Squirtgun

Squirtgun is an American punk rock band from Lafayette, Indiana formed by record producer Mass Giorgini in 1993.

History

1993–1998

Squirtgun originally consisted of Mass Giorgini (Bass, Vocals), Matt Hart (Vocals, Guitar), Flav Giorgini (Guitar), and Dan Lumley (Drums). The band signed to Lookout! Records and their first release was the EP Shenanigans, in the Spring of 1995, followed by their self-titled debut album that fall. Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, recommended Squirtgun to Jeff Saltzman, the music advisior for the then-upcoming Kevin Smith film "Mallrats". Squirtgun's song "Social" was featured in the opening credits of Mallrats and appeared on the film's soundtrack.

In 1996 the band released their second EP, Mary Ann, a tribute to the character from Gilligan's Island. A video was filmed for the title track, and featured an appearance from Mary Ann herself, actress Dawn Wells. The video was released in the Spring of 1997 and shown on MTV's 120 Minutes and put into regular rotation on MTV2.

Squirtgun's second full-length, Another Sunny Afternoon, was also released in the Spring of '97. Several songs from Another Sunny Afternoon were featured in major motion pictures and TV shows, including "Come On Let's Go" in The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave, "You're the Greatest" on Fox Television Network's Clueless sitcom, "My Jeannette" in the Disney film My Date with the President's Daughter and "Hey Louise" in the Disney film Alley Cats Strike.

Hiatus

In the Fall of 1998, Squirtgun went on a hiatus in order to pursue other interests and other band projects.

Mass and Dan joined Screeching Weasel, recording the albums Major Label Debut, Television City Dream, Emo, and Teen Punks In Heat. The two also formed Common Rider with singer/guitarist Jesse Michaels (formerly of Operation Ivy), releasing two full-length albums, the self-titled and This is Unity Music and touring extensively in 2002. Dan also drummed on albums by the Mopes, The Methadones, The Riverdales, The Riptides, and Even In Blackouts.

Mass also began teaching Italian Studies at Purdue University in West Lafayette, followed by earning a Master's degree in Spanish Language & Literature. He later entered the Ph.D. program in Spanish Literature with a focus on the Golden Age. He has since appeared at several academic conferences and has published book chapters and articles in literary and scholarly journals. He is currently a Humanities Faculty member at Ivy Tech Community College in Lafayette, Indiana and continues to produce albums for several international recording artists.

Matt received his MFA in creative writing and began teaching in the Academic Studies Department at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, a four year college of Art and Design. His poems and reviews have been published in numerous literary journals, including Conduit, Ploughshares, and Spinning Jenny. He is the editor ofForklift, Ohio: A Journal of Poetry, Cooking & Light Industrial Safety.

Flav also took an academic route, earning a Ph.D. degree in molecular genetics and publishing manuscripts in several respected scientific journals, including Development and Molecular and Cellular Biology. He also founded guitarpunk.com and the GPC guitar company, designing original guitars used by bands such as Alkaline Trio, Screeching Weasel, The Queers, Allister and many more.

Matt Leonard was a 3-year member of Squirtgun who sang lead vocals on two songs he wrote for Squirtgun's Another Sunny Afternoon album, "Hey Louise" and "My Jeannette." (both songs were featured on Disney Movies, "My Date With The Presidents Daughter" and "Alley Cat Strike" In addition, he appeared on the sessions for the Mary Ann EP, White Christmas EP and numerous compilations. Matt Phuzz Leonard was the lead guitarist and lead singer of The Phuzz 1990–2005 (Beach Recordings, Shredder, Spin Records, RCA Records). He is currently rumored to be the frontman/singer of The Maxies (It's Alive Records).

2001–2004

In the summer of 2001, Squirtgun regrouped and began work on the album Fade To Bright, for Honest Don's Records. Fade To Bright was released in the Summer 2003, supported by a US tour. In the Fall of 2003, legendary punk rock drummer Mike Felumlee (Smoking Popes, Alkaline Trio) replaced Dan on drums, and Squirtgun hit the road with The Ataris, Hopesfall, and Planes Mistaken for Stars. Also, in 2003 Squirtgun recorded "Make it wreck", a song with the contribution of the vocalist of Anti-Flag, Geovanny Duran (the vocalist of El Guato, a ska/punk Costa Rican band), and two more important punk rockers. In the spring of 2004, Squirtgun toured the U.K.

2008–present

Squirtgun played their first show in almost 4 years in their hometown of Lafayette on February 9, 2008 at 'The Venue'. Over 400 people attended the show, however almost 600 showed up for the performance; the owners were forced to prevent a large number of people from entering the business because the building was far beyond its safe capacity. It was a benefit show for the local YWCA, featuring the bands original line up, and the concert was recorded and released as a live album titled Broadcast 02.09.08, released by Go Kart Records in December 2008. Squirtgun also appeared at the 2009 Insubordination Fest in Baltimore and played shows with the Teen Idols and 88 Fingers Louie in Chicago and Lafayette, IN. A European tour followed in July 2009, with shows in England, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, and France.

Discography

Albums

• Squirtgun (Lookout! Records)
• Another Sunny Afternoon (Lookout! Records)
• Fade to Bright (Honest Don's/Fat Wreck Chords)
• Broadcast 02.09.08 (Kid Tested/Go-Kart Records)

EPs and Singles

• Shenanigans EP (1995) (Lookout! Records)
• Blue Christmas Single (1995) (Sonic Iguana Records)
• Mary Ann EP (1996) (Lookout! Records)
• White Christmas Single (1997) (Sonic Iguana Records)
• Jingle-Bell Rock Single (1999) (Interpunk Records)
• Live in Italy Split Single with the Real Swinger (2000) (Ballroom Blitz Records)
• Dysfunctional Shadowman Split EP with Teen Idols (2002) (Asian Man Records)

External links

• Official Squirtgun website