Get Smart! (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Headquarters | Lawrence, Kansas , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Get Smart! is a trio originating from Lawrence, Kansas, established in 1980 and consisting of Marcus Koch, Lisa Wertman Crowe, and Frank Loose. Throughout their initial decade together, they produced two full-length albums in addition to several singles and EPs. The group came back together in 2020.
Career
Get Smart! was formed at the University of Kansas in 1980 and quickly became a significant presence in Lawrence’s alternative music landscape, sharing the scene with bands such as the Embarrassment and Mortal Micronotz. Their earliest release appeared in 1981 as a flexi disc distributed with Talk Talk magazine, followed by their independently issued four-track EP titled Words Move. They also contributed five tracks to the split cassette Fresh Sounds From Middle America (vol 1), which featured four bands and was released by Fresh Sounds Records. In 1982, the band moved their base to Chicago, Illinois. Under the guidance of Colin Camerer, they signed with Fever Records, an independent label from Philadelphia, and unveiled their debut album Action Reaction in 1984. Their sophomore album, Swimming with Sharks, was released two years later in 1986 via Enigma Records’ Restless subsidiary.
The band also received notable recognition through Nebraska’s Capitol Punishment fanzine.
Line-Up Changes
In 1987, Bob Lara of Reaction joined Get Smart! as an additional guitarist. Soon after, Frank Loose left the band and was briefly replaced by Ric Menck in 1988. Menck’s stint was short-lived, leading to Jay Sebastian (also known as "Redd Klaats") assuming drumming duties. Following Sebastian’s departure about a year later, the group transitioned into an acoustic trio format before ultimately disbanding in 1990.
After Get Smart!
- Lisa Wertman collaborated with Bob Lara in "The Lisa and Bob Show" for roughly one year before co-founding the band Dolly Varden. She subsequently performed with the Nora O’Connor Band, the Honeybees, Jeanie B and the Jelly Beans, and currently participates in Damaged Gods, a tribute to Gang of Four.
- Marcus Koch returned to Lawrence where he performs with the country ensemble "Cryin' Out Loud".
- Bob Lara remained active within various Chicago-based bands and took part in reunions of "Reaction".
- Ric Menck went on to establish Velvet Crush.
- Jay Sebastian created the duo known as "Twang Bang".
Reunion
On February 5, 2020, Get Smart! announced via Facebook that they would reunite with their original members to celebrate their 40th anniversary with a show at the Bottleneck venue in Lawrence, Kansas, initially planned for November 7, 2020. Their first ever performance had taken place on October 31, 1980. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this reunion concert was postponed and eventually held on November 6, 2021.
Band members
- Marcus Koch – guitar and lead vocals (1980–1990, 2020)
- Lisa Wertman Crowe – bass guitar and lead vocals (1980–1990, 2020)
- Frank Loose – drums and lead vocals (1980–1987, 2020)
Former members
- Ric Menck – drums (1988)
- Jay Sebastian (aka "Redd Klaats") – drums (1988–1989)
- Bob Lara – guitar and vocals (1988–1990)
Singles and EPs
- "Numbers and Colours" / "Ankle Deep In Mud" (1981 flexi disc issued with Talk Talk magazine via Fresh Sounds)
- Words Move (four-track EP released independently on Syntax label in 1981)
- Fresh Sounds from Middle America (vol 1) (split cassette featuring four bands, Fresh Sounds Records, 1981)
- "Back Into The Future" / "World Without End" (live single released in 1985 through Fever/Enigma)
- "Gold To Rust" (45 rpm single released by Enigma Europe in 1987)
- "Oh Yeah No" (six-song EP issued by Capitol Punishment in 2020)
Albums
- Get Smart! (demo tape, 1981)
- Action Reaction (LP, 1984, Fever/Enigma)
- Swimming with Sharks (LP, 1986, Restless/Enigma)
Compilation Appearances
- Inspiration Series No. 1 (German cassette) – "On And On" (alternate take)
- Sub Pop No. 5 – "Eat, Sleep A Go-Go" (from Words Move)
- Sub Pop No. 7 – "Black Mirror" (alternate version)
- Enigma Variations – "Just For The Moment" (from Action Reaction)
- Restless Variations – "Back Into The Future" (from Swimming with Sharks)
- Heat From The Wind Chill Factory – "What It Is We Fear" (acoustic rendition)
Reception
- Described as "one of the few genuinely innovative groups in the Lawrence-Kansas City-Topeka region" by Blake Gumprecht (University Daily Kansan; Dec 15, 1980)
- Praised for "original, straightforward, and polished material paired with a dynamic, tight performance" by Karen Barber (KLZR 106; June 20, 1981)
- John Korst (Jet Lag; Feb 1983) noted their music features "a compelling beat and a fundamentally aggressive edge that delivers great satisfaction"
- Barbara Nellis (Playboy; March 1985) observed that their sound represents what happened when Midwestern bar bands encountered the Sex Pistols, combining strong rhythm and jangly elements in a raw, energetic style
- Renaldo Migaldi (Chicago Reader; 1986) highlighted the band's exceptional skill in three-piece composition and arrangement, stating that their LP Swimming With Sharks consists of tightly constructed pieces blending unrefined noise with surprising vocal harmonies
- Jeff Silberman (Rock It; Fall 1986) described their style as "dense minimalist rock with staccato guitars, precise rhythmic drive, and intense, often haunting vocals accompanied by stream-of-consciousness lyrics"
- Moira McCormick (Illinois Entertainer; September 1986) recognized Get Smart! as one of Chicago's most esteemed and nationally acknowledged underground acts
- Ira Robbins (Trouser Press; 1986) noted a fusion of warm pop melodies with punk bluntness and jagged noise influences in their sound
- Joseph Neff (The Vinyl District; Oct 5, 2021) characterized Swimming With Sharks as merging "forceful dance-punk reminiscent of Gang of Four and Pylon with classic-modern elements akin to X and The Embarrassment"