In a flurry lasting from 1979 to '83, the Embarrassment erupted out of a Wichita, Kansas, with a powerful concoction of punk energy, pop melody, and uber-nerdy spazziness that they themselves dubbed "Blister Pop." Like the heartland answer to the Buzzcocks, the quartet--featuring vocalist/guitarist Bill Goffrier, vocalist/organist John Nichols, bassist Ronnie Klaus, and drummer Brent Giessman--harnessed the fury of punk for pop songs about love and the mundanities of life. Despite limited success--they recorded mostly EPs and singles in their heyday--the Embarrassment have earned a reputation as one of the best punk bands from the Midwest and were deemed by Village Voice critic Robert Christgau to be the "great lost American band."