Love in the food court. Heartbreak on the Sunset Strip. This week, we honor Valley Girl (1983)—the film, the myth, the neon-drenched fever dream—and the bands that made it shimmer.

We’ve got Josie Cotton, The Plimsouls, Sparks, Bonnie Hayes, and some present-day weirdos keeping the eyeliner spirit alive.

Come for the mall music. Stay for the dive bar dreams. And maybe cry a little in the parking lot.

🔗. Links:

Bomp! Records

Big Stir Records

S.W. Lauden on Substack

Austin Pets Alive!

World Central Kitchen

🎧 Today's Tracks:

The Jive- Heart O' Gold

Steve Allen- In + Out of the Light

The Cle Elum- Something In The Water

Earth Quake- Fever Dream

Powerslide- Primadonna

Josie Cotton- Everything Is Oh Yeah

Sparks- Nothing Is As Good As They Say It Is

Bonnie Hayes- Still Wild

The Plimsouls- 12 O'Clock Midnight

The Chelsea Curve- Kindawanna

Beauty- Acid Baby Girl

Popsicko- No Better Time

Hobsons Bay Coast Guard- Monsoon

THE ROOKS- Maybe

Peter Holsapple- Fireflies

The Beths- No Joy

The Meanies- Zamboni

The Callbirds- Love Leftover (Radio Mix)

The Airport 77s- Don't Let Go

This week on Pop Rocks Radio, we’re celebrating Scott McCaughey with music from Young Fresh Fellows and The Minus 5, plus we've got tracks from R.E.M., SEXFACES, Mustard Service, and more — delivering a sonic ride from indie rock to punk to pure pop. 🌟

Our Movie of the Week is the 1987 classic Back to the Beach 🎬 . Pee-Wee Herman and Stevie Ray Vaughan in the same movie? Where do I sign???

Thanks for listening!

🔗 Links:

Bomp Records

Big Stir Records

Live on KEXP

Today's Tracks:

Jesika Von Rabbit- Go Back to L.A.

20/20- Backyard Guys

SEXFACES- FEED MACHINE

Mustard Service- Going Nowhere

Kathy Valentine- We Don't Get Along (feat. Rhett Miller)

R.E.M.- Living Well Is the Best Revenge

Young Fresh Fellows- This Little Mystery

Young Fresh Fellows- How Much About Last Night Do You Remember?

The Minus 5- In the Ground

The Minus 5- We Shall Not Be Released

Hayley and the Crushers- Unsubscribe

The Replacements- Lay It Down Clown

Testors- Let's Get Zooed Out (1977)

Peter Baldrachi- Sometimes I Just Gotta Get Away

Barry Walsh- Suddenly June

You Am I- Cathy's Clown

The Last- Looking At You

Splitsville- Beth Steel

The Autumn Hearts- Mr Sunshine

Brian Wilson- Melt Away

Buckle up for Pop Rocks Radio Episode 46, where power pop, punk, and indie collide in a glorious mix of unapologetic weirdness. We’re also diving into The Spirit of '76, a film about the beautiful, chaotic, colorful mess that was the 1970s.

Our featured artist this week is Redd Kross – a band as whimsical as it is genre-defying, consistently delivering offbeat, timeless rock that never fails to surprise and delight.

This episode has it all: ghosts, vampires, Pop Rocks (the non-radio one), and the metric system—because why not?

🎥 Movie of the Week: The Spirit of '76

🎙️ Today's Tracks:

Yee Loi- Ghost Of Vegas

20/20- Fast Car (Remix Version)

Muck & the Mires- Because of You

Hutchie- The Summer Your Dog Died

The Bablers- One Of Those Dreams

The Jive- Shoulda Known Better

The ChrisVandalay Project- This Modern Age

Drugs In Sport- Frequently Sideways

The Jack Knives- Heartbreak Queen

Broadway Calls- Back to Oregon

The Bouncing Souls- United

Redd Kross- Annette's Got the Hits

Redd Kross- Blow You a Kiss in the Wind

Redd Kross- Shonen Knife

Redd Kross- Vanity Mirror

Redd Kross- Dracula's Daughters

Davey Lane- Never Ever Comin' Back Again

Cosmo Topper- For... The Time Being

Nelson Bragg- Forever Days

Welcome to another episode of Pop Rocks Radio! I'm your host, Bijan. Hard to believe we can fit so much goodness into just over an hour — but we did it! This week, we've got killer tracks from The Beths, The Muffs, Hoodoo Gurus, Linkwells, and more.

Our featured artist is L.A. music scene mainstay Morley Bartnoff, and we’re spinning songs from his work with Cosmo Topper, Burning Sensations, and Dramarama. And yes — no episode is complete without a track from my favorite band, 20/20.

If you are able, please consider supporting Women Who Rock and their incredible work promoting women in music, health, and empowerment.

Also — if you’re not already doing so, try listening on Fountain where you can support the show directly by sending boosts. And don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel for more music content and extras.

Thanks for listening and supporting the show!

Movie of the Week:

Thunder Alley (1985)

Links:

Bomp! Records

Big Stir Records

Today's Tracks:

Motorbike – Quite Nice

20/20 – We Can Fly

The Beths – Metal

Shannon & The Clams – Wax & String

Hammerbox – Trip

The Muffs – Saying Goodbye

Movieland – Just a Second

MilkMaiden – King for a Day

Cosmo Topper – The Law of Attraction

Burning Sensations – Belly of the Whale

Dramarama – What’s Your Sign?

Linkwells – For The First Time

The Greenberry Woods – Parachute

Tsar – I Don’t Wanna Break-Up

Crossword Smiles – Falling All Over Myself

MonkeyCat – No Sense

Hoodoo Gurus – My Girl

The Churchills – Everybody Gets What They Deserve

Welcome and thanks for joining us here on Pop Rocks Radio! As always, I am your host, Bijan. As I hope you've come to expect, we have some great music for you today with tracks from The Alarm, Taxi Girls, The Minus 5, The Bangles, The Stems, and so much more! And of course, no episode would be complete without a song by my favorite band, 20/20.

Thanks for listening and supporting the show! And check out our YouTube channel, as well!

Movie of the Week:

The Alarm - Spirit of '86

Links:

Bomp! Records

Big Stir Records

Today's Tracks:

Greg Antista and the Lonely Streets – Black and Blue

20/20 – Solid Ground

Nelson Bragg – We’re Gonna Laugh About It

Taxi Girls – The Lion’s Share

Rinehearts – Powerlines

The Alarm – Marching On

The Bangles – September Gurls

Susanna Hoffs – Under a Cloud

Susanna Hoffs & Matthew Sweet – She May Call You Up Tonight

Matthew Sweet – Stars Explode

Vicki Peterson & John Cowsill - Downtown

The Minus 5 – Let the Rope Hold, Cassie Lee

The Runaways – American Nights

The Boys – Terminal Love

The Dickies – (I’m Stuck In a Pagoda With) Tritia Toyota

Ty Segall – Possession

The Stems – Under Your Mushroom

The Cowsills – Some Good Years