Square Pig in a Round Hole-November 20, 2021

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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 and The Stranger nightlife listings for abundant source material!

It seems like Thanksgiving is taking a lot of people by surprise this year. Easter, I can understand, but Thanksgiving more or less stays put. That said, I admit to thinking, “Already? Didn’t we just do this?” But I am thankful for band names and live music. In searching the listings this week, I was reminded that one of my favorite local bands, Dead Bars, has a sold-out show on Thanksgiving Eve with past Square Pig honorees Bottlenose Koffins and Dusty Cubby. If you’re lucky enough to go, I want to hear about it!

As ever, and especially if you’re going out to shows again, 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 even better days.

Bathtub Kin
If you were ever bathed alongside a sibling or cousin, this homemade hooch is for you.
When religion openly claims its title as the opiate of the masses.
 
When you can’t afford an entire houseboat.
 
The pun turns something strong into something falling apart.
 
It turns out magic is real, but only if you have all the pieces of the puzzle. There’s only one or two missing here.

 

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. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-November 6, 2021

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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 and The Stranger nightlife listings for abundant source material!

 

Square Pig in a Round Hole was launched upon the world on this very date in 2010! Read the first post here. This anniversary seems like an auspicious date to return to posting new material, after 84 consecutive weeks of retrospectives. The Seattle Times is not yet running nightlife listings, so I went foraging in The Stranger and found enough to work with. I also noticed one of the featured bands of that historic debut post, All Time Low, has a gig this week!

As ever, and especially if you’re going out to shows again, 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 even better days.

Image of the ferry Kalakala

Battlestar Kalakala
The pickings seemed slim, but then I saw this one and knew I had to forge ahead! This is a brilliant mashup of a sci-fi show I loved in my youth and a futuristic local icon of the past. It would make a beautiful spaceship.

Cedar Teeth
Locally sourced, durable and rot-resistant, repels moths from your mouth.

The High Seagrass
I like how it crosses from adventurous location to important marine habitat, with maybe a sly reference to an old nickname for something (now legal) to get us high.

Ice Cream Cult
I can think of worse things to worship. Ice cream makes everything better. (Also sometimes stylized as Icecreamcult.)

Left to Suffer
… right to stagnate, straight ahead to thrive.

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. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-October 30, 2021

· Leave a comment ·
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 #84

It’s Halloweeneen and I have one last batch of monster-themed band names to fill your treat sack. However you plan to celebrate, be safe out there. 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.

Sewer Troll 
(February 20, 2013) Urban trolls have it figured out. They never have to risk coming out in daylight. They can lurk in the sewers and only appear on the Internet.

Siegfried vs. the Giant
(December 11, 2010) Hooray for Norse mythology geeks! Siegfried is my favorite big dumb hero.

We Could Be Monsters
(August 10, 2019) Every little cute thing has this inspirational poster.

Wet Nightmare 
(May 7, 2011) This name conveys in two words all the wonder and horror of puberty.

Wounded Giant
(January 4, 2014) There’s a whole epic contained in these two words.

 

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 23, 2021

· Leave a comment ·
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 #83

Are you ready for the bomb cyclone? So far, it is amounting to no more than breeze and drizzle at Square Pig HQ, but there is lots of time for it to build up to something bigger. We cleared our downspouts and secured everything that might blow around, just in case. Meanwhile, even if there’s no monster storm, I have another set of monster-themed band names for your reading (and listening) pleasure. For the second time in as many weeks, I include a new one! Thanks to the Facebook friend (different from last week) who made the suggestion. 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.

Mega Bog
(February 3, 2018) Super-powered swamp creature rises from the undrained morass to save us from the real monsters.

Monster Magnet
(November 23, 2013) That is one rough dating scene.

Of Monsters and Men
(New!) This would have fit just as well with the literary theme I did some months back. I like how it extends the group whose plans fall through or go astray to mythical creatures, especially those we fear. We’re not so different, after all.

Saliva Giant
(January 24, 2015) Disgusting on a hilariously grand scale. Have to respect that. Do not get in a spitting contest with this one.

Screature
(October 8, 2017) Horror-movie two-fer: monster and sound track both.

 

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.)