Square Pig in a Round Hole-October 16, 2021

Posted on by kareneisenbreywriter
Cartoon image of a pink square pig in a round hold

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 nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music listings return, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #82

The rain has returned, the leaves are turning bright colors, and I’m on vacation! That must mean it’s mid-October, when I’ve taken time off every year since my honeymoon in 1986. A few months ago, we thought we’d actually go somewhere for this one, but we have postponed once more out of abundance of caution and tentative hope for spring.

BUT I still have lots of monster-themed band names for your treat sack! This week’s batch even includes a new one, the first fresh material in 19 months. Thanks to the Facebook friend whose timely post about going to a show caught my attention as I was planning this theme. As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask, get your vaccine if you haven’t already, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Godzillian
(May 26, 2013) Just how many is a Godzillian, and can it be applied to anything or just giant rubbery monsters? (Sadly, it appears they are no longer active and have disappeared from the internet.)

Here Come the Mummies
(NEW!) I’m not detecting a lot of terror or even surprise here. We’ve been expecting them, there was a delay, but they’ll arrive soon. Then the Halloween party can begin.

hedgehag
(October 3, 2015) I’ve seen references to both “hedge witch” and “hag” in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books, but I never put  together the resemblance, when combined, to the name of the cute spiny critter. Good for October, though more homey charm than scares, and a fine name for an all-girl bluegrass outfit.

Kung Fu Vampire
(May 26, 2013) B-movie vibe doesn’t get much better than this.

The Magic Beans
(May 6, 2017) . . . and the next thing you know, you’ve got giants falling from the sky. Might be worth it, though.

 

Two last things before you go:

  1. I am admin for 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 first eleven issues and subscribe here for future issues. The October 2021 issue is out now! (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-October 9, 2021

Posted on by kareneisenbreywriter
Cartoon image of a pink square pig in a round hold

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 nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music listings return, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #81

It’s going to be a busy weekend, so I’m scheduling this post in advance. I’m participating in the FREE Words & Pictures Festival, an all-virtual event featuring author readings, writing workshops, panel discussions, and more, including programming especially for teen writers on Sunday. I will be reading from Death’s Midwife on Saturday morning at 10 am and participating in a panel of YA authors offering advice to teen writers on Sunday at 2:15 pm. Schedule and registration link are here.
But right here, the Monster Mash (or is that Mosh?) continues, with five more monster-themed band names for your spooky-season enjoyment.

As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask, get your vaccine if you haven’t already, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Boomzzilla
(April 27, 2013) Drum monster! Promise of good, dumb fun.

The Drolls
(August 19, 2017) Like trolls, but with a more sophisticated wit.

Explodatron
(March 31, 2012) Over the past 21 years [Update: 30], I’ve learned a lot about what appeals to boys. A giant robot that blows things up would be high on the list.

Fake Shark Real Zombie
(January 28, 2012) I saw Jaws when I was 11, only to discover too late that I was one of those younger children for whom the movie was too intense. When I finally saw it again as an adult, I laughed because the shark was so obviously fake. In the campy monster movie with the same name as this band, I would then turn around to confront a real zombie and either die of fright or somehow remove its head.

Closeup image of garden spider on web

Great Spiders
(September 29, 2012) Giant spider in the third act!

Square Pig in a Round Hole-October 2, 2021

Posted on by kareneisenbreywriter
Cartoon image of a pink square pig in a round hold

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 nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music listings return, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #80

It’s a new month and a new theme! As we head into spooky season, I dug up an abundance of monster-themed band names. There’s enough for several treat sacks, so let’s get started. As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask, get your vaccine if you haven’t already, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Alien Ant Farm
It Lives, It Breathes
(November 1, 2014) It seems appropriate so close to Halloween to have two band names with that great B-movie vibe. I can imagine at least two scenarios for an alien ant farm — aliens keeping humans or humans keeping aliens. Both pretty horrifying for someone! And any monster movie with the line, “It lives! It breathes!” is about to get real messy.

All Them Witches
(May 6, 2017) A rustic locution serving to downplay their spooky power. So many witches.

Angry Snowmans
(December 11, 2010) Nice seasonal touch, with a twist. I’m thinking of the Killer Monster Snow Goons on Calvin’s front step. The incorrect plural adds a touch of childlike sweetness . . . or is it spine-tingling peril?

Bell Witch
(June 12, 2012) I hope this is a play on bellwether, because that’s really clever in several directions. If not, oh, well.

Two last things before you go:

  1. I am admin for 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 first ten issues and subscribe here for future issues. The July 2021 issue includes an excerpt from Barbara and the Rage Brigade. Who knows what might turn up in the October issue! (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-September 25, 2021

Posted on by kareneisenbreywriter
Cartoon image of a pink square pig in a round hold

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 nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music listings return, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #79

Image shows Mt. Rainier against a clear blue sky with rocky trail in foreground.
Mt. Rainier from Pinnacle Saddle

The outdoorsy theme continues with a second collection of six band names–yes, a bonus name! I’m feeling generous because we did get to take our planned hike last Monday, in spite of a stormy weekend and some minor car trouble. (Minor in that it did not keep us from getting to our trailhead and did not keep us from getting home. It did cost money to fix, but not as much as we feared.) We should have a few more of these sunny fall days, so get out and enjoy them while you can!

As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask, get your vaccine if you haven’t already, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Coho Mountain String Ticklers
(January 13, 2013) “Tickle” is the perfect verb for how bluegrass players get sound out of their instruments, and also how this name affected me.

Dead Leaf Echo
(September 26, 2015) Perfect for autumn. If a leaf falls in the forest, does it make a sound, and does the sound have reverb? (A quick listen answers “yes.”)

Neither Bears nor Forest
(June 22, 2019) Weirdly poetic turn of phrase for something that isn’t what it purports to be.

Night Hikes
(January 12, 2019) Probably not a popular winter activity, though it gets dark so early, you could have your walk in the woods and get back to town before the first band finishes sound check.

Nonchalant Avalanche
(April 16, 2016) Slides down the mountain without a care in the world, elegant in n and ch sounds.

Pebble n the Crick
(July 29, 2017) Charming variation on classic X and the Y structure, made more so by the folksy phonetic spelling of creek. If that weren’t enough, the name implies frontperson and backing band but it’s a duo, my favorite size combo.

Two last things before you go:

  1. I am admin for 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 first ten issues and subscribe here for future issues. The July 2021 issue includes an excerpt from Barbara and the Rage Brigade. Who knows what might turn up in the October issue! (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-September 18, 2021

Posted on by kareneisenbreywriter
Cartoon image of a pink square pig in a round hold

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 nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music listings return, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #78

It is raining in Seattle! This shouldn’t be news, but here we are. I welcome the rain this weekend, though I hope the forecast of a dry Monday comes true because we want to go hiking. In that spirit, the band-name theme for the next two weeks revolves around the great outdoors. Once again, I have 12 candidates, so there will be a bonus band each week. You’re welcome.

As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask again, get your vaccine if you haven’t already, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Be Forest
(March 23, 2019) A gentle command to be one with nature, this also sounds like a superlative preposition denoting a point earlier than which one cannot go.

Bears and Other Carnivores
(October 17, 2015) Apparently I’m not the only one to notice that titles of field guides make great band names. (I would love to see a band called Squirrels of the West.) There’s something a little (endearingly) off about using a name that evokes the outdoors, nature, and wilderness for a group that’s probably going to mostly play in dingy urban bars.

Bigger Than Mountains
(March 3, 2018) Oceans. Planets. The sky.

The Bitter Roots
(November 27, 2010) Whether the mountain range or the wild plant, this name evokes a distinct corner of the planet that means a lot to me, so it makes the list.

The Brook & the Bluff
(March 16, 2019) Scenic natural features reminding us that outdoors is a thing and it might be warm enough to go there. Don’t fall in and don’t fall off.

Cedar Sap
(November 2, 2019) Sibilance and local flavor, sticky and resinous.

Two last things before you go:

  1. I am admin for 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 first ten issues and subscribe here for future issues. The July 2021 issue includes an excerpt from Barbara and the Rage Brigade. Who knows what might turn up in the October issue! (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-September 11, 2021

Posted on by kareneisenbreywriter
Cartoon image of a pink square pig in a round hold

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 nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music listings return, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #77

This is the second week of game-themed band names, though most of them are more of a stretch than last week. I’m also pretty sure one of them turned up previously under another theme, but there’s no reason to be too strict here.

As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask again, get your vaccine if you haven’t already, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Leeches of Lore
(April 16, 2016) This sounds like a healing item carried by a cleric in a tabletop role-playing game. I like the alliteration, and the grossness of leeches paired with the solemnity of lore.

Nucular Aminals
(January 28, 2012) One of the resident gamers is playing a game set near Chernobyl, so this is timely. Spelling out the  mispronunciation gives it a nice Cold-War edge.

Runny Nose Bros.
(December 22, 2018) Probably won’t be a hit video game, but any parent of two or more who has been through at least one winter will be nodding in recognition.

Snailmate
(September 26, 2015) The end of the world’s slowest chess game.

Woodgrain
(September 25, 2011) Completely independent of this band, my kid once used Woodgrain as a screen name in an online fighting game, in an effort to come up with something absurdly boring and non-threatening with nothing whatever to do with the game. I have to hope these guys were thinking along similar lines.

 

Two last things before you go:

  1. I am admin for 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 first ten issues and subscribe here for future issues. The July 2021 issue includes an excerpt from Barbara and the Rage Brigade. Who knows what might turn up in the October issue! (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-September 4, 2021

Posted on by kareneisenbreywriter
Cartoon image of a pink square pig in a round hold

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 nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music returns, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #76

My emotional support human suggested I do a post of game-themed band names. I was surprised I hadn’t done that yet, but suspected it would be a rich seam to mine. That turned out to be true, so I will be sharing the riches for a couple of weeks.

As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask again, get your vaccine if you haven’t already, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

6 Demon Bag
(October 18, 2014) This sounds like something from a role-playing game, an item that allows you to collect the demons you defeat and use their powers. (Which shows that I live with huge nerds — I guessed that without knowing it was an actual thing in World of Warcraft). Upgrade to the 12 Demon Bag for just one gold piece more!

Ca$h Bandicoot
(August 30, 2014) A long time ago, a certain young relative was constantly — and vocally — excited about a certain video game. This sly reference reminds us what it was really all about.

Dry T-Shirt Contest
(October 29, 2016) A non-gendered, non-salacious bar game: don’t spill your drink on your shirt!

Grand Theft Zombie
(June 14, 2014) Great pop-culture mashup. The video game reference also perfectly suits the style of music.

How to Win at Battleship
(July 21, 2014) I like band names that sound like self-help titles, especially for things that can’t be guaranteed. I’ve played enough Battleship to know that the surest way to win is to play someone who is worse at the game, but then that feels kind of mean. Oh, wait! It’s war! So the only way to win is not to play.

 

Two last things before you go:

  1. I am admin for 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 first ten issues and subscribe here for future issues. The July 2021 issue includes an excerpt from Barbara and the Rage Brigade. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-August 28, 2021

Posted on by kareneisenbreywriter
Cartoon image of a pink square pig in a round hold

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 nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music returns, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #75

This is the second week with a theme of gardens, farms, and soil. Once again, I feature six bands instead of the usual five. Our backyard landscaping project is developing nicely but like any work in progress, will need a lot of work before it is a finished thing of beauty. Fortunately, people who know what they are doing are in charge of the work.

As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask again, get your vaccine if you haven’t already, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Lilac
(September 23, 2016) So, you know how most people who say they want to write actually mean they want to have written? I want to have gardened. I love having beautiful or edible plants on my property, but I’m terrible at getting things established. My biggest successes have been a couple of lilac bushes. One established with almost no effort on my part, while the other took ten years to start blooming. But now I’m rewarded every spring with my favorite fragrant flowers for no work. So.

Slugs
(February 2, 2019) Local flavor at its localest (but don’t taste them), humble denizens of every Northwest garden and forest, rasping away at the greenery. Listen closely.

Soundgarden
(May 20, 2017) The intensely local nature of the name is hidden from the rest of the world while it perfectly describes the scene here: fertile ground for weird new music of all genres.

This Soil is Diseased
(January 26, 2013) Yow! I suspect this comes directly off a sign somewhere, a perfect metal name: complete sentence with notes of death and corruption.

Trebled Morels
(June 29, 2019) Even one morel is a miracle, but three? Heaven. (These came from our yard [in 2014]: doubly trebled!)

Woodshed
(May 21, 2016) I grew up in a house with an actual woodshed: we stored stovewood and garden tools out there, and it also had a workbench for fixing things. Although we were a musical family, I don’t think anyone ever went out there to practice an instrument, but my older brother (age 5 when we moved into that house) had heard enough about woodsheds to worry that he’d get more spankings. Fortunately, it wasn’t that sort of woodshed, either.

 

Two last things before you go:

  1. I am admin for 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 first ten issues and subscribe here for future issues. The July 2021 issue includes an excerpt from Barbara and the Rage Brigade. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-August 21, 2021

Posted on by kareneisenbreywriter
Cartoon image of a pink square pig in a round hold

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 nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music returns, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #74

I’ve chosen a new theme of gardens, farms, and soil for the next couple of weeks. I found twelve candidates, so I will feature six bands each week instead of the usual five. Here’s the story: the backyard at Square Pig HQ has been many things over the years: children’s play area, urban farm (for two different collectives), neighborhood garden share, and weedy, uncultivated meadow. It is now in the process of being civilized! Neighbors will continue to garden in the sunniest portion, while the part nearest the house will get a nice stone patio and lots of native plantings for the birds and butterflies. Thanks to Trilobyte Gardens for taking on this project! As it happens, I first met the Trilobyte crew through their band Power Skeleton, an early Square Pig fave.

As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask again, get your vaccine if you haven’t already, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Big Dirt
(December 16, 2018) Out in farm country, the dirt’s as expansive as the sky.

Crashdown Butterfly
(December 16, 2018) I’m guessing it doesn’t flit. Better reinforce those flowers, y’all.

Dirtnap
(June 29, 2019) It’s death, isn’t it? A cozy, comfortable end.

Dirt Worshipper
(December 18, 2010) The name is funny, and the band was apparently playing two gigs in the same night, which wins my attention and respect.

Earthworm
(June 22, 2013) Hail the lowly earthworm, which makes organic matter into soil. When our elder son was in first grade, he did a report on worms, recorded on tape and punctuated with various noisemakers from our vast collection. I appreciated worms before that, but after, I was a real fan.

Farm Hand Girls
(November 28, 2015) This one leaped out at me because my first paying job, other than babysitting and mowing the church lawn, was a type of tedious, grueling farm work that in that time and place was only performed by girls. Four summers in a row, decades ago now, never to be forgotten.

 

Two last things before you go:

  1. I am admin for 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 first ten issues and subscribe here for future issues. The July 2021 issue includes an excerpt from Barbara and the Rage Brigade. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-August 14, 2021

Posted on by kareneisenbreywriter
Cartoon image of a pink square pig in a round hold

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 nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music returns, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #73

Another heat wave, smoky air, and Friday the 13th fell on a Friday this month. On the good side, live music is creeping back and my baby is 25 years old today. I had hoped to be finished with these retrospective posts by now, but they may have to continue a bit longer. Today, I finish my food and beverage theme with a bonus sixth band name. Come back next week for something new, and as ever, wash your hands, wear your mask again, get your vaccine if you haven’t already, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Fruit and Vegetable
Sour Scream and Salsa
(February 9, 2013) These two really should have been on the same bill. Not just food and allusions to food, but the classic Noun and Noun band name structure. Yet they are also opposites: while both chose foods that are commonly spoken of together, one pairs staples of a balanced diet; the other, yelling condiments . . . into which the healthful foods could be dipped! I also like that Fruit and Vegetable are singular, as if this is a duo of (interchangeable) Veggie Tales characters. Sour Scream and Salsa provides abundant sibilance, and I gotta say, mariachi metal is an intriguing new genre.

Stiff Spirit
(October 10, 2015) A strong drink . . . or what happens when the ghost suffers rigor mortis, too.

Whiskey Syndicate
(December 15, 2012) I literally met these guys on the street as they were packing their gear for a show in Winthrop. They are celebrating their first anniversary as a band, so congratulations! I’ve noticed there are a lot of bands in town with whiskey in their name. I like this one because it sounds like a formal organization (though the band seems really laid back).

Yogurt Brain
(November 11, 2017) Insult, or enhanced intelligence from eating the latest superfood?

The Yolks
(August 5, 2012) I’ve always liked the word yolk. It looks kind of funny, and it sounds almost like joke, but also kind of thick, like what it is.

 

Two last things before you go:

  1. I am admin for 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 first ten issues and subscribe here for future issues. The July 2021 issue includes an excerpt from Barbara and the Rage Brigade. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)