KOOP Stronger Than Dirt

02/08/2025

Some featured artists on tonight's show include Liz Brady, Big Boy Pete, Stranglers, Joy Division, Au Pairs, Salford Jets (RIP Diccon Hubbard), Units, Thee Headcoatees, Ganser, as well as the weekly Dusty Diamond. Also new music by Reine Des Lézards, R.M.F.C., Yuasa-Exide, Boo/Hiiss, Attic Ted, Chronophage, and Eddy Current Suppression Ring. That's tonight at 8 right after The Clear Spot on KOOP Radio 91.7 and streaming at koop.org. (Pictured from top left clockwise: Au Pairs, Thee Headcoatees, Salford Jets, Units, Big Boy Pete, Ganser)

01/08/2025

I'm back, and it's Friday, so let's do a name the band thingie. The first person to correctly identify (in comments) the band that provided me with this week's pilfered promo art will receive a deconstructed post modern shout-out on tomorrow night's show. Previous winners are free to hold off for a bit. Good luck! (Edit: Congrats to Patrick Healey for correctly IDing Tartan Horde, Nick Lowe's Bay City Rollers joke band. Original art from their 1975 “Bay City Rollers We Love You” single on Liberty Records. Artwork is uncredited.)

30/07/2025

Thee Headcoatees were a British all-female garage band that formed in 1991 and lasted until 1999. Backed by Medway garage rock stalwarts Thee Headcoats, they performed mostly Billy Childish compositions as well as various 60s covers. Their second album, “Have Love Will Travel,” featured a front cover photo by Eugene Doyen of the band in their signature deerstalker caps. It was released in 1992 on the Vinyl Japan label.

29/07/2025

This week's Dusty Diamond (a vintage gem from the STD vaults): The Checkers were a Los Angeles based p***y power poppy band with a sound not unlike Nikki and the Corvettes. They were active from the early 00s through the early 10s and released two albums and a few singles. “Is He In?” is a punchy power popper with a catchy melody with Corvette like vocals.It appeared in 2003 on their “Make a Move” album on Teenacide Records. Listen to it here:

Track 1 from the 2003 album "Make A Move".

29/07/2025

Thanks to Jenny for filling in me while I was away! If you missed it, you can listen to it and check out her playlist here:

Stronger Than Dirt airs every Saturday night from 8-10 CST/CDT on KOOP Radio. Host Scott Gardner showcases high energy underground and alternative "rock" and

20/07/2025

You can listen to last night's show here.

Some featured artists on this week’s Stronger Than Dirt include the Misunderstood, Silver Apples, Brats, Devo, Animals & Men, Woodentops, Stereolab, Royal Trux, whirlpool bath Boys, as well as lots of new music..

20/07/2025

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

19/07/2025

Some featured artists on tonight's show include the Misunderstood, Silver Apples, Brats, Devo, Animals & Men, Woodentops, Stereolab, Royal Trux, whirlpool bath Boys, as well as the weekly Dusty Diamond. Also, new music by Graphic Violets, Egg Girl Girl, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Water Machine, Dr. Sure's Unusual Practice, Boo/Hiss, Big Bill, Reine Des Lézards, and Metdog. That's tonight at 8 CDT right after The Clear Spot on KOOP Radio 91.7 and streaming at koop.org. (Pictured from top left clockwise: Devo, Brats, Royal Trux, Misunderstood, Animals & Men, Stereolab)

18/07/2025

It's time for your Friday afternoon STD name the band contest! The first person to correctly identify the band that provided this week's pilfered promo art will receive a top-shelf artisanal shout-out on tomorrow night's show. As always, previous winners may choose to hold off for a bit. Thanks and good luck! (Edit: Congrats to Ryan Brush for correctly IDing Royal Trux. Promo art from their 1993 “Back to School” single on Drag City. Original design and photo are uncredited.)

18/07/2025

This is a great live-ish video of Thee Headcoatees from probably around 1993 or thereabouts. It's also a fine example of what appealed to me so much about the 90s garage scene. The emphasis was on fun, on the party vibe (and, well, drinking). Yes, it was often derivative and under produced, and the costumes/uniforms could be a bit silly, but for me personally, it offered a nice contrast with the more serious 90s sub genres like grunge and emo.

excelente version en vivo por las diosas de the headcoatees by alitofiles

17/07/2025

This is an amazing reminder of what a great live band Devo was; and that they were a guitar based band in the early days. I saw them a year later during the Freedom of Choice tour, and they had gone mostly synth, which was also great. But I LUV this punkier version of the band. Just brilliant.

Well someone had to do it eventually.

16/07/2025

Cover art of the week: Cannibale are a French indie rock band, originally from Normandy but now based in Paris. Since 2016 they have released three albums, several “mixtapes” as well as a couple of singles and still play out on occasion. Their first album, “No Mercy for Love,” was released in 2017 on Born Bad Records. It featured artwork by band member Nicolas Camus.