The Embarrassment 3971891 226079255 2008-07-16T19:03:36Z Ohnoitsjamie 507787 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]]