Quick! What do you get when you unite a college professor, a record label owner, a molecular geneticist, and a veteran punk rock record producer? You get pop punk legends Squirtgun! For the last decade, this Lafayette, Ind.-based outfit has been setting the standard for composing songs laden with infectious guitar riffs, sweet harmonies, and poignant lyrics. Don’t believe me? One needs only to watch the opening credits of Kevin Smith’s “Mallrats” for recorded proof.
Squirtgun is very much a DIY (do-it-yourself) band. Guitarist Flav Giorgini, when not publishing his research findings in some of North America’s most respected scientific journals, actually builds the guitars and basses that Squirtgun uses. He also crafts them for folks in other bands. Members of Alkaline Trio, Supersuckers, Danzig, and Monster Magnet swear by Flav’s Giorgini Precision Craft wares.
Bassist Mass Giorgini serves as the band’s resident producer and recording studio facilitator at his own Sonic Iguana. When Mass is not recording his own band, he can be found working with a veritable who’s who of punk rock. Various members of Green Day, Operation Ivy, Amazing Transparent Men, and Screeching Weasel have done time at the downtown Lafayette studio.
New drummer Mike Felumlee hails from punk sensations Alkaline Trio and legendary Chicago outfit the Smoking Popes. He also runs Double Zero Records, whose roster boasts the likes of pop craftsmen Duvall, the indie-pop of Jenny Choi, and Alkaline Trio’s Dan Andriano.
When singer Matt Hart is not freaking out on stage, he edits Forklift, Ohio — a Cincinnati-based zine dedicated to poetry and short stories — and teaches at the prestigious Art Academy of Cincinnati.
Currently on tour with radio darlings the Ataris, Squirtgun has just released
the stunning Fade To Bright via Fat Mike’s (NOFX) label, Honest Don’s.
A defining moment of the band’s work, this album brings together Squirtgun’s
penchant for cleverly written sing-along songs with their friends in Anti-Flag,
the legendary Jawbreaker, the Chinkees, and the aforementioned Ataris.
Squirtgun performs at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at Breadstretchers
with Sin Taxi, All These Pieces, and Miokap. The show is all ages; admission is $5 at the door.
This article appears in Nov 13-19, 2003.
