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 #51

A new month and a new theme! A few weeks ago, my celebration of classic X and the Y band-name structure included Gnarlene and the Frisky Pigs, which reminded me of all the other pig names I’ve included over the years. There were enough for a whole post plus a bonus name! If you also love pigs, this list is for you. As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Big Pig Apocalypse
(July 28, 2018) Uh oh, the pigs object to being launched. It’s all over now.

Noisy Pig
(November 19, 2011) Us pigs have to stick together.

Pig Destroyer
(September 10, 2011) Do they launch the pig? I just hope they’re not after square pigs …

Pig Snout
(January 13, 2015) Always happy to give a shout-out from one pig to another! Pig things make me happy, and there’s something arresting about putting the spotlight on just one part, as in the folk song, “The Sow Took the Measles” (as performed by Train Case). Then I find out this band is young kids, and the little sister is the drummer!!! And she sings, too. It’s like Your Mother Should Know if we’d started several decades earlier.

Pineapple Pig Storm
(May 28, 2016) That crazy dream after the luau …
(Also, all those p’s are just so fun to say.)

Rhythm Pigs
(November 26, 2011) Once again, us pigs gotta stick together. Do these pigs have rhythm, or are they hogging it from the rest of the barnyard?

Two last things before you go:

1. My new thing in 2021 is The Rage Brigade, a Facebook group for conversation about fantasy, science fiction, superheroes, and music (and the intersections thereof). If that sounds like fun, come join us here.
2. I share highlights from this blog in my quarterly author newsletter, The Storypunk Report, as well as news of what I’m writing and reading, upcoming events, and other goodies, including “Wizard in the Mosh Pit,” an exclusive short story just for subscribers. Click the link to check out the first nine issues and subscribe here for future issues. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Shameless Self-Promotion: Death’s Midwife (Daughter of Magic Book 3) releases March 23 and is now on pre-order! You can find all the details here.