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!
The power of a good band name: A few years back, my blogging and fiction worlds converged when I saw a sign for a storage place with the O burned out. “St. Rage” seemed like a great name for a band, and I happened to have a fictional character on hand who wanted to start one. My first novel, a garage-rock fairy tale titled The Gospel According to St. Rage, released 3 years ago tomorrow and will be re-released in a slightly buffed-up 2nd edition in August. I have been writing and learning new St. Rage songs, which with any luck will be recorded and ready for performance in time for the November launch of the sequel, Barbara and the Rage Brigade. While we wait, take a listen to the songs that are already out here. And give some love to these powerful band names:
Root, root, root! I’m always happy to find multiple bands in the same week whose names have a common theme. This time I noted three with a baseball theme, and I had only picked one of them previously (Chance to Steal). Also happy to learn Double Play is a two-piece because that’s as perfect as a well-turned double play.
This little rhyme is my favorite for humorously dismissing someone who is putting on airs without really insulting them. Also, this is a 4-piece all-girl band, just like St. Rage (at least before they added Travis on bass. It’s in the book.)
What a marvelous name for a bar band from watery Seattle, made even more perfect by the venue: The High Dive.
A Seattle tradition, the next Seafair event after the Pirate’s Landing and the Milk Carton Derby.
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Karen Eisenbrey 