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 and The Stranger nightlife listings for abundant source material!

I’m usually the optimistic one in any group, but even I am wondering how soon live music will be shut down again. A couple of this week’s featured bands have already had their show postponed. But as long as bands with names are playing out, I promise to sift through the listings and share the shiniest nuggets here. And if the clubs have to shut down, I will return to the treasure house of past blog posts for all that retrospective goodness. Hit the follow button over there on the right and never miss a post!

As ever, and especially if you’re going out to shows again, wash your hands, wear your upgraded mask, get your vaccine and booster if you haven’t already, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for even better days.

Crawlspace
I love band names that lift up and celebrate the mundane or even unpleasant. This is the last place anyone wants to go but a key piece of domestic infrastructure.

The Fun Police
Who you call when your neighbors are having too much fun or you’re not having enough.

Goat Club
After a week of clearing blackberries from vacant lots, goats like to go out on the weekend and hear their favorite bands. See last week’s post for what they do on Sundays.

The Leak
When stuff gets out that you didn’t intend, into the crawlspace or onto the airwaves, it makes a mess but leads to repairs you didn’t know you needed.

Wilting
It doesn’t convey the power of a great show, but the aftermath, droopy and spent.

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 thirteen issues and subscribe here for future issues. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)