Rain makes me nostalgic. It reminds me of when I was younger and was first hearing tunes that I really connected with. I remember walking around San Mateo, south of San Francisco, as a teenager with my headphones on listening to Led Zeppelin and hungry for more. I remember hearing bands like Judas Priest and wanting to eat up everything Metal. I think about my growing love of the Grateful Dead, starting around 1983 when I was 13.

Tonight's show is all about discovery. It's the feeling you get when you hear something you've never heard before, but it gets all up in ya, and you have to have more. We're lucky to live in a world where media is at our fingertips, but that still doesn't change the sensation one gets when they hear something new and they just have to have more of it.

Enjoy.

jh

Into the Void: Black Sabbath
Sacrifice: Glitter Wizard

Gyre: Meatbodies
Second Coming/Ballad of Dwight Fry: Alice Cooper

Paper: Ty Segall
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Willie Nelson
Polly (Demo): Kurt Cobain
Night Goat: Melvins

Greedy Man: James Brown
Oh My People: Last Poets

Love Buzz: Nirvana (1991-11-25 - Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL)
Rockin' In The Free World: Neil Young (04-07-1990 Indiana Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, IN)

Little Girl Blue: Nina Simone (12-1977 Theater Royal Drury Lane, London, England)
Hitler/All Hail The American Night/The Holy Shah: Jim Morrison (March 1969 Los Angeles, CA)
54-46 Was Her Number: Toots and the Maytals (1976 The Longbrach Saloon, Berkeley, CA)

Walk Away: James Gang (02-26-2001, Allen Theater, Cleveland, OH)
The Green Manalishi: Judas Priest (11-04-1979 The Palladium, NYC, NY)

Parchment Farm: Blue Cheer
Pepsi Jingle: T-Rex
Rock And Roll Queen: Mott the Hoople

The Falcon Has Landed: Fu Manchu

How do you spell love? I spell it H.E.L.L. but that's a good thing. And hot too! On my show tonight it was all about love. Just take a look below. Have you ever been in love? Romantic love where it's all hot and heavy and you can't keep your hands and genitals off one another? Where they're on your mind 24/7 and your just know this feeling is going to last forever? You know what I'm talking about, right? That feeling where there's just no one else on this big blue-green planet that can even understand how amazing your love is? Your love is larger than all the loves put together. And you both love the loving love that you love to loving give?

And then there's the practical love. The love that is supposed to continue to grow once the romantic love that was never ever going to fade because they love me more than anything ever, and they are constantly turned on by me, excited to hear about every little mundane moment of my mundane day as if I just survived 30 days in the Outback (not restaurant, but then again that too sounds like torture) and come back to tell the tale. The love that says "put the toilet seat down", but what they really mean is "I love you from the bottom of my heart, but if you leave that toilet seat up one more time, then you are not ever getting any more of this (at which point they're just pointing to their genitals)".

How many break-ups have your survived just to tell yourself that the next relationship is going to be the ONE?!?!? Have you begun to realize that it really is about the merging of two people who are totally turned on by the other for a finite amount of time, but given the chance may be able to evolve this deep friendship (please be best friends with this person, really) into a partnership that can survive the day-to-day "please put the dishes in the dishwasher" existence that requires you to set aside your ego.

And that's it really, we need to leave our ego at the door. And we need to be a HUGE cheerleader for our partner. That's what we want from them even if we don't say it out loud.

So love is HELL. It's hot, and it's cumbersome at times, and it's loud, and it's unruly, but out the other side can be something truly wonderful. Climb out of your fairytale and into the reality what love can really be. Oh, and listen to my show while having hot sex. Why not? Couldn't hurt.

Enjoy.

jh

Love Comes in Spurts: Richard Hell
There She Goes My Beautiful World: Nick Cave

Blue Valentines: Tom Waits
Nobody Does it Better: Sex Mob

Only Son of a Ladies Man: Father John Misty
I'm A Mess: Nick Lowe
What Love Is: Dead Boys
Fodderstomp: PIL

Wiggle Stick: Reverend Horton Heat
Ever Fallen in Love: The Buzzcocks
Drown in My Own Tears: Ray Charles
Demox: Blind Shake

Love, You Should Have Come Over: Jeff Buckley
Pale Blue Eyes/Louie Louie: Patti Smith (02-15-76 Boarding House, SF, CA)
Kedem: Electric Masada (John Zorn) 07-18-2003 La Palma, Roma

The Other One/Cryptical Envelopment: Grateful Dead (02-13-1970 Fillmore East, NYC, NY

Boom Boom, John Lee Hooker (July 1973 Walrus Tavern, Seattle, WA)
Gypsy Woman: Rory Gallagher (1972 HR2FM London)

Have you heard the news, it's all over town. If you ain't heard it boy, you better sit down. Er, um...sorry about that. I shouldn't use 70s-era Bob Segar lyrics to draw your attention, even though it sure got the boys to take note of Betty Lou; amIright?!?!?!?! Of course I am.

This year I have recommitted to featuring my ever deepening obsession with live music. The second hour features live tracks from Dylan. Garcia, Bob Marley and more. Also, some brand spankin' new Ty Segall. I counted and I see that I now own 20 Ty Segall LPs and 8 45s. Do I get a medal for something like that?

If you've never heard of Wylde Ratttz before, then join the club. I just "discovered" this super group recently and I really have to wonder what rock my head was under when these guys appeared 20 years ago. In short, the band was a side project featuring Mark Arm (Mudhoney), Thurston Moore and Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) Mike Watt (Minutemen), Ron Asheton (Stooges), Don Flemming (Velvet Monkeys), and Sabir Mateen. They mostly covered Stooges songs, Pretty Things, and couple of originals. The music was also used for the movie Velvet Goldmine, with Ewan McGregor taking on the lead vocals. There was some hype about the fact that on the original soundtrack Mark Arm's vocals were replaced with McGregor's to the dismay of the band. Again, where the hell was I in 1998 when all of this was happening? Oh right, I remember. Ugh, that's for another post, on another blog, in another universe, in another dimension.

Enjoy.

jh

I like To Rock: April Wine
TV Eye: Wylde Ratttz

Eric's Trip: Sonic Youth
Blood Like Cream: Red Fang

Maybe I'm Amazed: The Faces
Stars and Stripes of Corruption: Dead Kennedy's
Get It Together: James Brown

A Song for Europe: Roxy Music
Loran's Dance: Idris Muhammad

One Too Many Mornings: Bob Dylan (Royal Albert Hall 1966)
Friend of the Devil: Jerry Garcia and John Kahn (May 5, 1982)

Warm Hands: Ty Segall
War/No More Trouble - Running/Crazy Baldheads: Bob Marley (08-05-78 Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida)

Stone Cold Bush: Red Hot Chili Peppers (03-01-90 Palatrussardi, Milano, Italy)
Walk on Hot Coals: Rory Gallagher (02-05-73 Tommy Vance Show)

Radio should be hosted by people who understand what it takes to create an aural spectacle, leaving you in awe and wanting more. Tonight was about me appreciating radio as such an art form. It's all about the segue. New Savage Republic in the first hour. Tribute to the late Maggie Roche who died January 17th. Also a tribute to the founding bassist of Can, Jaki Liebezeit, who passed on January 22nd.

The second hour features live tracks from The Blind Shake, the Tubes, and Mountain. It rocks. There's no other way to put it.

If you love music, or know someone who does, then why aren't you tuning in every Monday night 8-10 on Radio Valencia? You are? Good on ya! Spread the love and share this post. Thanks in advance.

This coming Monday night I share with you the winner of the 2016 Run For The Lillies contest. And what a list they had. It's possible they cheated. Thanks to all who sent me their list of ten famous people they believe will kick the bucket by 12/31/2017. Since I wasn't on the air this past Monday, I'll give you until this Sunday, February 5th to email me your list. Send it to mrjohnhell@gmail.com

Enjoy.

jh

Power of Pussy: Bongwater
People's Parties: Joni Mitchell
My Sick Mind: The Roches

Stormy Monday: Allman Brothers
You Know It Ain't Right: John Lee Hooker

Oh Yeah: Can
Some Velvet Morning: Vanilla Fudge

Victory/27 Days: Savage Republic
Pushing the Extreme: The Wipers
I Put A Spell On You: Screaming Jay Hawkins

Go Go 78: The Blind Shake
Immigraniada (We Comin' Rougher): Gogol Bordello

Sports Fans: The Tubes (10-17-83 Kabuki Theater, SF, CA)
Mississippi Queen: Mountain (06-28-71 Fillmore East, NYC, NY)

Majic Moonjynuh: Queen Crescent
Panic Attack: OFF!
Abadane: Freedom (Hourya)
Milkshake Girl: Giant Sand

Side One of Apostrophe ('): Frank Zappa

Like my father says "it's always something". And isn't that the truth. Last Monday was MLK Day, and then we had that underwhelming inauguration on Friday. How was your week? How are we going to love and support one another? Do I have a responsibility to make my show more political, or do you just want music and interviews? I'm curious about your thoughts on this one.

As always a mixed bag of what I was into last week. The first hour is a tribute to MLK. I'm sticking with my commitment to play more from my live archive during the second hour. I always tack on the date and location for these tracks. New music from Charles Mootheart (CFM), The Blind Shake, and Dead Ending (with a new anti-Trump tune).

If anything good comes out of this new presidency I'm guessing it'll be the onslaught of great punk tunes.

If you wish to contribute to my annual Run for the Lilies contest, you have until Sunday, January 29th to get me your list. Just email me the names of ten famous people you believe won't be alive by the end of this calendar year. The only rule: you may NOT participate in their demise. I'll announce the winner of the 2016 Run for the Lilies on Monday, January 30th.

Why? (Is the King of Love Dead): Nina Simone
Freedom Day: Max Roach/Abbey Lincoln

The White Man's Got A God Complex: The Last Poets
Fight the Power: Public Enemy
Crime To Be Broke in America: Spearhead

Wake Up The Sun: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes
I Loves you Porgy: Miles Davis
It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding): Bob Dylan

Creole Love Call: Roland Kirk
Love Train: Don Cherry
Come Rain or Come Shine: Ray Charles (10/22/66 Palaise des Sport, Paris, France)

Tommy Gun: The Clash
The Stooge: CFM
I Shot All the Birds: Blind Shakes

***Cheeto Faced Future President Set***
Ivanka Wants Her Orange Back: Dead Ending
Fortunate Son: Creedence Clearwater Revival (01/31/70 Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA)
What's He Building In There: Tom Waits
Time Will Tell: Bob Marley

Brown Eyed Women: Grateful Dead (05/08/77 Barton Hall, Cornell U., Ithaca, NY)
Martin Luther King Jr.: Max Roach

U2s Lost Song: Negativland

Time for a trip around the globe, musically speaking. Since we're early in the new year and I have yet to check out any new releases this seemed like the perfect time to focus on some international sounds. Tonight we go to West Africa, Central Africa, Thailand, Iran Turkey, India, Jamaica, and England for some really groovy excursions. When I shop for music I have a rule: if I purchase three records, one must be from the international section. Doing this I have really grown that genre over the years.

The show is pretty groovy throughout, so don't be shy about dancing while you're diggin' it.

I close the show with a very hard to find live acoustic version of New Speedway Boogie by the Grateful Dead. I'm going to commit to playing more music from my extensive live archive in the second hour of my show each week. This June I'll be co-hosting Rock Fight with sound engineer John Karr. Perhaps I have finally met my match. Tune in to find out.

***NEWS FLASH****
It's time for the 2017 Run For The Lilies contest. You email me a list of ten famous people you believe will meet their maker by December 31, 2017, and the person with the most correct selections "wins". The only rule: you may not partake in their demise. Email me at mrjohnhell@gmail.com by 5PM Sunday, January 29th, 2017. I will announce the 2016 winner on my show (and their winning list) on Monday, January 30th.

Enjoy.

jh

It's A New Day: James Brown
Investigation: Carl Holmes

Spreadin' Fever: Hilton Felton
Groove Holmes: Beastie Boys

Brother's Gonna Work It Out: Willie Hutch
Monday Morning in Lagos: Fela Kuti

Arawan: Tinariwen
YomMaBan TaLangKan (Officer of Hell's Announcement): Sripal Jaipra
Circuito Chiuso: Armando Sciascia

Sunstoke/Mindtrain: Sun Dial
Hey Lion: Sofi Tukker

Miles From India: John McLaughlin
Fatim: Djeli Moussa
Theme from Hong Kong: Lee Perry

Fisherman: The Congos
Suicide Scherzo (Beethoven): Walter Cross
Feeling High: Witch

New Speedway Boogie: Grateful Dead (April 18, 1970 Family Dog At the Great Highway)

For the new year I thought I would take a time out from new music and delve deep into my music library. I have to admit this was one of my favorite shows to host. Certainly my best of the year. HA! Every week my audience appears to grow. Thanks so much for the support, and please keep tuning in every Monday 8-10PM. Be sure to tell music lovers everywhere!

This year I want to focus on interviewing more bands, so if you're in a band or know someone who is, please contact me and let's make this thing happen. I also want to host a special on the history of West African Funk. There's so much beyond Fela that I really want to share with you. I also plan on bringing back an old favorite which dropped by the wayside: Bootleg Blast! This is where I share my latest live show that I've discovered. This will happen in the second hour so stick around. There's a tasty live treat in this broadcast, actually. Later in the year I'm hoping to also resurrect "Rock Fight", where I host a 4+ hour live bootleg battle. My buddy, and legendary sound engineer John Karr will try to best me. Let's see how far he gets. Look for this show sometime this summer.

Finally, it's time once again for my annual "Run for the Lilies" contest, where you dear listener send me the names of 10 famous people you believe will meet their demise by the end of this calendar year. The only rule: you may not participate in how they meet their maker. Please email your list of 10 names by Sunday, January 29 to mrjohnhell@gmail.com

I'll announce the winner of the "Run for the Lilies 2016" on Monday, January 30th. And what a year that was! I'm expecting our winner to possibly have a record number of names on that list. Oy.

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

Let's have an excellent 2017. When everything appears to be falling apart go back to the music and hold your loved ones closer than ever before.

Enjoy.

jh

Punk Rock Christmas: Mojo Nixon
Mona Lisa: Slick Rick
Bohemian Rhapsody: The Flaming Lips

Brazil: Frank Sinatra
Morning Theft: Jeff Buckley
I Think I'm Turning Japanese: The Vapors

Earth People: Dr. Octagon
Where Is My Mind: Pixies
Danke Schoen: Wayne Newton
Search and Destroy: Iggy and the Stooges

No Speak No Slave: Black Crows and Jimmy Page (10-18-99 - Greek Theater, LA, CA)
Step Right Up: Tom Waits
That Woman's Got Me Drinking: Shane MacGowan and the Popes

Drown in my own Tears: Ray Charles
Every Sperm is Sacred: Monty Python
Emma: Urge Overkill

Hazemaze: FUZZ
One More Cup of Coffee: White Stripes
Ça Plane Pour Moi: Thee Headcoatees
Slow and Low: Run DMC

Fist City: Loretta Lynn
Last Caress/Green Death: Metallica
Red Hot: Jurassic 5
Que Sera Sera: Doris Day

Drugs on the Bus: Crystal Fairy

Do you have any idea how incredibly lucky I am to have the coolest 12 year old daughter, who loves art, and legos and engineering, and movies, and books, and meeting new people, and can hang out with pretty much everyone, and wants people to be friends, so is always introducing people to one another so they too can be friends, AND is willing to come on my radio show every few months when she doesn't have school the next day, to share music that she likes (much of which I couldn't care less about, but since she's my kid I'm happy to amuse her and happily let her program her own sets on my show)? Her choices are marked with a "L".

I believe this was Little Lauson Hell's 8th show in four years. I remember her first show when she was about 7 and it took her a little while to warm up to the idea of talking on mic. She was shy until she was no longer shy. That's my girl. Way too much fun. I love interviewing her on the air. It's worth the time to tune in just to hear what it's like to be a young lady in the city. Awesome kid through and through.

Enjoy.

jh

There Ain't No Santa Claus On The Evenin' Stage: Captain Beefheart
Reasonable World: The Blind Shake
You Will Find It Here: Thee Oh Sees

House of Gold: Twenty One Pilots (L)
Get it Together: Beastie Boys
Waitress Song: First Aid Kit

Stone Soul Christmas: Binky Criptite
Your Mother Should Know: The Beatles (L)
C is for Cookie: Cookie Monster (L)
Miss You: The Concretes

Emotional Mugger/Leopard Priestess: Emotional Mugger
Without Me: Eminem (L)
John Wayne was a Nazi: Stains
A Taste of Honey: Tony Bennett
Planet of the Apes: The Mummies

Don't Let Me Go: G-Eazy (ft. Grace) (L)
Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday
N.I.B.: Brown Sabbath

Kathy's Song: Simon and Garfunkle
Makeba: Jain
James Brown Ate My Bagpipe: Taxi Chain

Nancy From Now On: Father John Misty
Tamalpais High (at about 3): David Crosby
Portland, Oregon: Loretta Lynn

Drugs on the Bus: Crystal Fairy

What a mess this year was in so many ways, but not in music! There's always too much good music for me to share during this show. I should really host a four hour show to feature all of my faves, but then I would be stepping on other Radio Valencia shows, who also have such choice tunes to throw your way.

My Best of 2016 is full of soul, garage, punk, metal, Nick Cave and Bowie. I have a few re-issues thrown in there for good measure, and a track or two you haven't hear on my show before, but the artists you certainly have. Please tune into Radio Valencia throughout the next few weeks as our many show hosts will be sharing their Best of shows with you.

Next Monday night will see the return of Little Lauson Hell. She's 12 now, and has decided that her taste in music is way better than mine. She may be right. You decide.

Enjoy.

jh

Make America Great Again: Pussy Riot
Fucked Up Donald: DOA
Green Sugar: Kikagaku Moyo

Plastic Plant: Thee Oh Sees
Glass Eye: Charles Mootheart (CFM)

Lazarus: David Bowie
To Melt the Moon: Rangda

Valley Girl: Meatbodies
Barrell: Naked Lights
I Want To Tell You: The Melvins

Warsawng: Glitter Wizard
The Sadist: Zig Zags

Ready, Willing and Able: Betty Davis
Never Too Late: The Apostles

Jesus Alone: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Over Unease: Spacin'

Falling In: Gøggs
Junkie: Altamont
Slow Down: Flat Earthers

Hold Onto the Sky: Pins of Light
Onye Ije: The Strangers

Thanks for tuning in every Monday night at 8. I never mention this on the blog, but it's always fun to chat folks up during my show, so please if you're listening take a second to say hi on the Radio Valencia Chatterbox, or if you're a FB friend, then on there.

Another show, another tribute. What's up with this friggin' year? I have done more tributes in this single solitary year than in my first 25+ years in radio, combined! Greg Lake of King Crimson and Emerson, Lake and Palmer fame passed from cancer at the age of 69 last weekend. Best known for his days as bassist/vocalist for ELP, he was also a co-founder of the seminal prog-rock band King Crimson, where he performed on the first record and toured for their first two LPs before going on to start ELP alongside the late great Keith Emerson, who died in March of this year, and Carl Palmer who still has a few weeks left before something horrible happens to him. ugh

Much of the first hour is actually down right danceable. There are some seriously funky-ass tracks in here. Do me a favor and get your groove on until it's too late.

The second hour features a dive into my live music vault. And what a vault it is. You know, when I started doing the community radio thing a while back I committed to playing an hour of live music each week. I've sort of slacked off on that one, and for good reason. There are so many great releases I want to play with you week in and week out that the live music thing has had to take a back seat. Well not tonight. Take a look at the second half of the playlist and you can see that it's all over the damn place, and worth every second of your precious time.

I know the world has totally sucked this year. Who will it take next? Alan Thicke? Meredith Baxter (formerly Meredith Baxter-Bernie)? The election will still be with us. Syria will still be with us. Your job will still be with us...er, you. Maybe we just need to put some of this aside and enjoy the music for a little while.

enjoy.

jh

Winter in America: Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson
Power to the People: Curtis Mayfield

I'm So Bored with the USA: The Clash
The Candidate: Urge Overkill
Smokin' Cheeba Cheeba: George Benson

The Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson
Black Enough: The Pharaohs
Home Affairs: Osibisa
Since You've Been Gone: James Brown

Dip Stick: The Perfect Circle
Tidal Wave: Thee Oh Sees (Live at The Chapel, SF, CA - 2015)
She's On Fire: King Tuff (Live at Pickathon - 2013)
You Got It: Mudhoney (2001-01-13, Knitting Factory, LA, CA)

I've Been Loving You Too Long: Otis Redding (1966-04-10 Whiskey A-Go-Go, Hollywood, CA)
Toussaint L'Overture: Santana (1973-02-26, The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA)

Dance to the Music: Sly and the Family Stone (1970-10-09, Piknik Kasteel Groeneveld Baarn)
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed: The Allman Brothers Band (1971-03-13 Fillmore East, NYC)

Waiting for the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago: ZZ Top (1980-04-15 Pine Knob, Clarkston, MI)
Big Chief: The Meters (1976-10-01 The Kingfish Lounge, Baton Rouge, LA)

It's far past the time to start talking about affordable event space in the Bay Area. Tonight on the program Ann Atomic joins me in the studio to talk about the devastating fire at the Ghost Ship in Oakland last Friday night. 33 souls have perished in the worst fire in Oakland history. Yes, this was a space that was not up to code. Yes, this was a space not zoned for housing. Yes, the leaseholder will probably be charged with 2nd degree murder. But beyond all of this, we need to take a deeper look at the housing challenges faced by artists in the Bay Area today.

The investigation is just beginning, but we can't just throw around the blame. As the tech boom contiunes it's important that we focus on who is not thriving here: the art community. Imagine if you will a working artist paying $2000 a month on a 1 bedroom apartment, while also having to pay for an artists studio, because if they made their art at home they would be in violation of their lease and could get kicked out. It then makes sense for them to move into their art studio space with other artists even if that violates the lease on the art space. This is close to what happened at Ghost Ship, and what has happened at other art studio spaces in the Bay Area over the past 20 years, while local jurisdictions make it more and more impossible for artists to survive in a nation that no longer prioritizes art at all.

Ann Atomic and I attempt to tackle all this and more on tonight's program.

New music from Ty Segall, Dumb Punts, Mind Rays, Faux Ferocious, Nick Cave, and The Flat Earthers. And the rareist of rare music from Pink Floyd. You have NEVER heard the Floyd like this before, I promise you.

My Best of 2016 is coming up in just a few weeks.

See you on the radio.

jh

Hallelujah: Jeff Buckley
Rainy Day in June: The Kinks

Orange Color Queen: Ty Segall
Cherry Bomb: GIRLS
Space Waster: Dumb Punts

It Covers the Hillside: Midlake
Still and All: Mind Rays
Viola Lee: Jim Kweskin
Feeding Frenzy: Faux Ferocious

Walk With Me Sydney: Pink Floyd
Vegetable Man: Pink Floyd
Every Little Twist: Red Fang

Web: Thee Oh Sees
N.I.B.: Black Sabbath (08-31-70 Montreux, Switzerland)

I Need You: Nick Cave

We Don't Quit: The Flat Earthers

Way way back in 2011 I had this desire to feature 1971 on my show. What a great year that was for music. This was when bands like Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones were still considered young and relevant. Following this show I made an executive decision to annually feature another great year during the month of November. Preparing for this year's show I was eager to share a more recent year with you. 2006 stood out to me even while we were deep in it. Taking a look at the playlist below I think you'll agree.

I didn't get to nearly all the artists and tracks I wanted to play, but this here is smattering of the genius that was 2006.

Enjoy.

jh

The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song: The Flaming Lips
Black Mountain: Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan
Black Sweat: Prince

They Call Me Flava: Public Enemy
Aliens: Dr. Octagon
Living Proof: Cat Power

Jihad: Slayer
Run Devil Run/The Big Guns: Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
Jams Run Free: Sonic Youth
Like the 309: Johnny Cash

Freya: The Sword
Beyond the Horizon: Bob Dylan
You Don't Know Me: Willie Nelson
Laugh/Love/Fuck: The Coup

A History of Drunks: The Melvins
Make Them Suffer: Cannibal Corpse
It Is Us: Mudhoney
Backstage Girl: DJ Shadow

What Keeps Mankind Alive: Tom Waits
If Looks Could Kill: Camera Obscura
Wherever You Go: Built To Spill
Mr. Tough: Yo La Tengo

Akuma No Kuma: Sunn O))) and Boris

Will this madness of 2016 never end.

Guitarist and singer/songwriter Eric McFadden and his Queen delphine joined me in the studio Monday night to pay tribute to two greats of the music world who recently passed on to the great beyond.

While I was never a big fan of the way Leonard Cohen phrased his own tunes, I was a huge fan of the many covers of his classics. I believe I first was turned onto the brilliant songwriting of Mr. Cohen through the Joe Cocker Mad Dogs and Englishmen version of "Bird on a Wire". I was hooked from that moment on the storytelling and eagerly sought out other covers. Easily my favorite cover of his was "Hallelujah" by the late, great Jeff Buckley. "I'm Your Fan" is a great tribute record to Cohen, which was released in 1991, featuring REM, Nick Cave, The Pixies, and John Cale. Check it out!

Leonard Cohen died November 7th of cancer at the age of 82. I appreciate that he was buried in a simple Jewish ceremony next to his parents in Montreal.

The piano player on the Mad Dogs record was none other than my other featured player for the night: Leon Russell. Russell's stride piano playing and exaggerated vocal style helped him stand out from others during his high profile era of the 1970s. Starting with the Mad Dogs record I spent many hours enjoying his early 70s solo efforts. Though he wasn't as often covered as much as Cohen, Russell made a profound impact on many songwriters that followed him. His birthplace, Tulsa, Oklahoma, named a street after him in 2010. He died this past Sunday after a few years of failing health. He was 74.

Listening to music is supposed to be a joy. Even when the artist we love and respect has passed to the great beyond we have their songs to carry us through to our own old age. I've told my friends and family if I ever get to a point where they have to prop me up in a corner just place some headphones on me and place my iPod on shuffle. Losing Cohen and Russell is indeed sad, but it also will lead to a renaissance of their music. Perhaps your favorite band will cover their songs. Maybe, like after Jerry Garcia died, there will be a huge outpouring of new versions of some of their deeper album cuts that you never knew they wrote. From loss comes inspiration. Through grief comes resilience and vision.

At this writing Mose Allison has passed away at the age of 89. I can't host enough shows to pay tribute to all the musical greats who we have lost this somber year.

Take heart my friends, and hold each other closer. We're going to need all the good love and strength we can muster.

Eric and delphine are performing the next two Fridays and Saturdays for Dark Kabaret at the Great Star Theater in China Town.

jh

Girl From North Country: Leon Russell (02-05-1971 - Baarn, NL)
The Partisan: Leonard Cohen
Bird on a Wire: Joe Cocker

This Masquerade: Leon Russell
Hummingbird: B.B. King
Dream a Little Dream of Me: Cass Elliott

Chelsea Hotel No 2: Lana Del Rey
A Song for You: Donny Hathaway
Everybody Knows: Leonard Cohen
Who By Fire: Coil

Avalanche: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Alcatraz: Nazareth
Back to the Island: Toots and the Maytals
First We Take Manhattan: REM

Roll Away the Stone: Leon Russell (11-20-70 Fillmore East, NYC)
I Can't Forget: Pixies
The Partisan: Eric McFadden

Delta Lady: Joe Cocker
Hallelujah: Jeff Buckley

Well....shit. Not really certain what to say. Monday's show featured an interview with a great group of fellas from the band Savage People, promotion this Sunday's first ever SF Punk-Metal Flea Market at the DNA Lounge, 1-8PM. It's free and there are some great vendors scheduled to table the event. You really have to attend. More info here.

The rest of the show was all about the election. You remember the election? It was Tuesday? It was fucking shit. You remember that? Do you remember your dreams? You remember those, right? You remember believing in all of those polls that Nate Silver told us to believe in? I wonder how well he's going to be sleeping from here on out. Truth be told, I truly do not think that Drumpf wants to, nor believes he ever would be elected President. I'm not joking. I really feel that he did everything in his power NOT to be elected. What does that tell you about Clinton and the DNC?

And would Bernie have actually been elected? Who knows.

Here's what I posted on my Facebook wall this morning:

"I want to reevaluate how I'm going to approach the next four years. I want to pay more attention to the things that I love, and the things that I have the power to improve. I want to recommit to the people that I love. I want to hold you all close, closer than ever before. I want to find the beauty in everything, including Trump. I want the best for all of us, while still fighting for what I believe to be the path towards truth. I refuse to live in denial, but I also refuse to wallow in misery, self-doubt, and blaming. I want you there with me. I love you all."

Below is my playlist for election night. It tells a story. See if you can figure out the moral.

Enjoy.

jh

In The Flesh: Pink Floyd
Blowfly for President: Blowfly

Interview with Savage People

Kinky Sex Makes the World Go 'Round: Dead Kennedy's
Rise Above: Black Flag

Interview with Savage People

Pariah: Savage People
Ignorance is Bliss: Ramones
Do They Owe Us A Living: Crass
Politician: Cream

Talking Props!

Democracy: Killing Joke
Funky President: James Brown
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: Gil Scott-Heron

Talking Props!

Lawyers, Guns and Money: Warren Zevon
Clash City Rockers: The Clash
Southern Politician: Willie DeVille

Talking Props!

Eminence Front: The Who

Talking Props!

Fucked Up Donald: D.O.A.

It was a Halloween sPoOkTacUlaR show tonight. I'm not much on holiday themes, but something about this aprticular holiday inspires me to go the extra mile. You can't say that John Hell ever phones it in!

Tonight features some of my favorite spooky treats, along with two new tunes from two of my favorite ladies. Phat Man Dee sent me a track that is perfectly scary as well as apropos for the 2016 election cycle. If you don't get the willies from "Fourth Reich Rising" then perhaps you're dead already. Good for you!

Queen delphine has been building up her stage chops for a couple of years now and this Cramps cover has certainly shown that she's not too shy to put a bug in your ear (oh good lord will the puns ever stop?). "Human Fly" is will put a buzz in your ear and make you think twice before you pull out that can of Raid. Eric McFadden on guitar.

The rest of the show is full of horror movie themes, spooky spoken word, and very dark magic. It's just what Hell ordered.

The holidays are officially upon us, and the election is just days away. Time to run screaming!

Enjoy.

jh

I Love Living in the City: Danko Jones
The Mercy Seat: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Delia's Gone: Johnny Cash

Human Fly: Queen delphine (premier)
Bloody Hammer: Roky Erickson
My Car: Groovy Ghoolies

All I Want for Christmas is Halloween: Happy Fangs
Night Crawler: Thee Oh Sees
Free the Freaks: CCR Headcleaner
Naked Lunch Excerpts: William S. Burroughs
Monster: Three Day Stubble

Fourth Reich Arising: Phat Man Dee
Helpless Corpses Enactment: Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
Meat: Idiot Flesh

Judgement Day: Jack O'Fire
My Biggest Mistake: Joan of Arkansas
Dracula's Daughters: Redd Kross
Lord 13: Monster Magnet

We Love the Dead: Electric Wizard
King Beef: Torche
Remover: Owl

Monster Wizard: Zig Zags
Uncle Powderbag: OBN IIIs
Motorhead: Ty Segall Band

In and Out of Grace: Mudhoney

Let's admit it, we need to escape from reality today more than ever before. Amiright? Music might be the only thing that can get us through the next four years. I know we're all really emotional right now. Life is hard. I don't care if you're a high school student suffering from the expectations of your parents and your school, or if you're a 40-something slogging through the doledrums of your 40 hour work week, with the boss breathing down your neck; you need a break.

Consider this program as your respite from a world gone mad.

Sometimes I even surprise myself. There are at least three SETS OF THE NIGHT tonight! If radio is the art of the segue, then you are in for a real treat.

Honestly, this show is easily in my top 10 that I have hosted in the past 28 years.

Enjoy.

jh

I Love Living in the City: Danko Jones
54-40 or Fight: Monomen
The Big Three Killed My Baby: The White Stripes

War on War: Wilco
Cowboy Dan: Modest Mouse
Pattern Recognition: Sonic Youth

***set of the night***
Devil Moon: Eric McFadden
Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa: MC5
I Wanna Be Your Dog: Iggy and the Stooges
King Sandbox: Mudhoney

The Keepers: Ty Segall
Raining on TV: Bevis Frond
Free Love Messes Up My Life: Bongwater
Fire on the Mountain: WAND

Handsome Nick: The People's Temple
Observatory: Carlton Melton
At A Crawl: Melvins
Little Sadie: Mark Lanegan
Master of Mashups

Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out: Nina Simone
Lilac Wine: Jeff Buckley
Is It Because I'm Black: Syl Johnson
Am I Black Enough For You?: Schooly D

20th Century Boy: Buckethead
Mary Don't You Weep: Taj Mahal

OK, I've got to be honest with you. After all, you've been here with me, week in, week out for all these long years. How could I ever lie to you? Actually, that's not very difficult seeing how I don't ever actually look you in the eyes, and they say you can really tell if someone is lying to you by looking them straight in their eyes. My older sister used to tell me that my pupils were dilating if I was lying to her. I think that was a lie, come to think of it. Huh.

Anyway, this show was from October 10, 2016 and I never took the time to do a write up and post it. how very rude of me. You take the time to listen to my show, the least I could do is take some time and post the archived podcast of it so you can download or stream it over and over again. I know that you are just dying to have this on your hard drive so you can listen to my voice and choice of music years after the apocalypse. And why not!? Good for you!

So it may already be April 2017, but damnit this show is just too good NOT to share! I can't recall what I spoke about on this night, but looking at the playlist below it looks pretty tasty.

By the way, I have plenty of other shows I have yet to post. I really do need to do something about this lazy streak I have in me.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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I Love Living in the City: Danko Jones
Get On The Goodfoot: James Brown
Crack in the Universe: Wayne Kramer
She's the One: The Ramones

I Live for Cars and Girls: Dictators
Personality Crisis: New York Dolls
Bank Robber Dub: The Clash

Boom Swagger Boom: Murder City Devils
Peter Gunn Theme: Poison Ivy
Only A Lad: Oingo Boingo
This is Halloween: The Nightmare Before Christmas

Mazel Tov Cocktail: New Orleans Klezmer Allstars
He Was A Big Freak: Betty Davis
Inner City Blues: Marvin Gaye
Blue Jay Way: Beatles

Bleed the Freak: Alice in Chains
Volunteered Slavery: Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Matalo: Mario Migliardi

Darling Nikki: Sex Mob
Drown in my own Tears: Ray Charles
Analisa: PIL
Hobo Love: Rube Waddell

On Nature: Naked Lights
You Were Right: Built To Spill

Here's another show that I never got around to uploading. I guess life just gets in the way sometimes. But just take a look at that playlist! Damn!

Sometimes a rant and a rave is all it takes to make for a good show.

Enjoy.

jh

I Love Living in the City: Danko Jones
TV Eye: The Stooges
Venus in Furs: Blasted Canyons

Stuck Inside Of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again: Bob Dylan
Piss Factory: Patti Smith

Liars Beware: Richard Hell and the Voidoids
Down in Flames: Dead Boys
Night of the Knife: Zig Zags
Dragonfly: My Brightest Diamond

Baby's Insane: Diamanda Galas
Dear Fly, Love Spider: Low Lows
Wanderlust: White Hills

Embryo: Pink Floyd
Blah Blah Blah: Lenny Bruce
I Walked with a Zombie: Roky Erickson
Pray Til You Sweat: The Flesh Eaters

Wires: Red Fang
Rope/Summit: Junip
The Step and the Walk: The Duke Spirit

Estimated Prophet: Grateful Dead (May 7, 1977 Boston Garden, Boston, MA)

It's hot in the studio again, so it's NAKED RADIO NIGHT. I was so dizzy with sweat that I just blindly pulled most of the songs here. But just take a look at that playlist! Sometimes you just have to take a risk. One day I think I'll just show up with no plan at all and no music in hand, and grab music from the mysterious Radio Valencia record library. That should be a hoot...or a miserable failure. Either way I'll make it fun.

Where else on the radio can you hear the entire Atom Heart Mother Suite, I ask you? Where?!?!?!

Enjoy.

jh

I Love Living in the City: Danko Jones
Blues X Man: John Spencer Blues Explosion
Silent Sits the Dust Bowl: Fuzz

Televisionary: World Entertainment War
By The Time I Get To Phoenix: Dean Martin

Catfish Blues: Jimi Hendrix
Atom Heart Mother: Pink Floyd
Dead Man's Gun: Thee Oh Sees

Youth of America: Wipers
Batman Theme - Happy Birthday Adam West
John Barleycorn: Traffic
Bandits: Midlake

Celestial Crown/Barael's Blade: The Sword
Bing Bong: Three Day Stubble
Misery is the River of the World: Tom Waits

Backdoor Medley: ZZ Top
Frankie and Albert: Taj Mahal
Cry Baby Cry: The Beatles

Dreaming: Cherubs

Ever want to tell the sound guy at a show how to do his job? Sound engineer John Karr guested on September 12th, and you'll have to excuse us both, but when two absolute music geeks get together, there's not much that can stop the conversation. Almost each tune was presented by John with a story to go with it. This guy has a lot to say, and if you enjoy music as much as we do, you're going to eat it up.

John Karr is a well-established sound engineer, having worked clubs for over 30 years, and been the man at the controls in the studio for about the same length of time. If you've been to the Great American Music Hall then you have probably heard his mix. Check out his site here for Ear Relevant Recording, and if you are in a band then you MUST hire this man!

John has worked with The Mermen, Big City Orchestra, Brian Jonestown Massacre, George Clinton, Primus, Peaches, Mike Patton, Eric McFadden...you name it, he's probably worked it.

My only regret is how long it took me to get this show up for you to listen to.

Enjoy.

jh

I Love Living in the City: Danko Jones
Presence of the Lord: Blind Faith

Cosmic Strut: Mahavishnu Orchestra
Villanova Junction Blues: Jimi Hendrix

One Hundred Foot Lemon: The Mermen
Stomachache Due To The Sincere Belief That The Rest of My Band is Trying to Kill Me: Rumah Sakit

Neo Dada: Jono El Grande
Moeris Dancing: Art Bears
The Ocean is the Ultimate Solution: Frank Zappa

Please Keep Shopping: Quietworld
Red Motorbike

Shinjiro (ft. Mos Def): DJ Krush
Stumpy Meets Firecracker in Stencil Forest: Happy the Man
Take Me Out to the Ballgame: The Melvins