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!
I just got my first smart phone, which has ironically overwhelmed every last brain cell. Let’s see what the band names can do to bring them back online!
This describes the millions of people who just downloaded Pokemon Go, which forces them to go outside. Thanks, Nintendo! (Maybe it also describes me and my new smart phone, which I’m sure will be better in a lot of ways but it isn’t yet.)
I like a two-word name that can be taken more than one way. Is this a happy ghost taking a relaxing soak? The chill you feel when you accidentally walk through a spirit? Or some villain who bathes in the souls of his/her enemies? Spooky.
Not amazing, not terrible. We all need those quiet weekends sometimes. This also resonates with me because the protagonist of my debut novel THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST RAGE describes herself as a “medium-size white girl with medium-length medium-brown hair.” Pankhearst’s original announcement said “This book will be very medium-sized.” And this is the last weekend before it releases.
Sometimes sound is just what the doctor ordered. Exhausted by my new phone, I went to a wonderful new music show last night, Swarm + Stew, which was very therapeutic. (Also, many years ago, my kids and I did onstage at EMP as Sonic Vomit; perhaps this is the antidote.)
The World/Inferno Friendship Society
I have an enduring soft spot for band names that are just that little bit too long. I would have picked this one even if it were only the part after the slash: Dante’s unexpected discovery of cooperation and camaraderie in Hell. The addition of the whole world to this club makes me wonder how much it would take to pull in Purgatory and Paradise, too. Maybe we can all get along.
Karen Eisenbrey 