The Specs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Specs | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Lincoln, Nebraska, USA |
| Genre(s) | Pop New Wave Cover band |
| Years active | 1978–1980 |
| Associated acts | The Click Hymn to Joy The Dial Tones For Against |
The Specs was a New Wave cover band from Lincoln, Nebraska, featuring a teenage Matthew Sweet, that played together from 1978–1980.
Contents |
[edit] History
Sweet grew up in Lincoln in a musical family, and as a child he learned to play multiple instruments; by his early teens he was already a very proficient bass player, having practiced the complicated bass lines of Yes records for hours every day.[1][2] When he was in the eighth[1] or ninth[2] grade, he met some of the Specs' other band members, who were all college students, at a music store. The band had previously been called Spectrum and had been covering Top 40 songs.[2] As the Specs, they started performing more New Wave and 1960s music, playing songs by bands such as the Jam, the Vibrators, the Yardbirds and the Who.[2]
Although they were a cover band, in 1980 they did release one original song, written by Sweet, called "Look Out Girl (You Need a Direction)," on the compilation The KFMQ Homegrown Album.[3][4]
| “Look Out Girl (You Need a Direction)” | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Song by The Specs | ||
| Album | The KFMQ Homegrown Album | |
| Released | 1980 | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Length | 3:32 | |
| Writer | Matthew Sweet | |
| Audio sample | ||
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[edit] Members
- Rick Morris – guitar[3][5][6]
- Sara Kovanda – vocals, keyboards[3][5][6]
- Matthew Sweet – bass guitar[3][5][6]
- Don Holmquist – drums[3][5][6]
- Jeff Runnings – keyboards (final line-up)[5][6]
- John Link – bass guitar[6]
- Dave Snider[6]
[edit] After the Specs
The Specs broke up in 1980.[5][6] Rick Morris and Sara Kovanda went on to join the band Dick Tracy, which would later become the Click,[5][6][7] and which became a popular, influential New Wave band in the Lincoln music scene.[8][9] Kovanda now works as a painter in Lincoln.[10] Jeff Runnings became a member of Hymn to Joy;[5][11][12] since 1984 he has been in For Against.[7][13] Matthew Sweet joined the Dial Tones,[5][7] as well as doing Hymn to Joy's early recordings.[11] In 1983, Sweet left Lincoln to be part of the Athens, Georgia music scene and became a member of Oh-OK, Community Trolls and the Buzz of Delight,[1][2] before going on to have a successful solo career. Don Holmquist currently plays in the Lincoln-based Blues Orchestra.[14]
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c To Understand: The Early Recordings of Matthew Sweet liner notes.
- ^ a b c d e Cost, Jud. "Sweet Emotion" Interview with Matthew Sweet, reprinted from The BOB magazine #46, September 1993. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
- ^ a b c d e Matthew Sweet Discography: Compilations of Various Artists. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
- ^ McMahan, Tim. "The Return of Matthew Sweet": Interview with Matthew Sweet, reprinted from The Omaha Reader, October 27, 2004. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Encyclopedia of Lincoln Bands O–Z. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Lincoln Music History Part 01: The Specs, The Click Lincolnzine, 2003 edition. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
- ^ a b c Encyclopedia of Lincoln Bands A–F. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
- ^ Homework: American DIY/punkwave/no wave/postpunk/experimental: 1976–1984. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
- ^ Women take stage, their audience by surprise. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
- ^ Sara Kovanda's website. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
- ^ a b Encyclopedia of Lincoln Bands G–N. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
- ^ Lincoln Music History Part 01: Hymn to Joy Lincolnzine, 2003 edition. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
- ^ For Against's Official Website. Retrieved on 2008-02-22.
- ^ Blues Orchestra, Lincoln, NE. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
