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 (usually) 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 made the mistake of trying to participate in two events in one weekend. The Friday one was so good, I had to leave the Saturday one early or risk falling over. Note to self: playing a gig and staying out till 1 am drains both physical and social energy for the whole next day. Sorry, Readerfest; I hope everyone else is having a good time. (It goes till 6 p.m., so you can still make it if you hurry!) But band names wait for no blogger, so here they are:

Black Doubt

Looks like a slough of despond, sounds like what happens when you throw back a few too many. And I can’t overlook how it seems to refer to a song by Your Mother Should Know, which we performed last night.

Cape Disappointment

The place names around here reveal that Northwest loser pride goes way back.

Coast Modern

Ultracool and stylish yet laid-back and chill. Baffles the heartland.

Smoke Season

Eerily topical after the week we’ve had. Please tell me it’s almost over.

YURT

Although I’m a fan of band names that are hilariously too long, I’m also fond of monosyllables, especially those that denote snugness. (See also Pouch.)