The Embarrassment
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226079255
2008-07-16T19:03:36Z
Ohnoitsjamie
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/72.166.46.129|72.166.46.129]] ([[User talk:72.166.46.129|talk]]) to last version by 67.184.76.152
[[Image:Mini-death-front.jpg|thumb|Death Travels West EP, Fresh Sounds 1983]]
'''The Embarrassment''' were a quartet formed in [[Wichita, Kansas | Wichita]], [[Kansas]] that lasted from 1979 to 1983. They were: guitarist Bill Goffrier, lead singer and organist John Nichols, bassist Ron Klaus and drummer Brent Giessmann. Although some people considered the band [[punk rock]], the band itself liked to describe themselves as "Blister Pop." The [[Village Voice]]'s long-time chief music critic, [[Robert Christgau]], called them a "great lost American band." ([http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=1425&name=The+Embarrassment])
The band stopped performing when two of the members moved to [[Boston, Massachusetts | Boston]]. Giessmann drummed for [[The Del Fuegos]], and Goffrier formed the band Big Dipper with former members of the [[Volcano Suns]]. Several of The Embarrassment's unreleased songs were recorded by [[Big Dipper (band)|Big Dipper]], including "Faith Healer," which was later covered by Japanese all-girl group [[Shonen Knife]].
The "Embos," as fans call them, have played several reunion concerts in the years since, the latest being in August, 2006, when they played shows in [[Lawrence, Kansas]] and Wichita, Kansas.
Kansas-born political writer [[Thomas Frank]] quoted lyrics from their song "Sex Drive" in his bestselling 2004 book ''[[What's the Matter with Kansas?]]'' (page 57 of the paperback edition).
==2006 Reunion==
The Embarrassment played two reunion shows in August 2006.
Friday/Saturday August 18/19, 2006
The Roadhouse, [[Wichita, KS]]
(with special guests [http://www.myspace.com/localband Local Band] on Friday; [http://www.myspace.com/thesluggos The Sluggos] on Saturday)
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Liberty Hall, [[Lawrence, KS]]
(with special guests [http://www.killcreek.com/ Kill Creek] and The Mortal Micronotz)
==Discography==
*1980 - Sex Drive/Patio Set (Big Time - 7")
*1981 - The Embarrassment EP (Cynykyl Records - 12" 45 rpm)
*1983 - Death Travels West (Fresh Sounds - mini LP)
*1984 - The Embarrassment Retrospective (Fresh Sounds - cassette)
*1987 - The Embarrassment LP (Time To Develop)
*1990 - God Help Us LP and CD (Bar/None)
*1995 - Hey Day 1979-83 Double CD (Bar/None)
*2001 - Blister Pop CD ([[My Pal God Records| My Pal God]])
====Compilations====
*1981 - Fresh Sounds From Mid America Volume 1 (Fresh Sounds - cassette)
*1981 - Battle of The Garages Volume 1 ([[Bomp! Records]])
*1981 - Sub Pop 5 ([[Sub Pop]] - cassette)
*1982 - Sub Pop 7 (Sub Pop - cassette)
*1988 - Human Music ([[Homestead Records| Homestead]])
*1989 - Time For A Change ([[Bar/None Records| Bar/None]])
==External links==
*[http://www.bar-none.com/bios/embarbio.html Brief article on The Embarrassment, with discography]
*http://www.mypalgodrecords.com/embarrassment.shtml My Pal God page on The Embarrassment's authorized [[Bootleg recording|bootleg]] "Blister Pop"
*http://www.embarrassment.org/ Unofficial The Embarrassment website
*http://www.myspace.com/theembarrassment The Embarrassment page on MySpace
*http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/embos/ embos: The Embarrassment Appreciation Society (Yahoo! Groups)
[[Category:Early punk groups|Embarrassment, The]]
[[Category:American punk rock groups|Embarrassment, The]]
[[Category:Kansas musical groups|Embarrassment, The]]