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

December 19, 9am

– John Hell

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

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

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

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

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

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

jh

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

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

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

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

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

21st Century Pharisees: Mudhoney
Devil Woman: Charles Mingus

Hillbilly Math: Dale Crover Band

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

Pre Strike Sweep: Goggs
Marijuanaut’s Theme: Sleep

Teardrops From My Eyes: Ray Condo

Hell’s Kitchen Radio #347: Distracted By Your Charms

October 17, 8am

– John Hell

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Sometimes when I’m hosting my show in the studio it actually feels like you are right there with me. I feel like I’m talking directly to you! I see you on the couch across from the console, watching me watching you, and I get excited to share my music with you, right then, right there.

That’s how it felt on Monday night.

Starting off with the some contemporary genius’ of the garage/punk world: Thee Oh Sees and Ty Segall, both live from The Chapel in SF. These two tracks, back-to-back show you me current mood: kinetic and frenetic. I’ve got a lot of energy to shed and share.

Throughout the night it’s a mix of old and new, punk, funk and junk. You know, just as always. And only two cover tunes this week!

I was considering hosting a power trio special, but I want to take a few more weeks to prepare. Stay tuned. I’m also reminded that November is coming, which means my 8th annual Annual Annual is right around the corner. Which year should I focus on this time around. If you want to see my previous Annual Annual shows take a look here. Scroll down that page and find the links you seek.

In the meantime I’m just going to relax and picture you on the couch in front of the console doing lovely and nasty things to yourself as I play DJ.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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I Come From the Mountain: Thee Oh Sees
Feel: Ty Segall
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: Gil Scott-Heron

Rave Down: Swervedriver
Emmaline: Urge Overkill
Goodbye: Emmylou Harris

Helter Stupid: Negativland

Semi Crazy: Junior Brown
Birds of Paradise: King Tuff
Unfinished Instrumental: Parliament
I Don’t Want To Pray: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Jesus Was Way Cool: King Missile
Higgs Boson Blues: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Step Right Up: Tom Waits

The Wizard: Brown Sabbath
Portland, Oregon: Loretta Lynn
If I’m Lucky I Might Get Picked Up: Betty Davis

Trickle Down System: Giant Sand
Sun Cycle: Blue Cheer

I Want To Talk About It Now: Bongwater
Happy Boy: Beat Farmers

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

October 10, 2pm

– John Hell

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy…I know I do.

jh

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

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Hell’s Kitchen Radio #345: Wild and Cheap

October 4, 1pm

– John Hell

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Do you have any idea how much I love you? I don’t think you do. OK, perhaps I just lust for your ears. That being said, can you blame me? I have total and complete respect for you and your ears, and I would never maliciously put you in harms way. On the contrary, I hunger to care for you and to turn you on…to amazing music.

I also love tamales. What’s not to love? Last week Virginia “Tamale Lady” Ramos passed away at the age of 65. I spent many a Friday and Saturday night enjoying TL’s delicious tamales. She may have loved us all, but you didn’t want to get on her bad side. I once saw her rip into some drunk asshole outside of Zeitgeist babbling incoherently in front of her. Seriously dude, do you have any idea how lucky you were to even get a whiff of her amazing fare? Tamale Lady, you will be sorely missed. Raise a tamale in tribute, tonight! Did you know that the remarkable local band Rube Waddell composed a song in her honor? It’s true, they did. Now you know. Midway through the show I play this just for you. I cannot imagine any other radio show has done the same.

Music-wise you get another musically-diverse program, with a little something for everyone. Go ahead, take a chance on love…or lust, a lust for quality music. As for the DJ, I’m merely a conduit, a paintbrush for this two hour empty canvas, curated for your pleasure. And only nine covers tonight!

And it’s all about your pleasure.

Hell’s Kitchen Radio #339: Teenage Angstdream

July 11, 2pm

– John Hell

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There once was a time when my daughter looked at me like I was a hero. Now she’s 13. Oh well, at least she allowed me to drag her kicking and screaming out of her lair (read: bedroom) to join me in the studio on this fine night. It only took me bribing her with a burrito to make this happen. There was a time when she couldn’t wait to co-host a radio show with me. I guess we all grow up eventually, right? RIGHT?

To my credit, she did acknowledge all on her own, that it’s pretty cool that she’s had this opportunity to be on the radio with me over the years None of her other friends have ever done this before. So there!

Lauson’s musical tastes have grown beyond my tastes, as I’m sure mine did when I was her age. If I recall 13 correctly, I was starting to purchase music on my own on a monthly basis; much of which my father hadn’t ever listened to. So it comes as no surprise that she’s delving deeper into her own interests. And it’s those interests that I encouraged her to share on the show tonight.

Interestingly enough, not only is she into hiphop, but she loves Sinatra and Stevie Wonder, and is discovering more classic soul and funk based on the samples used in contemporary hiphop. We talk about this on the air. It reminds me of how I got deeper into blues, using 60s bands like the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton as a springboard to discover the originals, which I ended up enjoying more than the covers.

The banter is witty, the music is groovy. The talk about attending concerts, in the second hour, is classic! Much of the music is vocalist-centered as you can see by the playlist below. New music by Ty Segall and White Fence.

If you care to check out the previous shows featuring Little Lauson Hell check out the links below:

First show in 2012
Second show in 2014
Third show also in 2014
Fourth show in spring of 2015
Fifth show in the summer of 2015
Sixth show in summer 2016 along with Saucy!
Seventh show was also during summer 2016
Eight show was December 2016
Ninth show was July 2017
Tenth show was in August 2017

Enjoy.

jh

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

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It’s Hard To Be Humble: Mac Davis
I Get A Kick Out Of You: Tony Bennett

Fireworks: First Aid Kit
Fourth of July: Dave Alvin
A Change is Gonna Come: The Gits

Lauson’s Set
Chicago: Frank Sinatra
I Just Called To Say I Love You: Stevie Wonder
Shadowboxer: Fiona Apple

Only Son Of A Ladies Man: Father John Misty
Drown In My Own Tears: Ray Charles
Ain’t No Sunshine: Bill Withers
Starman: David Bowie

In Every Dream Home A Heartache: Roxy Music
Pray For Me: G-Eazy
Lilac Wine: Nina Simone
Hallelujah: Jeff Buckley

Business: Eminem
Hello Goodbye: The Beatles
Senorita: Ovarian Trolley

Body Behavior: Ty Segall and White Fence
Girls: Beastie Boys

My Thang: James Brown
Happy Boy: Beat Farmers

Hell’s Kitchen Radio #322: Crazy As It Seems

November 30, 10am

– John Hell

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Having spent almost 30 years in community radio, I’ve seen plenty of fresh young faces cross into the medium, where I have been asked to train them in the technical aspects of running the board, as well as how to announce during a mic break. There is an art to this. There is a flow. More often than not I am in the flow. I certainly know when I’m not. I tell the new DJ when it comes to the mic break, just do the business (back announce what you played, read a PSA, front announce and get off mic). Once you have more time in the studio under your belt, then you can wax poetic about the artist you just played and the label they are on, and connect it to some current issue, or talk about the band that’s coming to town and the place they’re playing and some history connected to the label you’re about to play. All of this takes time and experience.

I trained a new DJ on my recent show: Johnny Fuzz; no relation. His set is labeled below. Great guy, great choices. He’ll be getting a show soon, so please show him some love and tune in.

My next show is pretty timely. I call it “Statutory Rock”! You can only guess what I’ll be playing.

Finally, send some healing thoughts to Hell’s Kitchen Radio alum, and legendary rock poster artist, Ron “Rotten Ronnie” Donovan. He’s in the hospital with lived failure after living the life of a rock start, too hard, for too long. We love you Rotten Ronnie. Don’t make me host a tribute to you any time soon.

Check out the playlist below and click the stream or download button above to enjoy this great show. There’s some kind of tribute??? to Charles Manson at the beginning.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Never Learn to Love: Beach Boys
Cease to Exist: Charles Manson
Mayla: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes

20th Century Boy: Ty Segall
Destination Unknown: Missing Persons

Kings Lead Hat: Brian Eno
The Eureka Garbage Lady: GTO’s

***Johnny Fuzz Set***
Caroline: Chrome
Allas Sak: Dungen

Vitamin D: Can
We Are Time: The Pop Group
I Don’t Like Linoleum: The Dancing Cigarettes
Creature That I Am: Cool Ghouls

Lucid I Would Dream: Miranda Lee Richardson
***John Hell***
Raw Optics: Oh Sees

Timid Scripts: HRVRD
Warm Piston: Monomen
She’s Got Balls: AC/DC
The Bomber: Joe Walsh and Barnstorm (09-24-73 Arlington, TX)

The Beacon: Golden Void
Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite (Take 4): The Beatles
Bad As Me: Tom Waits

Jesus Didn’t Die For Me: Rube Waddell
Sugaree: Grateful Dead (May 6, 1978 Patrick Gym, U of Vermont)

Hell’s Kitchen Radio #318: It’s Much Too Much

October 9, 9pm

– John Hell

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Is he or isn’t he? Apparently he is. Dang. I saw Tom Petty three times in the late 80s and early 90s, including the very first Bridge School benefit in 1986, which is the only one I attended. I also was able to see him with Lenny Kravitz opening (the Let Love Rule tour). Petty always put on such a great show. I gave up going to shows in large venues many years ago, but I always felt that I seeing Petty again would be fun, regardless of the size of the venue.

There are few artists I would see in a large venue today. I would see Neil Young in a large venue if Crazy Horse was backing him. Other than that I prefer a venue ranging from a size 50-1500 people. The more intimate the better.

Speaking of an intimate setting, my bride took me to see Oh Sees (no more “Thee”) last week at the Great American Music Hall. Not only was it a brilliant show, it was without a doubt, the loudest show I have ever been to. Even guitarist/lead singer John Dwyer was heard to ask if that show wasn’t louder than the previous night’s? I’m seeing them again in December at The Chapel. Get your tickets before they sell out.

best venue in SF:

Last night I was lucky enough to catch what has been marked as the “Last Polka” of the great SF punk-polka band, Polkacide, at Bottom of the Hill. After 30+ years they’re hanging up their lederhosen. I spent a good 30 minutes in the polkapit. and boy did I feel it. The four original members are grandparent age now, and I’m guessing that having 10 people in the band makes it difficult to make the scene too often. I’m hoping for an annual reunion at the very least.

On a completely unrelated note, my bride Catherine gave birth to our little boy, Bodhi Miles Hell this past Thursday! We couldn’t be more excited about this fella coming into our lives. I’ll be taking a few weeks off from my show so I can be home with the little fella, fitting him with black t-shirts and guitar picks, and singing to him my favorite Melvis and Grateful Dead tunes. I can’t wait to have him and Little Lauson Hell both in the studio with me in the years to come.

Check out the playlist below. There’s a live Tom Petty tribute, new music from Ty Segall and Oh Sees, as well as Boris. Lots of great live treats in there as well.

Enjoy.

jh

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

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Porno: Limbomaniacs
Pan: Ty Segall

Plastic Plant: Thee Oh Sees (September 28, 2017 Great American Music Hall, SF, CA)
Jack the Ripper: Link Wray

Young, Gifted and Black: Aretha Franklin
Radebe: Johnny Dyani
Dead Flowers: Townes Van Zandt
Rise Up With Fists: Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins

American Girl: Tom Petty (April 23, 1977 The Record Plant, Sausalito, CA)
Even the Losers/The Waiting/So You Want To Be A Rock and Roll Star: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Bob Dylan (June 26, 1986 HHH Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN)
Something in the Air: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Keys to the Castle: Thee Oh Sees
Dystopia-Vanishing Point: Boris

Ride Into the Sun: The Velvet Underground
My Favorite Things: John Coltrane (October 26, 1963 Tivoli Koncertsal, Copenhagen)

I Loved Another Woman: Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (June 9, 1968, Carousel Ballroom, SF, CA)

When Prince died I shared this video everywhere. Now that Petty has left us I think it bares reposting.

Hell’s Kitchen Radio #313: So’s Your Face

August 24, 6pm

– John Hell

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Lauson spent the night in Hell’s Kitchen this past Monday night and was more than her usual kooky self. Little Lauson Hell is about to enter 8th grade and I’m not really certain how I feel about all this growing up stuff. She knows that when it comes to the playlist to make make her choices a wee bit more left of maintstream. That being said, she’s her father’s daughter: she just knows what she likes. Almost all of her selections (designated by “L”) are fairly outside the norm of what a 12 year old probably listens to. Does your kid flip for Nina Simone?

Some new music from Ty Segall from an oddly digital-only release (where’s the vinyl, Ty?), and Dale Crover has graced us with what he claims is his first full-length solo effort, Fickle Finger of Fate, but I consider the classic Kiss-style Melvins solo EP of his to be his real first solo release. Whatever. Speaking of the Melvins, their documentary, Colossus of Destiny is now out on DVD and Blu-Ray and we’re all better for it. I saw the film at a s showing at the Swedish-American Hall in SF last Fall and the boys performed an acoustic set and did a Q&A following the film. It’s chock full of great interviews and music. Check it out!

I’ve got way too much music to share with you this coming Monday night. Two hours really isn’t enough time, but it’ll have to do. See you on the “radio”.

If you care to check out the previous shows featuring Little Lauson Hell check out the links below:

First show in 2012
Second show in 2014
Third show also in 2014
Fourth show in spring of 2015
Fifth show in the summer of 2015
Sixth show in summer 2016 along with Saucy!
Seventh show was also during summer 2016
Eight show was December 2016
Ninth show was July 2017

Enjoy.

jh

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

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