Green River Community College’s KGRG 89.9 FM radio station took a step backward Thursday with its newest on-air offering, “The Puget Sound Underground”, hosted by Jeff Stark.

KGRG has long been known for its role in exposing audiences to Seattle grunge bands – such as Nirvana, Mudhoney, Mother Love Bone and Green River – back in the late 1980s. “The Puget Sound Underground”, which airs 3-7 p.m. Thursdays, hearkens to those KGRG early days when the emphasis was on local bands.

“There are a lot of local artists out there grinding, doing what they can,” said Stark, 34. “As musicians, we all want to get heard, whether it’s live, on the radio, or in a ditch somewhere.”

For Stark, it’s a true labor of love. In addition to his role at KGRG as an on-air host and the station’s music director, he’s the lead singer of two local metal bands, Muldoon and Catatone.

“I’m really involved in the local scene also,” he said. “And I’ve always wanted to do something in radio and broadcasting.”

Born in Texas, Stark found himself in Washington after a stint in the Navy. He originally enrolled in the communications program at Shoreline Community College, where he had the chance to intern for the KISW 99.9 FM “Mens Room” show.

“Ben (the Psycho Muppet) from the ‘Mens Room’ was telling me about KGRG,” he said. “I’d never heard of it before, but I checked it out and enrolled.”

Although he’s been on the air for more than a year, Stark said it was time to settle on a format for his Thursday time slot.

The show kicked off with a special guest, Malfunkshun, one of the forefathers of the grunge movement in the Pacific Northwest, live in the studio.

“Obviously everybody knows them from the whole Andy Wood thing,” Stark said.

After founding and playing in Malfunkshun with his brother, Kevin Wood, throughout much of the 1980s, Andy Wood left to form Mother Love Bone, with members of Green River.

After Wood’s death from a heroin overdose in 1990, Mother Love Bone morphed into Pearl Jam.

Stark plans to keep the format of the show similar to its debut, with a featured band coming into the studio each week.

“It’s just a place for local bands to get heard,” he said. “I’m going to stick to anything local, as long as it rocks.”

Stark hopes to expand the radio show and promote local concerts.

Stark is the show’s solo host, but that could change given the right opportunity.

“I’m keeping my eyes open for somebody who might want to come in,” he said. “But I need someone who is kind of aware of the scene. I owe that to the audience.”

With the upswing in the popularity of rock music, Stark expects to attract a large audience.

“Rock was a little dormant for a while compared to what it was like in the ’90s, but I think we’re seeing a big rise in it now.” he said. “The No. 1-ranked show in Seattle now is KISW. They’re back on top. People love their rock.”

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For more information, visit the show’s Facebook page or www.kgrg.com. Submissions from local bands may be sent to KGRG FM, 12401 SE 320th St., Auburn, WA, 98029-3699.