Download The Sass For Your Ass HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
What will you do now that the orange cheeto has fallen from grace? I wouldn’t bet him out. He loves a good comeback. Will the next season be worth watching? Stay tuned.
In the meantime, take a look at this juicy set I have just for you and yours. There’s something here for just about every member of the family. You got your blues for the teens. Stoner metal for grandma. Sexy vocal stylings for your overweight stinky uncle who’s missing teeth and hair. There’s funk for white neighbor who swears he was Black in a previous life. And anything else that dad enjoys. For mom there’s plenty of polyester dance hits to cover the couch.
We all need a creative outlet to get us through these tough times. What’s yours? Need one? Just look at the contest I’m throwing and participate. Deadline is Friday, February 12th.
RUN FOR THE LILLIES 2021
The rules are simple:
You choose ten celebrities (from any industry) you believe will meet their demise by December 31, 2021.
The only rule: you may NOT contribute to their passing.
Email the list by January 31st (no one on your list may have passed before you get me your list) to mrjohnhell@gmail.com
I know this is morbid; my name is HELL
There will be a prize for the most names “collected”, announced January 2022
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Download My Whining HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
Sometimes I have to forgive myself if I’m just not feeling it. You know what I mean? We’ve been home for over ten months now, and the COVID wall is real, people. It’s real! My day starts with my three old son climbing into bed with my wife and me. I’m the one who has the elbows in the face, the knee in the gut, the hot breath up my nose. Most weekdays I get him up, dressed, pack his food, and off to daycare (with very strict protocols for COVID, thank you very much).
Then I come home and get ready to teach. You know I’m a high school teacher, right? Don’t even get me started about that. I love my work; it’s never dull, but COVID has really put a damper on things. Poor kids. I also have a high school junior in the house: Little Lauson Hell, who you have met on this show many times over the years. I’m actually really proud of her. Her academics remain high, but it’s her emotional fortitude that I’m more proud of. She keeps it together better than most adults I know.
As a teacher my work day doesn’t really end, but since Mrs. Hell’s job is more demanding (corporate work often is, if only because of the threat of the big boss man), I have to go pick up young Mr. Hell from daycare, bring him home, cook for him, and prepare him for bed. The fabulous Mrs and I alternate bedtimes with him, but by the time he lays down I’m spent.
This leaves little space for any downtime.
This is why I look forward to Monday nights with you. It’s my only true creative outlet these days. So when I get a late start like I did on this show, it takes the winds out of my sails a wee bit. I brought it back up pretty quickly however, as we setlist below will show. It’s the banter that’ll keep you coming back (or drive you away in droves).
Dissonance, punk, metal, glam, hip hop, funk, Afro-funk, and more to whet your whistle. Tell ’em John Hell sent you.
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Download My Oath HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my show, via Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
There are good shows, and then there are shows when I am truly inspired. And tonight was such a night. And I can honestly say it was all about you, the listeners. So many great comments and inspirations. It’s like I jump start the show, and then you all chime in, getting me to go farther than I thought I could!?!?
Maybe I’m just excited to be losing 280 pounds on January 20th? I don’t know, but this was a fun show to host.
So this is a new dawn, yes? How are you going to approach it? What are going to do differently leading into the next four years? What are your hopes and your fears?
There are so many opportunities standing there in front of us. Let’s not lose focus on what makes us great. And let’s allow music to be a binding force for good.
RUN FOR THE LILLIES 2021
The rules are simple:
You choose ten celebrities (from any industry) you believe will meet their demise by December 31, 2021.
The only rule: you may NOT contribute to their passing.
Email the list by January 31st (no one on your list may have passed before you get me your list) to mrjohnhell@gmail.com
I know this is morbid; my name is HELL
There will be a prize for the most names “collected”, announced January 2022
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Get Up, Stand Up: Bob Marley and the Wailers (July 7, 1975 – Boarding House, SF, CA) Catfish Blues: Jimmy “Duck” Holmes Nobody Speak: DJ Shadow ft. Run the Jewels
Fuck Donald Trump: YG and Nipsey Hussle Zed the Mythical Goat: Bazooka Why Is The King of Love Dead?: Nina Simone By The Time I Get To Arizona: Public Enemy
God’s Away On Business: Tom Waits Contact Contamination: Midnight Snaxxx Anti Love Song: Betty Davis Wild and Free: Curtis Mayfield
Sita Ram: Alice Coltrane One of These Things First: Nick Drake Demon Lover: Cambodian Space Project Black is the Color: The Dry Spells
Jet Boy: New York Dolls High Heeled Sneakers: The Mummies Brainded Warrior: Zig Zags Children of the Grave: Black Sabbath
Satori Pt. 2: Flower Travelin’ Band CIA Man: The Fugs The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: Gil Scott-Heron
Koko: Charlie Parker I Bid You Goodnight: Joseph Spence and the Pinder Family
Download The Binding Revulsion HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my show, via Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
Well that was a weird week. Once you think you’ve seen it all, our President gets impeached a second time. I was really hoping it would be an unanimous vote, but obviously I live in la la land.
Anywho (I hate that colloquialism), you’re here for the music, not the commentary. Right? Hmmmm. Maybe you want more commentary. Do you want more commentary? I am a civics teacher, you know?
I offer you my latest, greatest creation: two hours of whatever the hell lit a fire under my butt as the current song was playing. There are some real treats, and a few surprises. And the banter isn’t too shabby. I think it flows right on by. You tell me what you think. No one ever leaves comments, except those Q-Anon COVIDiots.
Lest I forget:
RUN FOR THE LILLIES 2021
The rules are simple:
You choose ten celebrities (from any industry) you believe will meet their demise by December 31, 2021.
The only rule: you may NOT contribute to their passing.
Email the list by January 31st (no one on your list may have passed before you get me your list) to mrjohnhell@gmail.com
I know this is morbid; my name is HELL
There will be a prize for the most names “collected”, announced January 2022
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Convincing People: Throbbing Gristle Work Song: Dan Reeder Violence Dreams: Ninja Racers
Earth People: Dr. Octagon Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey: Sly and the Family Stone Praying Hands: Devo
No Flag: Elvis Costello and Iggy Pop Decent Into the Inferno: Foetus South of the Border: Frank Sinatra
Rubber Biscuit: Blues Brothers (for Harvey on his 80th) Buckets of Rain: Bette Midler and Bob Dylan Stranded In Your Love: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, ft. Lee Fields
Shapes of Things: David Bowie I Ain’t Superstitious: Jeff Beck Group The Wolf Is At Your Door: Howlin’ Wolf Goodbye: Steve Earle
Demolicion: Los Saicos Money: Bernadette Seacrest and Her Yes Men Folcvagen: Fotoaparat Oompah Pumpah: People Like Us
Mountains of Steel: Orchid Tattoo: Petra Haden Hate The Police: Mudhoney
Banned in DC: Bad Brains I Bid You Goodnight: Joseph Spence and the Pinder Family
Download The Resolution HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my show, via Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
Happy New Year, to you all! How did you celebrate the completion of one of the top 10 worst years in the history of our nation? I sat at home and watched the Melvins NYE special. Thanks fellas, that was a hoot!
Tonight was a night of firsts. I have never played Hank III before. Nor have I played Jake Blount (thanks Derlyn!!!), nor has Larry Boothroyd been played on my show as a session leader, though I have played plenty of Victim’s Family in the past. And though Buddy Rich has graced these “airwaves”, this record with Alla Rakha has never been on, though I look forward to sharing more from all of these artists in the future.
As for what 2021 has in store, it’s all about this Georgia special election that’s happening on Tuesday. I predict the two Democrats will win by slim margins. I also don’t think the GOP candidates will do as well as Trump did. If the two Dems do win, I have to wonder how much sway Trump will have with the House and Senate GOP members with the electoral certification on Wednesday? By the time you are reading this, it’ll probably be long over. How close were my predictions?
***I’m bringing back an old contest***
RUN FOR THE LILLIES 2021
The rules are simple:
You choose ten celebrities (from any industry) you believe will meet their demise by December 31, 2021.
The only rule: you may NOT contribute to their passing.
Email the list by January 31st (no one on your list may have passed before you get me your list) to mrjohnhell@gmail.com
I know this is morbid; my name is HELL
There will be a prize for the most names “collected”, announced January 2022
And there ya go. Welcome to 2021.
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
The Bottle Let Me Down: Hank III Boll Weevil: Jake Blount Tiger Mountain Peasant Song: First Aid Kit
Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys: Traffic A Minute Passed: Monty Python Sign O’ The Times: Sex Mob
Bertha Butt Boogie: Jimmy Castor Bunch Hear Me: Firehose Khanda Kafi: Buddy Rich and Alla Rakha
South: Larry Boothroyd
Are You Really Going To Move To The South: Marissa Nadler Nosotros: Grupo Fantasma Oh, I Long To Feel Your Arms Around Me: Father John Misty Lover, You Should’ve Come Over: Jeff Buckley Femme Fatale: Velvet Underground
Superstar: Sonic Youth My Baby: Ken Nordine
Dirty Little Virus: Iggy Pop Star Spangled Banner: Kronos Quartet
I Bid You Goodnight: Joseph Spence and the Pinder Family
Download The Merriment HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my show, via Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
The end is nigh. And what are your plans? Are you going to head out and revel with your friends, sans mask, giving hugs, kisses, high fives and COVID to each other, and your beloved Nana upon returning home? Good for you for removing yourself from the gene pool. Unfortunately, you’re also risking others just to play around on amateur night.
Stay home, watch a movie, drink a glass of bubbly (alcoholic or non), and head off to bed without anything to regret. We have next year, and all of our loved ones to consider.
Thanks in advance.
This here is my year-end show. There’s a bunch of my faves from 2020, but this isn’t a “Best of…” show in the least. There’s a bunch of other tunes tossed in from across the ages. In retrospect I really should have played “I Want To Be Sedated”. Hmmmmm, just pretend I did, and click on the video link at the bottom.
Let’s all just agree that 2020 was relatively bad for everyone around the world, and move on, shall we? I mean really now, a pandemic puts everything else into perspective. You had a bad year? Oh, I am so sorry. WE ALL HAD A BAD YEAR. Your year sucked extra special bad? WOW! You must really want to win some award. This show is for you then. And only you.
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Download The Ho Ho Ho HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my show, via Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
And we’ve made it to Christmas Day!!! How the Hell did that happen so quickly? Seriously though, with all of this staying at home crap since March, one would think this year would have crawled by? Time always seemed to flow when I had to commute most days, pay the bills, do the dishes, and repeat. I’ve been home since mid-March, and December came in like a limping, gasping, clawing gazelle, after having been chewed on and spit out for the rancid meat that COVID and Trump’s allies turned 2020 into.
What kind of fresh Hell is this?
So let’s stick with this musical lane for the next two hours shall we?
As you will see below the first hour contains a fistful of holiday music that is as off-kilter as yours truly. And isn’t that why you tune in in the fist place? The second hour is something else entirely. I really enjoyed the entire show, but the two hours are as different as Christmas is to Hanukkah. Take that for whatever you think it means.
If you live in the Bay Area of California, you really owe it to yourself to take a drive to either Christmas Tree Lane (Thompson Lane) in Alameda, or Chestnut Lights (Woodside Court) in South San Francisco. Regardless of your religious beliefs, the creativity that went into these houses is worth the trip. There are a number of other locations to go check out. Here’s the link for a bunch of them. Take a ride!
Go ho, ho, ho yourself, and I’ll see you all next Monday night to get you good and ready to say so long and fuck you to 2020.
If you haven’t tuned into my Live Bootleg Bonanza show, tune in Monday’s 6-8PM, before my regular Hell’s Kitchen show, to check out shows from my vast live vault (it’s really just TBs of live shows) of thousands of shows from hundreds of bands. Most are soundboard quality, of varying genres. I played two Frank Zappa shows last week to celebrate what would have been his 80th birthday.
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
The Central Scrutinizer: Frank Zappa Xmas Message from T-Rex Merry Christmas From The Family: Robert Earl Keen Fuck Christmas: Fear Please Daddy, Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas: Alan Jackson
The Twelve Gifts of Christmas: Alan Sherman The Twelve Days of Christmas: Bob and Doug McKenzie Merry Christmas, Baby: Otis Redding Trim Your Tree: Jimmy Butler
Back Door Santa: Clarence Carter Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabelle: Phat Man Dee Christmas Card From A Hooker in Minneapolis: Tom Waits Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’: Albert King
I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus: Kip Addotta Scrutinizer Postlude: Frank Zappa Fairytale of New York: The Pogues Sloppy Drunk Blues: Big Joe Williams
Soulful Strut: Young-Holt Unlimited Little Games: Yardbirds Your Mind Has Left Your Body: Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, David Freiberg What Is Man: Johnny Cash
God Made Me Funky: The Headhunters Get Down, Moses: Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
J’al Mal Aux Dents (Faust cover): Oh Sees Cha Cha: Mulatu Astatke and the Heliocentrics
Media Control: The Nuns I Bid You Goodnight: Joseph Spencer & The Pinder Family
Download The Excuses HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my show, via Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
I’m so pleased that I have this outlet available to me, that on my honor I promise never to phone it in. I gave up my AOL dial up many moons ago.
This show has a lot of date-oriented music associated with it. I won’t give away the easter eggs; I just know you want to find them on your own. Feel free to leave a comment.
I’m not certain how Angelisxvi showed up in this set. I have a folder for music I want to play on this show, and somehow it made its way in there. I’m guessing there’s a story I have chosen to forget. Or perhaps Little Lauson Hell (who made a brief appearance during this show) snuck it in there?
There are a few artists who are making their debut on Hell’s Kitchen Radio: Bad Livers, Timothy Leary, Koko Taylor, Clairo, and yes, Angelisxvi. Why, oh why has it taken me this long to share Bad Livers?!?!?!?! And it’s FDR’s first appearance as well I believe.
Never forget Pearl Harbor…or The Maine. Though I think it’s safe to say 122 years after, The Maine probably was an accident the US Navy used as an excuse to go to war with Spain, the weakest of all the world powers by 1898. Don’t get me started.
I think my vote for BEST SET has to go near the end with the set that starts with Electric Masada and ends with James Brown. That was about 20 minutes that will kick you in the groove thang.
You’re welcome.
Monday’s 6-8pm I’ve taken over to feature my live bootleg collection. If you tuned in you caught an hour of Mudhoney from 1990 in Australia, followed by an hour from the birthday boy, Tom Waits (71 years young) from 1999. I plan on doing this every Monday until we have a new show in place. Considering I download an average of five shows (from five different artists) a day, not including the Grateful Dead (5+ shows a day from them, alone), it’s a toss up what I’m going to share. I like playing more than one artist during that slot, unless it’s a tribute. Tune in Monday at 6pm (Pacific) to hear what I have in store. Then stay from 8-10 for my weekly mix.
Thanks for all of your continued support.
I started hosting Monday’s 8pm back in 2000 when I joined San Francisco Liberation Radio, moved over to Pirate Cat Radio in July 2007, then to FCCFree Radio in 2008, and then Radio Valencia in 2010. Other than a few short breaks between stations, it’s been 20 years in the same slot. That in combination with my nine wonderful years at KFJC (88-97), and this has been a very fulfilling radio dream come true for me. I may need to write more about this later.
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
FDR Speech – December 7, 1941 Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love: Minutemen You Can’t Put An Arm Around A Memory: Giant Sand Love Songs Suck: Bad Livers
People Have the Power: Patti and Fred “Sonic” Smith (March 16, 1990) Sofia: Clairo Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out: Timothy Leary Insane Asylum: Koko Taylor and Willie Dixon Take Me: Angelisxvi
Boy Blue: ELO I’m Herpes, Yes I Am: Gerogerigegege TV Song: Glenn Branca
Caught In My Eye: Germs Bohemian Rhapsody: Donald Trump Knocking ’em Down: Iggy Pop Killer of Killers: Zig Zags
Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow: Funkadelic The Pusher: Nina Simone
Kisofim: Electric Masada Pressure Drop: Toots and the Maytals Tha Shiznit: Snoop Dogg The Boss: James Brown
Isolation: John Lennon My Little Red Book: Love Diamond In Your Mind: Tom Waits and Kronos Quartet
Download The Dance Party HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my show, via Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
Each November I choose a year that I want to showcase for two hours. It’s a random selection. For my tenth annual Annual Annual I have chosen 1980. I turned 10 that year, and was already enjoying a growing record collection I could call my own. We owned a jukebox stocked with 45s from the 60s and 70s, and my dad always enjoyed having music playing throughout the house. My two older sisters (6 and 8 years older) often had the rock hits of the day playing in their rooms or on our family room stereo.
1980 was a strange year for music. So many subgenres had crept into the aural vernacular by this time. It was no longer just a Jazz, Rock, Soul world. By 1980 Heavy Metal, Funk, Punk, and New Wave had infiltrated the discussion, and there’s nothing wrong with that, except commercial radio stations continued to divide us based on their perceived belief that we wanted stations that specialized in one particular genre, and that led to the continuing watering down of quality radio programming.
Thank Yahweh for college radio!
The former and extremely boring KFOG used to have their daily “10 At 10” show that focused on one year at a time, but rarely, if ever, would they take a chance on some of the artist and genres that I feature on this annual special you see before you.
1980 had a lot of tasty bites to offer however. This show showcases a few commercial tunes (yes, I play the #3 most popular song based on Billboard charts. Sue me), as well as some underground morsels I’m sure you’ll enjoy chewing on.
If you dig this Annual Annual and you want to check out my previous specials take a look at the link below and have at it.
Download The Inspiration HERE! Listen into all my shows here! Subscribe to my show, via Subscribe to my Spotify Podcast HERE!
A two hour radio show is like foreplay without the deep thrusting you’re all hungry for. That being said, I’m going to give it to you in a variety of ways throughout this show, even if we don’t have all the time in the world to enjoy one another’s company. It’ll just have to do. Is it hot in here, or is it just this laptop sitting on my legs for too many months?
Enjoy.
jh
Hell’s Kitchen Radio with John Hell Mondays 8-10PM Radio Valencia in SF http://radiovalencia.fm
Pirate Radio: Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper Freddie’s Dead: Fishbone Gutter Cat vs. The Jets: Alice Cooper
Come On Over (Turn Me On): Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan Not A Crime: Gogol Bordello She Cried: Jay and the Americans I’m A Liar: The Gorillas
Cry Baby Cry (Acoustic Demo): The Beatles Crystal Frontier: Calexico They Ain’t Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore: Kinky Friedman Jesus Was Way Cool: King Missile She Loves Me: Elvis Presley and Ann Margaret
Señor: Willie Nelson and Calexico Orange Was The Color of Her Dress, Then Blue: Charles Mingus (April 10, 1964, Amsterdam, DK) Deep Fried Frenz: MF Doom
Señorita: Ovarian Trolley Bang Bang: Kelly Willis Masikulu: Konono No1 The Leibniz Language: Le Butcherettes
Rumble: Link Wray Voice of Chunk: The Lounge Lizards Filipino Box-Spring Hog: Tom Waits
