The Smears

The Smears

The Smears are a punk and garage rock group from Indiana, United States. They are associated with riot grrrl and punk rock, and the available description of the band places them within the punk/garage tradition rather than a polished mainstream style. The group consists of Kathleen Gregg, Gretchen Holtz, Elena Pinto and Heather Floyd.

Releases and sound

The Smears release two albums, Love Is Fer Suckers and Like Hell, both issued on Cargo in the 1990s. Their recorded work is described as rough, energetic rock and roll built around strong hooks and direct, confrontational lyrics about what is wrong with life. Their sound combines older and newer strands of punk and rock, with melody used alongside a forceful, guitar-led approach.

Style and performance

The band is described as loud and immediate, with a fronted vocal style that carries conviction and a tight backing group. Their live performance reputation is singled out as an important part of their appeal, with the recordings presented as capturing a band that translates the energy of those shows into album form. The descriptions of the music emphasise an amateur, unpolished character, but one that still has impact and urgency.