by Chris Mattern
Squirtgun
– Broadcast 02.09.08 (Kid Tested Records)
I have always wanted to like Squirtgun. There
has always been a burning desire in my heart
to love this band. Unfortunately in my 13
years of attending shows, buying records,
and exploring the world of punk rock, I have
never heard a Squirtgun song that I liked
(aside from the tune at the beginning of Mallrats,
which I finally have a recording of!) I don't
know why I've never been into Squirtgun, and
it has always bothered me. What perplexed
me, what squeezed my brain and wrung it out
like a wet sponge, was that I SHOULD have
liked Squirtgun! Squirtgun doesn't write bad
songs; in fact, they write great songs. For
some reason, I could recognize the value of
the music, but in the end it just didn't make
my head bob and my foot tap.
Even more, I have always appreciated bands
that can pull of playing “simple”
punk rock, and at the same time play their
instruments with mastery and precision. Squirtgun
is just that kind of band, featuring my all-time
favorite Marky Ramone-style drummer, Dan Lumley,
fellow Screeching Weasel alum Mass Giorgini
on bass, and brother Flav Giorgini on lead
guitar. These guys are no jokers as far as
musicianship is concerned. From blast-beat
punk rock, Squirtgun can stop on a dime and
slide right into a ska section, four beats
on the snare, and take off running like a
scared cat back into the fast stuff. Not to
mention, if there were a punk rock hall of
fame, and they handed out life time achievement
awards, Mass Giorgini would damn well be a
recipient. If you grew up in the 90's and
have followed pop punk over the years, pull
yourself away from the computer screen for
a moment and go check out your record/CD collection.
I did this last night out of simple curiosity
and learned that Mass Giorgini has produced
half of what I own. (And that says a lot.)
From the legendary 88 Fingers Louie 10”
"Totin 40's and Fuckin Shit Up"
and The Bollweevils Stick Your Neck Out
to Cletus, Screeching Weasel, and Anti Flag
(Note: there are no Anti Flag records in my
collection,) this man has left his fingerprint
on punk rock like few have.
Mass Giorgini and Sonic Iguana studios went
from a small time punk rock recording studio
to international punk rock Mecca, largely
responsible for sculpting what came to be
known in pop-punk as the classic 90's Lookout!
Records sound.
Still, I have not been able to get into this
man's band. I wanted so badly to be a Squirtgun
fan, but unfortunately it wasn't meant to
be. I bought a Squirtgun LP on two separate
occasions. One of those records has seen the
needle once, and the other has been taken
out several times over the last 10 years and
placed upon the turntable only to face the
same results. “Still don't like it...
Damn.”
Well, not anymore! Don't ask me why, because
I can't explain it. The same songs that failed
to hit me in the heart and catch my interest
on studio releases have me dancing like a
fool around my music room on this new live
release. Squirtgun delivers a live album full
of beautiful vocal work, superior musicianship,
killer songs, and outstanding production.
You can hear Dan Lumley's kick drum as clearly
as you can hear Matt Hart's voice. From the
the pop masterpiece “Allergic to You”
to the heart-wrenching “Write off Today,”
and closing with the classic “Social,”
Squirtgun absolutely rips it up from beginning
to end on this record. In the liner notes,
Mass points out that after nearly a five year
break, they practiced one night and recorded
this live album the next. After hearing this
record, you will be absolutely amazed by that
statement - that in itself is a testament
to the cohesiveness and skill of this truly
awesome band.
Broadcast 02.09.08 represents a
band often times deemed “bubblegum”
and “cheesy” coming out in its
work clothes and proving to the world that
they are as tough and punk as a switchblade
and a leather jacket. So I tell everyone who
may be reading this, even if you didn't like
Squirtgun in the past, check out Broadcast
02.09.08 and if you are as lucky as me,
you can finally shake your ass to “Elaine
on the Brain” instead of for some unexplainable
reason being annoyed by it.
Also, this record was recorded for a good
cause, as a part of the proceeds will go to
helping out the Latino Advocacy of the Domestic
Violence Intervention & Prevention Program
of the Greater Lafeyette YWCA. So go get yourself
a killer pop punk record, and help a worthy
organization too.
www.kidtestedrecords.net
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