KOOP Stronger Than Dirt

17/12/2025

Cover art of the week: Vaguess (pronounced “Vegas”) is the “band” name for the Los Angeles based musician Vinny Earley. He has been releasing music since the mid 10s, and for each album he plays and records all of the instruments, mixes and masters, and does the artwork. The essence of DIY. For this year’s “Another Man’s Treasure” album (one of my favorites from 2025) on Refry Records, he used a cardboard construction that he had made for his mother last Christmas.

15/12/2025

This week's Dusty Diamond: (a forgotten gem from the STD vaults): Holly Golightly Is a British singer-songwriter who got her start as a member of Thee Headcoatees. In 1994 she embarked on a solo career, though she continued with Thee Headcoatees until they disbanded in 1999. To date she has released 13 studio albums and has collaborated with various artists like Billy Childish, the White Stripes and film director Jim Jarmusch. “Waiting Room” is a brooding, simmering garage burner that showcases Golightly’s world-weary vocals and a smoking guitar break. It appeared in 1996 on the “Girl in the Shower” single on Super Electro Records. Listen to it here:

Provided to YouTube by The state51 ConspiracyWaiting Room · Holly GolightlySingles Round-Up℗ 2001 Damaged Goods RecordsReleased on: 2018-05-18Music Publishe...

14/12/2025

You can listen to last night's show here.

Some featured artists on this week’s Stronger Than Dirt include the Peanut Butter Conspiracy, Flys, Lio, Standing Waves, Units, Polyrock, Poison 13, Holly Golightly, Ladytron, whirlpool bath Boys as well as lots of new music.

14/12/2025

Here's the playlist from last night's show.

13/12/2025

Some featured artists on tonight's show include the Peanut Butter Conspiracy, Flys, Lio, Standing Waves, Units, Polyrock, Poison 13, Ladytron, whirlpool bath Boys as well as the weekly Dusty Diamond. Also new music by Yalla Miku, Snõõper, Wet Leg, Dr Sure's Unusual Practice, Big Bill, Ganser, Richard Root and the Fancy Band, Xray Xeroxx, and Golf Dolls. That's tonight at 8 CST right after The Clear Spot on KOOP Radio 91.7 in Austin and streaming worldwide at koop.org. (Pictured from top left clockwise: Ladytron, Lio, Units, Poison 13, whirlpool bath Boys, Peanut Butter Conspiracy)

12/12/2025

Spread the word! It's time for another Stronger Than Dirt name the band contest. The first person to correctly identify (in comments) the band that provided this week's pilfered promo art will receive a rib-tickling, side-splitting, completely slap happy shout-out on tomorrow night's show. For this week's contest, recent winners might want to hold back a bit to allow others at a shot of STD fame. Good luck! (Edit: Congrats to Sun Mccolgin for correctly IDing Poison 13. Promo art from their 1985 “First You Dream…” album on Wrestler Records. Cover by Jean Jordan.)

10/12/2025

Cover art of the week: Polyrock were a NYC based post punk new wave band with a minimalist sound. They included Bobby Robertson on vocals and guitar, a former member of another cool NYC band, Model Citizens. Formed in 1978 they were active until 1983, releasing three albums and a few singles. Their second album, “Changing Hearts” was produced by Phillip Glass, who also added some keyboards. It was released in 1981 on RCA Victor and featured a cover design by Robertson.

08/12/2025

This week's Dusty Diamond (a vintage gem from the STD vaults): The The A Frames were a prominent band in the Seattle post-punk scene of the early 00’s. They started out in the late 90s as Bend Sinister and then changed their name after Swedish guitarist Lars Finberg joined. They released several albums and singles between the years 2000 and 2005. “Calculator" is a dark, throbbing pounder (danceable!) with heavy bass, scratchy, angular guitar, and appropriately robotic and somewhat dystopian vocals. It appeared in 2002 on their first full-length album, a self-titled co-release on the S-S and Dragnet labels. Listen to it here:

Find it here: https://www.discogs.com/A-Frames-A-Frames/master/208363

07/12/2025

You can listen to last night's show here.

Some featured artists on this week’s Stronger Than Dirt include the Equals, Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and the Trinity, Iron Virgin, Soft Boys, Teardrop Explodes, Hilly Michaels (RIP), Screaming Blue Messiahs, Primal Scream, Vermillion Sands as well as lots of new music.

06/12/2025

Some featured artists on tonight's show include the Equals, Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and the Trinity, Iron Virgin, Soft Boys, Teardrop Explodes, Hilly Michaels (RIP), Screaming Blue Messiahs, Primal Scream, Vermillion Sands as well as the weekly Dusty Diamond. Also new music by Tacoblaster, Big Bill, Richard Root and the Fantastic Band, Lovely Eggs, Heather the Jerk, Retail Giant, Rowdy, and Xray Xeroxx. That's tonight at 8 CST right after The Clear Spot on KOOP Radio 91.7 in Austin and streaming worldwide at koop.org. (Pictured from top left clockwise: Equals, Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and the Trinity, Teardrop Explodes, Iron Virgin, Vermillion Sands, Primal Scream)

06/12/2025

Here's my list for favorite albums of the last year. This is always a very difficult task, when there are SO many cool albums to choose from. To all of the bands and musicians out there, THANK YOU for making so much great music and providing an enjoyable distraction from world and national events of the last year. You rock!

Today’s Best of 2025 Top 5 list comes from Scott Gardner, host of Stronger Than Dirt (Saturday 8pm-10). Party sounds since 1994!