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 listings return, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #80

It’s a new month and a new theme! As we head into spooky season, I dug up an abundance of monster-themed band names. There’s enough for several treat sacks, so let’s get started. As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask, get your vaccine if you haven’t already, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Alien Ant Farm
It Lives, It Breathes
(November 1, 2014) It seems appropriate so close to Halloween to have two band names with that great B-movie vibe. I can imagine at least two scenarios for an alien ant farm — aliens keeping humans or humans keeping aliens. Both pretty horrifying for someone! And any monster movie with the line, “It lives! It breathes!” is about to get real messy.

All Them Witches
(May 6, 2017) A rustic locution serving to downplay their spooky power. So many witches.

Angry Snowmans
(December 11, 2010) Nice seasonal touch, with a twist. I’m thinking of the Killer Monster Snow Goons on Calvin’s front step. The incorrect plural adds a touch of childlike sweetness . . . or is it spine-tingling peril?

Bell Witch
(June 12, 2012) I hope this is a play on bellwether, because that’s really clever in several directions. If not, oh, well.

Two last things before you go:

1. I am admin for 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 ten issues and subscribe here for future issues. The July 2021 issue includes an excerpt from Barbara and the Rage Brigade. Who knows what might turn up in the October issue! (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)