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!

The world’s a mess and we’re about to lose an hour, but the news isn’t all bad. This week, I was thrilled and moved with the feel-good story of finding the amazingly intact wreck of Endurance. As it happens, I have been quietly obsessed with the ship and Ernest Shackleton’s expedition-turned-survival-epic since at least 2009. Twelve years ago, I started writing a hard sci-fi workplace rom-com/survival story inspired by those historical events. That project, titled Ego & Endurance, is now finished and submitted to Not A Pipe Publishing. The discovery of the lost ship feels like a good omen for the book. Watch for updates! Meanwhile, band names continue to lift my spirits, too.

As ever, and especially if you’re going out to shows again, wash your hands, wear your mask awhile longer even if you don’t have to, get your vaccine and booster if you haven’t already, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch to encourage them as we look forward to less interesting times. And … hit the follow button at the lower right and never miss a post!

Annihilation Squares
Part of a nutritious breakfast here at the end of the world.

Early Internet
I remember it well enough not to be nostalgic, but I suppose I’ll always recognize the screech of the dial-up modem.

Roselit Bone
At once delicately poetic and starkly physical at a structural level.

Shudderspeed
Is your camera quick enough to capture the frisson of horror?

Stammering
Getting the words out however we can before things get worse.

Two last things before you go:

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