Molly Shibby: how long have you guys been going?
Matt Hoffman: uhhhh - well, THIS band's been going since last May or June, but there's been incarnations of it before.....our new bassist, The Mysterious Deech, just played his first show with us less than a month ago.
Molly Shibby: how did you get the name?
Matt Hoffman: We used to be S.F.United until we found out from a cop that what we were using "S.F." to stand for was actually an anti-semetic put-down (TOTALLY unbeknownst to us), but we needed a name quick, and since we're sucky, we figured SHOOTING BLANKS was pretty dead-on.
Matt Hoffman: we like SHOOTING BLANKS better in hindsight anyway....

Molly Shibby: lol okay what do you like most about the scene today?
Matt Hoffman: I like the fact that the suburbs have taken over as the place to find music.....about six years ago, the city was the only place to go for good shows and good bands, and now all these stupid kids like us from the 'burbs have said "fuck you, big city - the little punks are comin'!!!"....can I say "fuck"?....
Molly Shibby: yes , yes you can
Matt Hoffman: cool - it's one of my favorite words....

Molly Shibby: whats your favorite lubricant flavor?
Matt Hoffman: Hmmmm, that's a good question.....anything that doesn't make me think of my mom, cuz that's just gross, so I guess I'd take "Wet 'N' Wild Cherry" over "Hot 'N' Horny Home-Cooked Meal".....
Molly Shibby: hahahah
Matt Hoffman: yeah - we pride ourselves on being one of the seXXXiest bands in the NW suburbs....
Matt Hoffman: ....that's what we keep telling ourselves for reassurance, at least....
Molly Shibby: are you alway as horny as you sound?
Matt Hoffman: No, we're not horny so much as we are easy......yup, give us a few drinks and some smooth lines, and a lucky fan could have their very own Shooting Blank for a night......

Molly Shibby: what would you do for a klondike bar?
Matt Hoffman: I'm not much for ice-cream treats, but I'd do almost anything for an actual Klondike - like a little eskimo guy that hangs out at my place and cleans up after me.....
Matt Hoffman: Our other guitarist John eats a lot, so he'd probably be the food bitch....
Matt Hoffman: He'll eat anything.......ANYTHING....
Matt Hoffman: interpret as you will.....
Molly Shibby: hmmm is HE gonna be at the show friday b/c i would love to see that
Matt Hoffman: No - he's also not here to defend himself which is cool.....he's the one that I do the video work with.....I'm actually going to his place at 7:00 to finish editing the PWT's video we shot for "Please Don't Do This", but this isn't about them, so I digress....
Matt Hoffman: that's just a Local Shibby exclusive for ya...
Molly Shibby: we will take it to heart

Matt Hoffman: shoot...
Molly Shibby: how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?
Matt Hoffman: When I lick it, it takes about 7 - depending on how "frisky" my tongue's feeling....if The Mysterious Deech licks it, it'll take a while, cuz he's the tall, sheepish type.....Schitzo Mike would just smoke the tootsie pop, and John would devour it....

Matt Hoffman: Is this interview about music at all?...
Matt Hoffman: ha!...
Molly Shibby: diversity! how refreasing!
Matt Hoffman: I'm in a band...
Molly Shibby: well it could be......but thats so boring!
Matt Hoffman: agreed!...
Molly Shibby: okay I quess I will throw in a couple if you really want it
Matt Hoffman: your interview!...
Molly Shibby: well all the music questions are already ansewed in the basic questions will filled out for the site
Molly Shibby: BORING!
Matt Hoffman: Ahhhh - I see....can I shamelessly plug a show or something then...
Matt Hoffman: oh, okay - go ahead...
Molly Shibby: hahah that was it! you got even my wording down!
Matt Hoffman: creepy...
Molly Shibby: i was gonna ask you if you had any shows you wanted to shamelessly promote!
Molly Shibby: go ahead plug boy plug!
Matt Hoffman: Okay, well although you can go to http://www.ShootingBlanks.net/ for lots of show dates to rock out with Shooting Blanks, I would like to give special attention to our show on March 23rd at Riley's Rockhouse in Aurora cuz it's a super-cool line-up of PGS, 504 Plan, Starstruck, and us....we'll be extra seXXXy that night for all the fans.....come to all our shows though....
Matt Hoffman: Oh yeah - and buy our CD, Nuclear Family....and keep your ears peeled cuz we're recording new stuff for a summer comp on Pick It Up Records....
Molly Shibby: I'll try to make it out
Matt Hoffman: And make sure the fans know to talk to us cuz we're friendly and lonely....

Molly Shibby: okay last question
Molly Shibby: what do you think of when you hear shibby?
Matt Hoffman: Shibby?.....it sounds like a dance, but I don't like dancing, so maybe it sounds like a naked dance, cuz that's probably more funny to watch.....it's like "hey - look at that guy Shibbying!", and then there's this naked guy doing what I picture to be like the Truffle Shuffle that Chunk did in the movie 'Goonies'.....hmmmm....
Matt Hoffman: make sure everyone knows that we're a family band that's good enough to bring home to mom & dad....