Get Smart! (band)


Get Smart! is a three-piece post-punk band formed in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1980 consisting of Marcus Koch, Lisa Wertman Crowe and Frank Loose. The band released 2 studio albums along with some singles and EPs over a 10-year career. The band re-united in 2020.
WWW getsmartmusic.com

Career

The band formed while at University of Kansas in 1980 and, along with bands like the Embarrassment, and the Mortal Micronotz, they were prominent in the alternative music scene in Lawrence. They released their first record in 1981, which was a flexi disc released with "Talk Talk" magazine. This was followed by a self-released 4-track EP called Words Move. They had 5 songs on the four band split cassette, released by Fresh Sounds Records, called Fresh Sounds From Middle America (vol 1). In 1982 they relocated to Chicago, Illinois. The group were signed by Colin Camerer to his Fever Records label and released their first album, Action Reaction in 1984. Their second album, Swimming with Sharks, was released in 1986 on Enigma Records' "Restless Records" imprint.
The band received considerable coverage in Nebraska's Capitol Punishment fanzine.

Line-Up Changes

In 1987 Bob Lara, from the band Reaction, was added as a second guitarist. Shortly afterwards, Frank Loose left the band. He was originally replaced in 1988 by Ric Menck. Menck only stayed with the band for a short time. He was replaced by Jay Sebastian. Sebastian left the band after about a year, at which they continued as an acoustic trio until they disbanded in 1990.

After Get Smart!

  • Lisa Wertman continued performing with Bob Lara as "The Lisa and Bob Show" for about a year. Then she joined the band Dolly Varden as a founding member. Later she would perform with the Nora O'Connor Band, the Honeybees and Jeanie B and the Jelly Beans, and now plays in Damaged Gods, a Gang of Four tribute.
  • Marcus Koch moved back to Lawrence and currently plays in the country band "Cryin' Out Loud".
  • Bob Lara has played in many local Chicago bands and has participated in several re-unions of his old band "Reaction".
  • Ric Menck went on to form Velvet Crush
  • Jay Sebastian went on to form the "Twang Bang" duo.

Reunion

On February 5, 2020, the band announced via its Facebook page that they would be reuniting, with the original line-up, for a 40th anniversary show, to take place at the Bottleneck in Lawrence, KS on November 7, 2020. The band's first concert was on October 31, 1980. The reunion concern was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and took place on November 6, 2021.

Band members

  • Marcus Koch – guitar, lead vocals
  • Lisa Wertman Crowe – bass, lead vocals
  • Frank Loose – drums, lead vocals
Past members

  • Ric Menck – drums
  • Jay Sebastian – drums
  • Bob Lara – guitar, vocals

Discography

Singles and EPs

Albums

Get Smart! Action Reaction

Compilation appearances

  • Inspiration Series No. 1 – included "On And On"
  • Sub Pop No. 5 – included "Eat, Sleep A Go-Go"
  • Sub Pop No. 7 – included "Black Mirror"
  • Enigma Variations – included "Just For The Moment"
  • Restless Variations – included "Back Into The Future"
  • Heat From The Wind Chill Factory — included "What It Is We Fear"

Reception

  • "one of the few seriously innovative bands in the Lawrence-Kansas City-Topeka area"
  • "original, simple, clean material and an energized, tight performance"
  • "their music has a beat and a fundamentally aggressive quality that is extremely satisfying"
  • "This is what happened to Midwestern bar bands when they heard the Sex Pistols. Lots of beat and jangle; it's raw and rocking"
  • "the band has a truly impressive knack for three-piece writing and arranging. Their new LP, Swimming With Sharks, is full of tense, carefully crafted miniatures that meld unvarnished noise with unexpected pretty vocal harmonies"
  • "Dense minimalist rock featuring choppy guitars, a tight rhythmic thrust, and passionate, often eerie vocals, with stream-of-consciousness lyrics"
  • "Get Smart! has emerged as one of Chicago's most respected underground bands"
  • "Warm pop melodicism competes with punky bluntness and jagged noise tendencies" Swimming With Sharks blends "aggressive dance-punk a la Gang of Four and Pylon with classique-moderne action reminiscent of X and The Embarrassment"