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!
It has come to my attention that the Seahawks are in the Super Bowl. While I have never been a football fan, I am a fan of Seattle and hope that Seahawks fans and the city in general will have something to celebrate. At the very least, no matter how the game turns out, we have these fine band names.
If you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch. Also, check out the Battle of the Bands my pal Chantel is doing at The Swamp, picking new competitors each week from Square Pig. And … hit the subscribe button at the lower right to never miss a post.
Found Space
Imagining the NextDoor post for this amid the lost pet notices. “Very large, mostly empty but has several distinctive galaxies. Describe to claim.”
mintwhisper
A faint but refreshing scent; the palest green paint; or perhaps how money talks when it’s feeling coy.
Sparrow Smith & the Resonant Rogues
Classic X and the Y naming structure where both parts are eye catching: an intriguing comic book character and a band of noisy, fun-loving troublemakers.
Strange & the Familiars
Another good example of X and the Y structure, this one a clever pairing of opposites.
Whisperite
Member of a monastic order that takes a vow, not of silence but of quiet.
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 
Hey, Cedric from Whisperite here, thanks for the shout out! What a fun blog concept =)
The name took an actual 6 months of thought, so I’m glad it’s appreciated~
You’re pretty spot-on for what I was going for, too. The band has a big spiritual energy for me; I embed messages of hope in the darkness, strength through adversity, and rebirth through destruction using allegory and fantasy imagery. I’m not particularly religious (somewhat Buddhist), but when coming up with the name, I envisioned a priest saying the quiet truths nobody wants to hear, rather than the loud ones that draw a crowd. (Looking at you, prosperity gospel)
Anyway, I’ll always be happy to put blogger friends on the list if you ever want to see a show, just let me know! whisperite.music@gmail.com
(socials)
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How funny that I accidentally guessed the correct interpretation! Thanks for getting in touch–I love knowing the origin stories of band names.
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