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

I’m ready to dip a toe back into in-person events! My face will be masked, but today, Saturday, May 21, I will be at the U. District Street Fair, one of the longest running festivals of its kind in the nation. I’ll be signing and selling books from the Author Event Network booth from 2 to 5 pm. Come say hi and maybe pick up a book from me or my fellow local authors!

Meanwhile, the celebration of band names never ends. 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 to never miss a post!

Halfbird
Could be a menu item at a chicken joint, but I prefer to think of a mythical creature that’s half bird, half who knows what.

HotRod.Red
Retro color of the year, with the dot updating it to the 21st century.

Kitty Junk
Our last cat departed in January. We still have her scratcher, carrier, and a few cans of food.

Meat Models
Steaks and chops sashaying down the runway, displaying the latest cuts.

The Social Stomach
When you don’t want to go to an event but your belly insists because of free food.

Shameless Self-promotion Department: My friend and fellow author LeeAnn McLennan and I brought our fictional teen superheroes together in Far from Normal, a Rage Brigade & Supernormal Team-up . The novella will be available starting May 26 in ebook form and in weekly serialized episodes right here on my blog. Hit the follow button and never miss an episode!

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.)