Smith and
Molly Neuman were introduced by
Calvin Johnson at a
Nation of Ulysses concert in Washington D.C. on December 26, 1990. They agreed to trade zines and kept in touch by letter and phone. When Neuman, along with
Allison Wolfe, visited the city again for spring break in 1991 they asked Smith if she wanted to play music with them. They were initially joined by
Jen Smith and
Christina Billotte in a band they called Bratmobile DC, but Jen Smith and Billotte departed within months. Wolfe, Neuman, and Erin Smith continued on as Bratmobile, playing their first show as a trio at Fort Reno Park in July. The band was active until 1994, when they went on hiatus. During this hiatus, Smith and Wolfe started a new band
Cold Cold Hearts. Bratmobile reformed in 1999, but split again in 2003 after two more albums. Her college major had been Radio, Television, and Film. In May 2000, Smith moved to California and started to work at
Lookout! shortly after, doing radio promotion and reception. Then branching out to radio, video, and tour promotion, and later promoted to promotion director. == With Bratmobile ==