Squirtgun was a band formed by producer Mass Giorgini in 1994, and was made up of former members of his recently disbanded Rattail Grenadier. Squirtgun signed almost immediately to Lookout Records, with which Mass had already developed a steady relationship as a record producer.
Squirtgun's first release, the CD-EP Shenanigans, hit the streets in the Spring of 1995, with their debut self-titled full-length appearing that fall. Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, who co-produced The Riverdales with Mass, recommended Squirtgun to Jeff Saltzman, who was advising on the soundtrack for Mallrats, the then-upcoming film by Kevin Smith. This full-length CD contained the song "Social", which was featured later that same year in the opening credits of Mallrats, and the song "Make It Up" featuring guest vocals by Green Day's Mike Dirnt. "Social" has since become a cult classic.
1996 brought Squirtgun's second CD-EP, Mary Ann, a tribute to their favorite castaway 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.
