Tag Archives: shoegaze

Baby Guns is Neil Giardino, Erin Shannon, and Mike Gaul, who all hail from three different corners of the US and found each other in Seattle. The goth poppy shoegaze they have developed started a few years back in early 2010 after Neil and Erin met in front of a car that was sitting ablaze on Broadway Ave. The group started as an instrumental project, but have added some fuzzy vocals to the mix that play up that dark, witchy vibe. Seattle Peach is in love. The emergence of more dark wave synth pop groups is welcomed and fitting for the notoriously dreary landscapes of the Northwest’s metropolis. While radio pop spirals endlessly into the nauseatingly sugary sea of cookie cutter paradigms, the contrasting candelabra of underground acts gaining ground across the internets continues to move further into the darkness.

Seattle Peach caught up with Baby Guns last month for some Peachy Q&A. You can see them play next at the Sunset Tavern in Ballard on Wednesday, July 18, and pick up a copy of their Kingdom Come cassette (also available online).

1.) How would you describe your day to day style?

N: “noir casual” E: “Crocodile Dundee-cum-US. Postal lady”.

2.) Is there a difference between what you wear everyday and what you wear on stage? What is the difference?

N: Not particularly.

3.) Do you guys coordinate wardrobe for your shows? What is your process for styling the band?

N: Rarely. Well, we often coordinate by accident. I think maybe we tend to like the same color palettes, but generally if, for example, we’re both wearing black jeans and denim jackets I’ll ask Erin that she wear something different so we don’t look like Brandon and Brenda Walsh.

Once, Erin’s sister Ria (Co-owner of Kaleidoscope Vision) styled us for a show. She had Erin in a Betsy Johnson Gun Sweater and me in a Tom of Finland t-shirt.

4.) How has your style evolved since the band first began?

N: A friend described my style a couple years ago as “anarcho-dandy.” So I suppose I’ve been making a conscious effort to distance myself from that vogue. As a band perhaps we’re moving toward looking like the Gun Club on the cover of their ‘Miami’ record.

5.) Who’s style inspires you, who are some of your fashion icons?

N: French actor Alain Delon as well as my grandfather Angelo Giardino. E: Laura Dern in Jurassic Park as well as my mom in the 80’s.

6.) What are some of your favorite pieces from your own wardrobe?

E: My brown ropers, a flesh colored vintage service bowling button-up shirt by Lady Sparkle. And my ex-boyfriend’s ‘Night of the Living Dead’ t-shirt that I turned into a crop-top.

N: My rayon brown/orange camouflage button up t-shirt and brown leather Faconnable vest.

7.) If you could go on a shopping spree anywhere on the planet, a.) Where would you go? b.) What stores would you go to? c.) Who would you bring with you? d.) What is at least one item you definitely be shopping for?

E: Some thrift shop on the side of the road, in the middle of nowhere, USA. I’d be shopping for boots. I’d bring Neil along with me.

N: I’d go back to this place in NYC called Le Labo. It’s a laboratory in a dark tavern where they make special colognes for you on the spot with droppers and beakers. I’d also scour the globe for an authentic Fiorucci t-shirt size medium. I’d bring Erin along with me on that trip.

(All Photos by Frank Correa)