Naming a band is an act of concentrated creative expression. Since 2010, Square Pig in a Round Hole has been rewarding 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!
Before I was a published author (of anything but this blog), I was half of a garage-rock duo called Your Mother Should Know. The other half, my brother, wrote a lot of songs, including one for our favorite Seattle band Dead Bars called “I’m a Regular” that was partly inspired by Barbara, the invisible-girl main character of my St. Rage garage-rock/superhero duology. Pre-pandemic, we recorded our own version of the song and it is now part of You Don’t Have to be Cool, Dead Bars’ new mixtape from Dirtcult Records. I have a new book coming out and now I’m on a mixtape? My life is complete.
OK, on with the band names! If you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch. And … hit the follow button at the lower right to never miss a post!
The Approximates
Because live music is less about technical precision and more about passion and enthusiasm. Close enough for rock and roll!
Mama Llama
A cartoony image with a fun rhyme. Can’t read it without grinning.
Moopsie
This one falls into the naming of strategy of “what if your band were your pet?” Cute and fun to say.
Smedley’s Racket
Racket is one of my favorite words for noisy endeavor that could also be a sketchy line of work. Whichever it is, a cartoon character is in charge.
Wizdumb
Sagacity hiding under apparent (possibly magical) ignorance.
Two last things before you go:
- 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.
- 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.)
My forthcoming science fiction novel, Ego & Endurance releases on May 2 and is now available for preorder. Details here! If you’re intrigued by a hard sci-fi workplace rom-com/survival story in space, inspired by and patterned on the Shackleton expedition, please check it out!
Karen Eisenbrey 