Naming a band is an act of concentrated creative expression. Square Pig in a Round Hole exists to reward five favorite band names each week. Winners are listed alphabetically. Selection is wholly unscientific and subject to whim, with a bias toward wordplay, humor, and local flavor. In most cases, I won’t know anything about the bands at the time of selection. Thanks to the Seattle Times club listings for abundant source material!
The stars aligned such that I actually left the house and went to a show last night! It helped that it was at the Shanty, a short walk from my house. Always a pleasure to hear The Tom Price Desert Classic, and also worthwhile to be introduced to Whiting Tennis. As usual, there’s no end of shows this week. These names rose to the top:
I like the implication that not only do we accrue some kind of points or demerits for our behavior in life, but that we can choose when to redeem them.
A very specific and very weird historical reference — dancing and plague are not usually found in the same phrase. As a band name it’s long enough to approach awkwardness, which is one of my favorite categories.
Another favorite category shines a spotlight on an isolated body part. Here we have a variation on that theme, pairing up two very different but necessary parts that happen to alliterate.
The Plaid Perspective, Stark Raving Plaid
Even with the grunge-flannel shirt association, “plaid” and “rock bands” doesn’t seem like the most obvious pairing, so it stood out that there was not one but two this week. The Plaid Perspective not only alliterates but seems to imply a complex but colorfully unsubtle take on things. Meanwhile, Stark Raving Plaid is having fun with puns and genre: “Celtic Rock Soul Funk Folk.”
Shameless self promotion!
My debut novel, The Gospel According to St. Rage, will be released in paperback and ebook by Pankhearst on July 14, 2016. Preorder the ebook now: http://getbook.at/gospel
Meet Barbara Bernsen, Former Invisible Girl.
Barbara isn’t your typical high school junior. She’s been invisible since the third grade. But when a magic hat brings her back into the light, Barbara is ready to take on the world. First priority? Start an all-girl garage band. Miraculous super powers were never in her plan, but sometimes you get what you need. Bullies and school shooters don’t stand a chance.
Yes, we all love Wonder Woman, Black Widow, and Jessica Jones, but Barbara is the hero her high school deserves.
Karen Eisenbrey 