate my birthday with two hours of must-have-music!

I celebrated on my actual birthday, September 30th, by seeing Wet Leg at The Fox in Oakland! Hot damn, what a great show! I love this venue, and if you've been to The Fox, then you do too. And Wet Leg really brought the energy, throughout. They play practically every song off of their two full length releases. The crowd was pumped, and no doubt why. I hope you have the chance to check them out.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is this weekend. I've been going almost every year since it began in 2000. That's crazy that it's been going for 25 years. WTH?!?!?! I got to check out Dan Tyminski, Patti Griffin, Cimafunk (it is HARDLY STRICTLY for a reason), Jeff Tweedy, and Robert Earl Keen Jr. Don't be surprised if my next show features a few of these folks. It may be a hardly strictly show on Monday.

Stay tuned.

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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Shake Your Rump: Beastie Boys (Paul's Boutique - 1989)
This is Madness: Last Poets (This is Madness - 1971)

I Come From The Mountain: Thee Oh Sees (Floating Coffin - 2013)
20th Century Boy: Ty Segall (Ty Rex - 2015)

Mission District: Black Angels (Directions to See a Ghost - 2008)
Motorcycle Boy: LA Witch (Play With Fire - 2020)
Four Sticks: Led Zeppelin (4th release - 1971)
Dollar Bill: GOAT (GOAT - 2025)

Mangetout: Wet Leg (Moisturizer - 2025)
Straws in the Wind: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (K.G. - 2020)

The Wizard: Brownout (Brown Sabbath Vol. 1 - 2014)
O.F.Y.C. Showcase: The Fall (Your Future Our Clutter - 2010)
Hold My Hand: Death Valley Girls (Under the Spell of Joy - 2020)

My Heart is a Graveyard: The Darts (Nightmare Queens - 2025)
Rise: PIL (Album - 1986)

Hag Me: Melvins (Houdini - 1993)
Sacrifice: Flipper (Gone Fishin' - 1984)

Loose: The Stooges (Fun House - 1970)
If I Think: Mudhoney (Superfuzz Bigmuff - 1989)

Sharaf: Sahra Halgan (Hiddo Dhawr - 2024)
So Much Wine: Barbara Manning (Convenience of Tomorrow - 2023)

Scott Amendola doesn’t just play the drums — he opens up a whole other world with them. He’s one of those rare musicians who can sit behind a kit and make it sound like a full conversation is happening. Over the years he’s worn a lot of hats: composer, bandleader, and the kind of drummer other inventive musicians want in their corner.

Scott grew up in New Jersey, studied at Berklee in Boston, and then made his way west. Out here he became a key part of the amazing TJ Kirk quartet with Charlie Hunter, Will Bernard, and John Schott — their second record, If Four Was One, even got a Grammy nomination.

And he’s not afraid to think big. In 2011 he premiered an orchestral piece called Fade to Orange with the Oakland East Bay Symphony, joined by Nels Cline and Trevor Dunn. That’s the kind of career Scott’s had — one foot in the small, intimate club, and the other in these ambitious projects that stretch way beyond genre.

He’s worked with some of the most exciting names in jazz and beyond, including

Larry Ochs of ROVA Saxophone Quartet
Mike Patton
John Zorn
Will Blades
Jim Campilongo
Ben Goldberg
Skerik
Cyro Baptista
Jenny Scheinman-violin

It was my absolute pleasure to host Scott in the studio on Monday night where he shared some great stories from his youth, where his grandfather, jazz guitarist played a major inspiration in his life. We spoke about the great risks he took with his music, the amazing people he has been able to record, perform and tour with, as well the current challenges of surviving as a full time musician.

I also asked Scott to bring some music that he enjoys listening to. I surprised him with some of his own live shows. I peppered some tracks in throughout the show. See the playlist below for details.

Go check him out with SticklerPhonics this Thursday night, September 11th at The Back Room in Berkeley.

I know you're going to really enjoy this show.

jh

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

Dream Brother: Jeff Buckley

Interview with Scott Amendola

When Kabuya Dances: Geri Allen Trio

Interview with Scott Amendola

Wall Town: Amendola vs. Blades (January 31, 2025 San Jose Jazz Break Room)
Well Blazed: SticklerPhonics

Afro Pusherman: Tony Allen
The Good Life: Pat Metheny and Ornette Coleman

Percussion Party! (Improvisation) > Down Tempo Slam (Improvisation) > Space… Sound… (Improvisation): Nels Cline Singers (Friday, March 28, 2025 - The Big Ears Fest)

I'm not really going anywhere. How could I? Monday nights just wouldn't be the same. Did you know I have been hosting a show on Monday nights since 2000, with only a brief break in there between radio stations?

I was at San Francisco Liberation Radio from 2000-2003, then at Pirate Cat Radio and the FCCFree from 2006-2009, before starting Radio Valencia in 2010. And for each station I hosted the Monday 8pm show. It's like I'm some kind of institution. I don't care much for institutions, and I'm a teacher!

My years at KFJC (1989 - 1997) saw me hosting numerous slots during my tenure. When I was down at the "Wave of the West" one was required to host a graveyard shift (2am-6am) for a number of months and be signed off by the Program Director before you could take another shift. Graves are a good place to take risks. I took many, including once hosting my dear friend, Noa "The Watermonk of Dah", who, along with myself, played loud music and took calls of people making their "confessions" to myself, the Reverend Dah Wave, and Noa. That ridiculous show from 1990 almost got me kicked off the station, when my PD Les Scurry, confronted me in his very Napoleonic way, telling me what an embarrassing ass I was for that show, and since we didn't have a delay system, any one of the callers could have sworn live on the air and there would have been no way to cancel it out!

I have a cassette of the night and have only (partially) listened to it one time while I was driving over the San Mateo Bridge. This was probably in 1996 or so. I was driving alone and so embarrassed that I pulled the tape out and threw it in my backseat. I should have thrown it in the Bay. This means I still have it somewhere.

oooh boy.

I have learned it's ok to embarrass yourself at least once a day. I tend to reach my quota by 9am.

Tonight was all about me bringing a stack of music and figuring out just what to do with it. It came out pretty damn good!

I'm putting in some effort to list the album and year of song release. Let's see how long I keep this up.

I won't be in this Monday night. I'm headed to The Chapel to see OSees! Never miss an OSees show! I return September 8th with local legend Scott Amendola, the drummer with the perpetual smile. We'll talk about his years playing for so many remarkable musicians, as well as promote his upcoming show at the Back Room on September 11th with SticklerPhonics.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

Drug Train: The Cramps (Bad Music for Bad People
Riding By: Majestics
The Wriggle: Jack Hammer

My Heart is a Graveyard: The Darts (s/t 2017)
White Girl: X (Wild Gift 1980)

Catch These Fists: Wet Leg (Moisturizer 2025)
Beautiful World: DEVO (New Traditionalists 1981)
I Have A Radio: David Lynch (10" split with Dumb Numbers)
In Every Dream Home A Heartache: Roxy Music

Sneaker: OSees (Abomination Revealed At Last 2025)
Riot Squad: The Hellflowers (7" split with Eastbay)

Icon: Black Angels (Wilderness of Mirrors 2022)
Titoli: Ennio Morricone (A Fistful of Film Music 1995)
I Had A Talk With My Woman: Tim Buckley (Lorca 1970)
Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey): Curtis Mayfield (Live 1971)

Get Out For #1: Janky Band
Death Train: Bobby Lees (Bellevue 2022)

Do You Take This Man? Diamanda Galas with John Paul Jones (The Sporting Life 1994)
Company Culture: Lambrini Girls (Who Let The Dogs Out 2025)
Caaqil: Sahra Halgan (Waa Dardaaran 2019)
It's A Shame: First Aid Kit (Ruins 2018)
Your Mother Should Know: The Beatles (Magical Mystery Tour 1967)

Messy Hens: Public Enemy (Black Sky Over The Projects- Apartment 2025)
Centrate: Podium (Podium 2020)
Seaweed Head: WAND (Vertigo 2024)

Celluloid Heroes: The Kinks (The Kinks Greatest Celluloid Heroes 1976)

How is it possible that Radio Valencia is no 15 years old? I swear it was just yesterday that I was asked to start this station as a point of interest in a performance warehouse in the Mission. By the time I put the station together, along with Alec Bennett, Trademark Gunderson and Naomi Most, I had already been involved in about a half dozen other Bay Area community stations.

I was willing to start Radio Valencia as long as I wasn't the one in charge. My goal was to have it operate as a cooperative. My hope was staff would work together in committees to make our station sound incredible and be active in the community.

I wish it has worked out that way.

Someone along the way came up with the concept of the "do-ocracy": if there is something you want to do at the station, then do it!

This looks good on paper, but it can also mean if you only want to do your show and nothing else, that's fine too.

This has been our undoing. We have had a number of really incredible people on staff over the years who have taken on a lot of work: scheduling, programming, engineering, but most of the staff we have had are only interested in hosting their shows.

I really hate the "do-ocracy"

I'm glad to report that the music programming is some of the best I have heard on radio.

Today we have a steering committee, of which I sit on. We direct the actions of the station. We keep the lights on and the turntables spinning.

Soon we are launching a new website (thanks to those who contributed to our fundraiser last winter), and a possible move to save overhead. Our current rent in our storefront location is too damn high! We also want to add more shows. Before COVID we had over 50 shows. Today we have 23. More shows = more money = more opportunities for RV to engage in the community. Cut down the rent overhead and we can bring in more staff who will pay less in dues, which will lead to a more robust on-air schedule, etc, etc, etc.

You get the idea.

I love having the station to play music and interview great people. I have loved being in our storefront on 22nd street since 2020. And these past 15 years have been mostly a real joy. If you read this far, what the hell is wrong with you?

As for the music, I was thinking about playing music from each year we've been on the air, but then I figured why would do that? So, instead, I just did what I do and play great music that I think you need to hear. New music from Wet Leg, Ty Segall, LA Witch, Mark Growden, King Gizzard, and OSees. The rest of the night is me painting the aural landscape with sounds that will please your ears.

Enjoy and please share. And support your local San Francisco community radio station that continues to defy the odds.

jh

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

IIBS: Charles Mingus (Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus 1964)
Dirt: Iggy and the Stooges (Fun House 1970)

Black Grease: The Black Angels (Passover 2006)
Slip Inside This House: 13th Floor Elevators (Easter Everywhere 1967)

Mangetout: Wet Leg (Moisturizer 2025)
Fun Times in Babylon: Father John Misty (Fear Fun 2012)
Venus: The Shocking Blue (s/t 1970)
Dear Prudence: Siouxsie and the Banshees (Hyena 1983)

Another California Love Song: Ty Segall (Possession 2025)
Queen of the Underground: GOAT (Levitation Sessions 2023)
S.O.S.: LA Witch (Doggod 2025)

Legend of the Creation of Middle World: (Kyrgyzstan Session ft. Mark Growden 2025)
Volunteered Slavery: Roland Kirk (Volunteered Slavery 1969)
Ballad of the Soldiers Wife: Marianne Faithful and Chris Spedding (Lost in the Stars...Music of Kurt Weill 1985)

Sea of Doubt: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (Phantom Island 2025)
Space Drugs: Spanish Moss (Kelp 2012)

Infected Chrome: OSees (Abomination Revealed At Last 2025)
Suzanne: Nina Simone (To Love Somebody 1969)

Puddin' A'Tain: The Alley Cats
From The First Hello To The Last Goodbye: Jane Morgan

It's not as much fun hosting my show remotely from home. I like my home. It's cozy. You should come over. But hosting in the studio is so much more fun. The energy is different when I'm standing at the console, looking out onto 22nd street to the people passing by, or stopping to look through the window. At home I'm sitting on the floor in my living room with my computer in front of me talking to the cat.

That all being said, I have did manage to put together a pretty good show without any vinyl, including a tribute to Jerry Garcia who passed away 30 years ago on August 9th! That sure went fast. The days from the 1st through the 9th are considered the "Days Between", where there are a lot of tributes to Jerry. The last 30 minutes of this show I pay homage.

And on my Tuesday night show: John Hell's Live Bootleg Bonanza, I play two hours of some stellar live Grateful Dead that focuses on Jerry. Tune in starting at 8pm Pacific.

No, I did not attend the Dead and Company shows in Golden Gate Park this past weekend. I have an issue with charging people money to see live music in a public park. And Dead and Co are really my jam. They're an OK cover band, but if I want to hear a quality Grateful Dead show I can always stream any of their 2000+ shows that are on my hard drive, or available on Archive. Or I can go see Stu Allen and Mars Hotel.

I did however download all three live video broadcasts of the shows. They've sped up the songs, which is nice, since the two times I saw them a few years back the songs were sooooo slow. Got to hand it to Bobby Weir, his voice isn't nearly what it used to be, but he still gives it all he has.

My money is on Mickey Hart being the last one standing.

With all that being said, there's a lot of newish music tonight, including Wet Leg, LA Witch, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Public Enemy, Population II, and OSees.

I'll be back in the studio next Monday night to celebrate Radio Valencia's 15th anniversary! Can you believe we made it that long? There have been times, especially during COVID, I thought we would be closing the doors forever. Tune in and celebrate with me.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

Lucifer Sam/Interstellar Overdrive: Marble Orchard (1991 Savage Sleep)
Gbe Mi Lo: Ofege (1973 Try and Love)

Catch These Fists: Wet Leg
SOS: LA Witch

Fucksake: Frankie and the Witch Fingers (Trash Classic)
Sexegenarian: Public Enemy (Black Sky Over the Projects - Apartment 2025)
Back Door Man (live): The Doors (Waiting for the Sun 50th)
Le The Est Pret (The Tea is Ready): Population II (Maintenant Jamais)
Sharaf: Sahra Halgan (Hiddo Dhawr)

Ouroboros: GOAT (GOAT)
Gild the Lily: Billy Strings (Highway Prayers)

Abominiation: OSees
Fire on the Mountain: Widespread Panic
Kill Jerry Garcia: Colorfinger

Let It Ride: The Soundcarriers (Harmonium 2009)
Daylight: The Kinks (Preservation Act 1 1973)
Pork Roll Egg and Cheese: Ween (the Pod 1991)

Summertime: Coleman Hawkins and Sonny Rollins (Sonny Meets Hawk 1963)
Spidergawd/Eep Hour/The Wheel: Jerry Garcia (Garcia)

Days Between: Otiel Burbridge (Lovely View of Heaven 2023)

So Ozzy died last week. Did anyone think he would live as long as he did? Not that I had a bet going, but I would have lost, had I. I turned onto Black Sabbath in my teens, back in the 80s, as would be appropriate. They were the darkest band I had ever heard up to that point, and probably still are since I don't listen to any Norwegian Death Metal.

I never saw Ozzy of Black Sabbath in concert. I can only imagine the energy of the crowd. I'm sure I had plenty of opportunities, but I didn't want to see his solo shows. Only Black Sabbath would do, and they didn't come around that often. There was that show in San Jose a few years back I could have tried to get to. What's up with that? I'm quick to buy tickets to a good show. I guess I'll just have to enjoy the bootlegs, of which I have many.

Speaking of Ozzy and Black Sabbath, Tuesday night I'm playing what has to be my all time favorite Black Sabbath show on my Live Bootleg Bonanza on Radio Valencia, starting at 8pm Pacific. August 06, 1975 from Asbury Park, New Jersey is Sabbath firing on all cylinders. What an incredible show! Tune in.

For tonight's show I pay tribute to Ozzy in the second hour, though I do give you a tease of the awesomeness of the live show right out of the block. The second hour is a lot of great Black Sabbath covers you may have never heard.

For the first hour it's a lot of drunken garage rock. I was at the Rock and Roll Flea Market at Faction Brewing on Saturday and I bought a lot of 7"s as well as the Estrus Records book, which inspired the first hour.

I'm certain the rock tributes will continue considering the number of rockers who are 75+ years of age, and did plenty of excessive partying in their day. Who is on your bingo card?

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

Embryo/Children of the Grave (Live 1975): Black Sabbath
Love Buzz: The Shocking Blue

Burning Bush: Mono Men
Hit That Bitch: The Monarchs
Mercy: The Marauders

A Girl Like You: Mummies
Time Tunnel: The Del Lagunas
Unknown Museum Stomp: Phantom Surfers
Big Shit: Jesus Christ Super Fly
Comanche: Jack O'Fire

Dirty Jack: The DTs
November 22, 1963: Destroy All Monsters

Diamonds in the Rough: Dead Moon
Morning in America: Mudhoney

Poisoning Pigeons in the Park: Tom Lehrer
Thank You For Sending Me An Angel (Country Angel Version): Talking Heads

Bloody Sabbath: Melvins with Al Cisneros
War Pigs: Faith No More

Electric Funeral: Brownout
Supernaut: Ministry (1000 Homo DJs)

Sabbath Jam: Eyehategod
Crazy Train: Ozzy Osbourne (Live with Randy Rhodes)

Fairies Wear Boots: Black Sabbath
Into The Void: Orange Goblin
Paranoid: Ty Segall

I went to Mosswood Meltdown last Saturday, and it was as good as I expected it to be. Niis, Prison Affair, OSees and DEVO were the real standouts. The sun cleared for a while and I found myself relaxing under the shade of a tree in the vendors area. I bought myself some 45s (my motorcycle bags aren't large enough to hold LPs. I probably saved some money there).

I eventually found myself directly in front of the soundboard hanging out with a few friends, including our Radio Valencia staff photographer Sean Haley, who brought a bunch of die-cut Radio Valencia stickers for us to pass out. Thanks Sean!

I've seen the OSees many times, and never tire of them. What a brilliant set they brought. This was my first time seeing DEVO, and WOW is all I can say. There's actually a lot more I can say. I can talk about how both Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale are still on top of their game after 50+ years. I can talk about the stellar video graphics projected throughout the show. I can talk about the setlist that we all sang along with. It was that good.

I can also talk about showing up on Sunday just to find out that I never did purchase a ticket for that day. D'oh! I went home and streamed the day. Shannon and the Clams put on a brilliant set as they always do.

Early bird tickets for Mosswood Meltdown 2026 are now on sale. And they are going fast!!! I got mine!

Tune into my Tuesday night Live Bootleg Bonanza and I'm sure you'll be hearing some of the sets from this year.

For tonight's show I played a bunch of the 45s I bought at the Meltdown. It's safe to say this is a very punk-forward program. But it's not exclusive. See the setlist below for details.

And then in the middle of the show I come to find out that Jonathan Richman was performing next door at the Make Out Room!!!!! What the what!!!! So I did what any self respecting DJ would do: I found some never before released bootleg demos of Modern Lovers and I played a track as the show was exiting. I really should have grabbed Jonathan for an interview; the fan boy that I am. Alas, he slipped away before I had a chance to even steal a photo of him.

He was there in support of singer-songwriter Jesse DeNatale and the Dreamers, who are playing every Monday night in July. Go see this show!

I'm heading to the Rock and Roll Flea Market on Alameda at Faction Brewing this Saturday afternoon, followed by the US Finals Air Guitar Championship at The Independent Saturday night. I'll see you at both.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Dance, Dance, Dance To The Radio: M.O.T.O.
Right To Work: Chelsea
Selling Jeans for the USA: Thee Stash
Career Opportunities: The Clash

Hate The Police: The Dicks
9:11: The Outsideinside
No Corespondence: Cheater Slicks

The Fire of Love: The Gun Club
Maggie's Farm: Bob Dylan
When Fate Deals Its Mortal Blow: The Scientists
Ça Plane Pour Moi: Plastic Bertrand
Baby's On Fire: Ayres, Eno, Cale, Nico

Mangetout: Wet Leg
Just Got To Be: The Black Keyes

Show Me The Way: Dinosaur Jr.
I Shot All The Birds: The Blind Shake
Introduction/Frustrating Sound: Radio Moscow
I Don't Live Today: Jimi Hendrix Experience (LA Forum April 26, 1969)

Hard Drive: The Bell Rays
I Swallowed A Dragonfly: Heartless Bastards

No Homo: Lambrini Girls
Stunt Queen: Redd Kross
With Yo Heart Not Yo Hands: Melvins
Ride Down On The Highway (demo): Modern Lovers

Beef Bologna: Fear
Do It: Rollins Band
Petty Thief: Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments

Ha Ha Ha: Flipper
Fuck Donald Trump: YG (feat. Nipsey Hussle)
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

I believe we should never pay to see music performed in a public park. I refuse to pay to go to Outside Lands. And as much as I love the Grateful Dead, I will not be paying to see Dead and Company in Golden Gate Park at the end of the month. Pubic parks are for the people. Our tax dollars pay for them. If a band wants to get paid they should find a private venue and host the show there.

There are exceptions to every rule.

Mosswood Meltdown is this coming weekend, and I couldn't be more giddy about attending. The event, formerly known as "Burger Boogaloo", and hosted my trash-glam favorite John Waters, is the only music festival held in a public space that I have ever considered paying to attend.

It's a punk rock dream. I can't think of a better way to spend a weekend.

I haven't been since Bikini Kill and Kim Gordon headlined a few years back, and this year's lineup is super exciting: DEVO, Bratmobile, OSees, Shannon and the Clams, along with many more. Though I have to admit L'Trimm's hit "Cars With The Boom" always bugged me when it was first released. But you know, live for the moment.

I highlight many of this year's lineup in my second hour tonight. See the playlist below for details.

I also went record shopping last week (surprise!) and throw down some tasty fusion with a Les McCann track that'll have you floating. There's also a real crate-diggers find with an original pressing of Hawkwind's third record Doremi Fasol Latido (read that slowly), followed by covers of some Hawkwind tunes (one written by Lemmy and covered by Motorhead) to close out the show.

A fun show, all in all. Take a listen and let me know what you think.

See you in the park. Oh, and if you are looking to attend Mosswood Meltdown next year, they sell two day passes on the cheap a week or so after the event. Even though you don't know the lineup yet, it's always worth it.

“Some call it “The Warped Woodstock’ or ‘An Asshole-free Altamont’ while others holler ‘Coachella, Go-To Hella’. We’re Mosswood Meltdown and we’re going to lose our musical marbles again this year with a line up of lunatic acts that will make even the angriest punk- rocker pogo their way to paradise with a twisted smile on their dirty little faces.” — John Waters

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Darkest Light: Lafayette Afro Rock Band
California Dreaming: Eddie Hazel

Come Together: George Benson

Beaux J. Poo Boo: Les McCann
Earth People: Dr. Octagon

Eternal Return: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Game Is My Middle Name: Betty Davis

Uncontrollable Urge: DEVO
Some Special: Bratmobile
Bean Fields: Shannon and the Clams

Think of You: Bleached
Strange World: La Luz
I Want Ya (In My Cell): Prison Affair

Fight Simulator: Osees
Termination Officer: Osees
Low Life: Niis
All I Need Tonight (Is You): Gentleman Jesse
Cars With The Boom: L'Trimm

Lord of Light: Hawkwind
The Watcher: Motorhead

Brainstorm: Monster Magnet

Never one to turn away from a challenge, I once again find myself behind the console at Radio Valencia headquarters, just as I do every Monday night, tasked with providing the platters that will make your brain matter splatter!

Here's a show where I don't put as much emphasis on new releases, though there is something new from Public Enemy and Chime Oblivion (John Dwyer of OCS fame) in there. Tonight is more about what's been moving me lately. And it's apparent some harder rocking sounds are what's moving me.

Ozzy just played his final show over the weekend, so we'll get things started with him...kinda. We'll step back for some proto-punk, move our way towards an all-things-Ty-Segall-related set, and then sorta just throw throw everything else at the wall to close out the show.

It makes sense when you listen to it. And listen to it you should! We take a lot of pride in our little station, and we hope you're enjoying the many fabulous programs Radio Valencia has to share.

Do you think you have what it takes to host a weekly radio show? Hit us up! Hire for personality, train for skill. Email us at station@radiovalencia.fm for more info.

Enjoy this and please share.

jh

Electric Funeral: Brown Sabbath

Fairies Wear Boots: Black Sabbath
The Smokey God: Glitter Wizard

And Again: Chime Oblivion
Drug Train: The Cramps
Femme Fatale: Velvet Underground
1970: Iggy and the Stooges

Don't Make Me Explain: Sgt. Splendor
Evil Ways: Public Enemy

Glass Eye: Charles Mootheart
The Way Things Go: Mikal Cronin
Mountain: Meatbodies
Shotgun Shooter: Goggs
I'm A Man: Ty Segall

Time Collapse Pt. II/The 7th Terror: FUZZ
Outsider: Teri Genderbender

Hellfudge: Lard
Improv?: Liquorball
Back Door Man: The Doors (May 2, 1970)
Hornet's Heart: Thinking Fellers Union Local 282

One More Hour: Sleater-Kinney
Beat Fall: Lithics

New Face In Hell: The Fall
Sun Arise: Rolf Harris

Another Monday night and the world isn't completely burning yet.

We all need an escape from time to time. I take Monday nights seriously. This is like taking a shower: don't bother me while I'm doing this.

I don't paint or sculpt, but I do consider hosting a radio show like creating an art piece. I have an empty two hour aural canvas that I use to weave music through, hoping to be pleased with the final result. And this is a real challenge. I hope you enjoy what I bring you, but is that my responsibility? I choose music that I think you need to hear. I've been doing this long enough to know that too many people are still only listening to the music they listened to in high school, as if that was the best music ever produced?!?!?

Many of you don't have the time to do the deep digging that I, and the other Radio Valencia DJs take to find the tastiest of musical treats for you. That's one of the reasons I love to do this show. I eat, drink, and breathe music. It's on right now, as I'm writing this. I read music blogs, artist biographies and memoirs. You need a music nerd like me in your life.

And let's look at what I offer you on Monday night, shall we? I started with some early folk blues, move to a Bob Dylan outtake that may be one of his greatest songs ever written! You have a brilliant Roland (pre-Rahssan) Kirk cover of a Duke classic. Some brand new Public Enemy that will kick your ass! Then we jump back for a Janis-loving seasonal classic, before I give you two jazz treats you didn't know you needed (but you do). There's some brand new Osees, live Hawkwind, local luminary The Space Lady, new A/lpaca (I have no clue why they spell their name that way?), Japan's Kikagaku Moyo (including a story I share following this about my Sunday motorcycle ride...blissful). Following this I pull out a 20th anniversary release of Japan's Boris (how the Hell has it been 20 years?!?!?!), Texas' Psychic Ills, and Mott the Hoople (a brilliant segue, btw), and local lass Barbara Manning, who all of you must listen to all of the time. I close out the show with new King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, featuring an orchestra (what will they think of next?), Tom Waits covering Kurt Weill, and complete the show with some new Ty Segall (I still have a boy crush on him).

Whew.

That's a lot to throw at any canvas.

I don't normally go into such detail in these posts, but I wanted to give you an idea of the many cups I'm pulling from when I host a show. I'm not a specialty show, where a host focuses on one genre, week-to-week. I like it all. I love playing new releases for you, and I also enjoy scouring my library at home to pull music I haven't played in a while. There's always an itch that needs to be scratched.

Take this. Make it yours. Share it. Dig the artists? Go buy their music. See them live. Share it with your friends.

I think this is what makes Radio Valencia a truly special radio station.

Enjoy.

jh

How Do You Want Your Rollin' Done: Louie Lasky
Got Me Religion: Scott H. Biram

Blind Willie McTell: Bob Dylan
Creole Love Call: Roland Kirk

Siick: Public Enemy
Summertime: Big Brother and the Holding Company
China: The Visitors
Super Bad: Idris Muhammad

Fight Simulator: Osees
Seven By Seven: Hawkwind
Radar Love: The Space Lady

Laughter, Us Us: A/lpaca
Meu Mar: Kikagaku Moyu

Pink: Boris
Back To You: Psychic Ills
All The Young Dudes: Mott The Hoople
Twilight: Barbara Manning

Phantom Island: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
What Keeps Mankind Alive: Tom Waits

Fantastic Tomb: Ty Segall

Nobody hates John Avalos. At least that's the way he puts it. There may be some who dislike him, but he's proven himself to be a steady left-leaning voice in the tumultuous political sea that is San Francisco for twenty years now. Avalos represented District 11 on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 2008-2016, ran a very powerful mayoral campaign where he came in second to Ed Lee, and now sits on the Democratic County Central Committee where he sees the party continuing to drift to the right, as big money continues to influence the party.

We spoke for the first hour, and yes, it got testy at times, but John and I are on the same side of the political fence, so we just kept agreeing with one another. I really was trying to be objective.

Not really.

The big takeaway is that we cannot give up, ever. We must be kind to our neighbors, be open and inclusive whenever and wherever we can, and take the fight to the streets.

As for the music, there's new LA Witch, Death Valley Girls, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Lambrini Girls, and Jon Anderson.

Do you have an exceptional ear for music? Do you ever get angry listening to a radio station and shout "I COULD DO BETTER THAN THIS!"? Do you ever send messages to your local radio station program director asking them to allow you just one hour of time on the air so you can show them all the great music they've been missing out on?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then you too can be a Radio Valencia DJ! We're taking applications now for weekly two-hour shows. Send your query to station@radiovalencia.fm Give us a description of the show you want to host and we'll be in touch soon.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

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

The Rain: Eddie Gale
Congo Call: Prince Lasha Quintet
Interview with John Avalos

Sisters of the Moon: Death Valley Girls
SOS: LA Witch

Interview with John Avalos

Down By The River (demo): Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Celebration Day: Led Zeppelin

Aerodynamic: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
High Plains Drifter: Beastie Boys
Ballad of the Soldiers Wife: Marianne Faithful and Chris Spedding

Eggs Laid Brain: Frankie and the Witch Fingers
I've Heard That One Before/Watch Your Step: Faust
Gut Feeling (Slap Your Mammy): DEVO
Filthy Rich Nepo Baby: Lambrini Girls

Perpetual Change: Jon Anderson

I was talking with a friend of mine earlier today about what makes a good radio show and about how I prepare, week to week?

I think a good radio show, focused on music, comes from a host that listens to a lot of music a lot of the time, and is excited to curate a show that features tunes in sets that flow from one song to the next, regardless of genre. As a matter of fact I really love pulling off cross-genre sets.

As for how I prepare for my shows? I listen to a lot of music throughout the week, and it's inevitable that I'm going to hear a few tunes that I'm itching to play for you all, so I make a note of that.

Then I literally go through my record shelves and pull music that's calling to me. I also have a strong desire to play new music each week. I prefer to start a set with something new, or something that's relevant and timely.

I purchase music almost weekly, so there's always something new on my show. And if there's a tribute to a fallen artist or one with a birthday that I just have to call out, or a show I've been to, or one upcoming, then something is going to end up in a set.

And then in the studio I have a stack sitting in front of me that I pull from based on the song that is currently playing. Honestly, there's not much more to it than that. More often that not I pull it off. I never phone it in.

As for tonight's show, I noticed as I was pulling music that almost every artist tonight is American. I started out the show with some rural blues, moved onto to be-bop and post-bop jazz. Then onto some soul and funk. I made my way to some west coast country and psychobilly, before getting a bit darker in the goth/post-punk vein. Then came the garage/shoegaze/psych, followed by some new dissonance post-post-punk, 60s prog-psych, new Melvins (a genre all their own), more post-post-punk, punk/metal, and finally a tribute to Brian Wilson to close it all out.

And hot damn if this show doesn't flow. Check out me trying to tie it all together!

So as for how do I prepare for my show, after being in radio for 35+ years, and a whole hell of a lot of listening? A lot of this is second nature. But I can assure you I will never rest when it comes to preparing the best in quality non-commercial radio for you, dear listener.

You have the John Hell Seal of Approval!

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Frankie and Albert: Taj Mahal
Meet Me In The Bottom: Pink Anderson

Just Knock On My Door: Art Blakey
Jakey: Big John Patton

Sticks and Stones: Joe Jones
Good To Me As I Am To You: Aretha Franklin
I Want You (She's So Heavy): Eddie Hazel

Walkin' The Streets of Love Alone: Mitch Polzak
Psychobilly Freakout: Reverend Horton Heat

Flyin' High: Jenny Don't and the Spurs
Boom Boom: Rube Waddell
Stagger Lee: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Killer of Peace: Crow Jane

Kill My Baby Tonight: LA Witch
Sanitarium Blues: Death Valley Girls

Bye Bye 25!: Kim Gordon
Child in Time: Deep Purple
Vomit of Clarity: Melvins 1983
Secret Agent Rat: Crystal Fairy

Smoke Ring: Chime Oblivion
Take Me To Your Leader: Zig Zags

Heroes and Villains: Beach Boys
God Only Knows: Beach Boys
Who Listens To Radio: Sarah Vaughn

Walking into the studio tonight I was met with at least three blocks of protesters, out in the street making their voices heard in opposition of ICE policies happening right now across the state and across the nation. As of this writing 47 is actively having National Guard and Marines(!!!!) in the streets of Los Angeles putting down peaceful demonstrations, and calling the protestors insurrectionists, justifying his use of the posse comitatus act, which forbids the president of using active duty military in the streets of our nation.

There goes our democracy.

But you knew that already.

The hardest part is separating the "truth" from the propaganda. I have a degree in media literacy, and I can tell you this shit is really exhausting to digest. This is one of the main reasons I quit social media. I dropped Facebook in 2020, and Instagram on Inauguration Day 2025. I just can't.

Even listening to NPR (leans left) or reading the NY Times (leans left and omits far too much) is getting unbearable. I often have to read the Guardian UK and al Jazeera to get a better idea of what is happening in our own country.

That being said, I have a platform all my own with Radio Valencia.

We have told our staff that we aren't going to censor their voices, but Radio Valencia doesn't take any political stance as a radio station. Therefore, our hosts need to state their opinions are their own, and not the stance of the station.

Yadda, yadda, yadda.

I'm hosting former San Francisco Board of Supervisors member John Avalos on my show Monday, June 23rd to talk about the current state of affairs. John always brings good conversation. Tune in.

For tonights show I was training a new RV staffer: Max! Great guy. He's going to be hosting a Black Metal show on Mondays 4-6pm soon. I got him playing some music he brought along (marked below "- Max") and talking with me about music and his own radio history.

I also went record shopping last week (of course I did), so there's that to look forward to. New music from Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Zig Zags, Chime Oblivion (John Dwyer of OCS side project), Teri Gender Bender (of Le Butcherettes) and too much more jazz, punk, blues, and a tribute to Sly Stone who passed at age 82 Monday morning.

Enjoy and know your rights.

jh

Hate the Police: The Dicks
Goat Cheese: Mudhoney

Fucksake: Frankie and the Witch Fingers
There is the Bomb: Don Cherry

Kiss Her Or Be Her: Chime Oblivion
Fallout: Moon Duo
Beer Drinkin' Woman: Memphis Slim
Hey Hey My My (Into the Black): Neil Young and DEVO

21:32: Cluster
Outsider: Teri Gender Bender
Liquified Organs: Rawhead - Max
Cinnamon Girl (Extended Depression Mix): Type O Negative - Max
Watcher of the Skies: Genesis - Max
In Torment in Hell: Deiside - Max

Crying for Death: Morbid Saint - Max
Laid to Rest: Rotting - Max

At War With Hell: Zig Zags
Killer: Alice Cooper

Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey: Sly and the Family Stone
Runnin' Away: Sly and the Family Stone

Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Self Again): Sly and the Family Stone
Que Sera Sera: Sly and the Family Stone