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

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!

Delightful Angst
All the suffering … and loving it. (They make “music for parents,” so I think this is literally true.)

Hot Spring Water
Soak in it. Don’t drink it.

Low Key Goddess
Worship her in your bathrobe with a cup of coffee or glass of wine. She’ll have one, too, if it’s not too much bother.

Name the Hurricane
This kind of contest is how we get Stormy McStormface.

Void Dancer
This is perfect for a ship in space opera or a dragon in fantasy, four of my favorite things.

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.  We released it in weekly serialized episodes right here on my blog. The final episode is out now! Read Episode 1 here if you haven’t started already, but don’t wait too long–the serial is only up through July 21. But don’t despair–the novella is also available in ebook form.

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.)