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 nightlife listings for abundant source material!
(Until live music returns, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)
SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #26
Is it any surprise that this cursed year would have a horrendous fire season? In Seattle, the sky is yellow and the air is unhealthy to breathe, and we are well aware that others have it worse. But hey, at least we were already not planning to go out! Everybody, do what you need to to stay safe from smoke, fire, viruses, and baseless conspiracy theories. And if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.
(August 24, 2013) These two (on the same bill) get in for the same reason: alliteration. I also liked that both names had the same form: two-syllable verb (past tense) “by” one syllable noun. Because of this parallel form, I was ready to believe this was actually one band with a long name — and I would have chosen it for that reason, too.
(May 7, 2016) This is a rare appropriate use of the word “retarded.” Safety first!
(April 2, 2016) Two idiomatic usages of the preposition on overlap to create an exhilarating but hazardous trip.
(June 1, 2013) I guess Seattle should count itself lucky to have suffered only one Great Fire (so far). Let it be the last.
(October 15, 2011) Maybe this is the kind of fire drill where the alarm goes off and everybody goes and stands in the hall rather than taking the stairs all the way outside. Fast and easy but somehow unsatisfying.
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Karen Eisenbrey 