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 Stranger’s Everout nightlife listings for abundant source material!
Independence Day felt more like a wake than a birthday party this year, or anyway, a vigil in the ICU. I hope everyone reading this at least ended the day with the same number of fingers they started it with.
The Big Ugly Bill can’t take away our band names! If you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch. And … hit the subscribe button at the lower right to never miss a post.
Bitter, Inc.
Is this the company that will hire betrayed Medicaid recipients so they can meet the work requirement? Or the substance with which to write angry letters to the government that did you wrong?
Brassquatch
It’s hard to imagine a more fitting name for a Pacific Northwest brass band. I also like the image of a marching troop of Bigfoot playing horns and drums.
OFF99
Where I used to live, though it applies to any address near Aurora Ave. I like how the repeated elements nearly mirror each other.
Steam Powered Giraffe
The Weird Victoriana vibe of the name seems to perfectly represent what the group is all about, which I respect and celebrate.
Tuff Puffin
Spins off a real bird name in a fun way, and presents a compelling reason to start respelling our -ough words phonetically just for visual rhymes like this.
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 monthly 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 subscribe to the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)
Karen Eisenbrey 