No Choice But Action: The Kansas Postpunk Revolution

No Choice But Action: The Kansas Postpunk Revolution, coming in September 2026 from the University Press of Kansas, aims to recover Kansas' oft-overlooked contributions to American independent and alternative music. It will tell the stories of legendary and should-be-legendary bands  including The Embarrassment, Get Smart!, Micronotz, Start, Short-Term Memory, The Mumbles, The New Wave Brothers, Schloss Tegal, and Abuse, along with others from Wichita, Lawrence, and elsewhere; and it will, among other things, explain why it matters that Ron Klaus wrecked his house.

Yes there was punk in Kansas. And Postpunk. And Indie.

“[They] have thoroughly researched and written a fantastic book about post -punk music in Kansas. They examine the history of zines and institutions like college radio. All to show that pop rebellion in the Midwest was intellectually engaged and smarter than we thought.”
​--Kevin Mattson, author of We’re Not Here to Entertain: Punk Rock, Ronald Reagan, and the Real Culture War of 1980s America

“'Kansans have always been fiercely independent, somewhat rebellious, and difficult to categorize. No Choice but Action: Kansas Postpunk, 1978–1994 captures this essence. Learning about these postpunk bands, fans, and tastemakers from the Sunflower State during a transformative time is one of the quickest ways to understand the true Ad Astra Per Aspera spirit.”
​--Matt Beat, public educator and creator of the Mr. Beat YouTube channel

“This entertaining, copiously researched saga chronicles how a dedicated group of enthusiastic Kansans built enduring underground music scenes in Wichita, Lawrence, and Manhattan with whatever happened to be at hand. Connor and DeFrain take you inside the venues, zines, record labels, and college radio shows of the late 70s and early 80s that made Kansas a pivotal stop for bands touring the country on a shoestring as well as locally grown luminaries like the Embarrassment, Get Smart!, and the Micronotz. You’ve never heard the Sunflower State like this before.”
​--Greg Beets, coauthor of A Curious Mix of People: The Underground Scene of ‘90s Austin