Category: Band names

Square Pig in a Round Hole-April 7, 2018

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Square PigNaming 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 club listings for abundant source material!

In a major plot twist, last week’s mild head cold (which I thought would be over by now) revealed its true nature as a nasty chest cold. It’s bad enough that my list only goes to four instead of five. I don’t have it in me to look for a replacement for a choice that turned out to be an album title, not a band name. If you’re sick, too, please stay in and get lots of rest. Whiskey seems to help. If you’re not, by all means get out there but stay away from anyone with an ugly cough. I hope all members of these bands are in good health:

Aloha Mars

It’s fun to imagine a day when the Red Planet is just another travel destination.

Always Naked

Anyone else hearing the voice of Sam the Eagle? “Even the birds, under their fine feathers, are all …”

Medusa Stare

Don’t look now, but … Oops, too late. Turned to stone again. I hate when that happens.

Wolcott’s Instant Pain Annihilator

When you can’t lay your hands on an old-time remedy containing alcohol, opium, and cannabis, try music! Relieves the misery without the side effects. Might still be habit-forming.

Shameless Self Promotion: In case you didn’t know, I write about a lot more than band names! My young adult wizard fantasy novel Daughter of Magic releases May 22, 2018 from Not a Pipe Publishing. As part of the Year of Publishing Women, in 2018 Not a Pipe is publishing nine books by seven women; I’m honored to be one of them.

Square Pig in a Round Hole-March 31, 2018

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Square PigNaming 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 club listings for abundant source material!

April Fool! It’s not March 31st at all. A head cold persuaded me to sleep late yesterday, leaving little time for blogging before we went out to celebrate #1 son’s 27th birthday with a matinee of Black Panther and dinner at The Shambles (both highly recommended.) But behold, an Easter basket of band-name treats:

At the Heart of the World

Mother Earth has molten core, a beating heart.

Dolphin Midwives

We’re not the only mammals who need help to bring forth the next generation.

Mean Grown Ups

Not exactly a band, but on the same bill with past honorees Butt Dial; close enough for me. Kids will regard as “mean” adults who don’t give them their way. That being said, when you are the grown up, remember how it felt and try to deal kindly with the child.

Pissed On

What a difference a preposition makes.

Ruptured Silence

That silence was broken and no mistake. I couldn’t find an online presence, alas.

 

 

Shameless Self Promotion: In case you didn’t know, I write about a lot more than band names! My young adult wizard fantasy novel Daughter of Magic releases May 22, 2018 from Not a Pipe Publishing. As part of the Year of Publishing Women, in 2018 Not a Pipe is publishing nine books by seven women; I’m honored to be one of them.

Square Pig in a Round Hole-March 24, 2018

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Square PigNaming 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 club listings for abundant source material!

You know it’s really spring when you have several days of every kind of weather, sometimes all within an hour. Kind of it to be reasonably nice for March for Our Lives, but it still seems like a good weekend for indoor activities, such as going out to hear a band (or maybe a piano recital). These names sprouted up and caught my attention:

Epic Beard Men

Exactly what it says on the label. I appreciate the grandiose description of facial hair. This could be a Blood Bowl team; I’m thinking dwarves.

Mables Marbles

Toy company, children’s book, sculptor’s output, or what Mable is losing? Regardless, it’s fun to say. (I had already chosen this before I discovered that their bass player is none other than Ronnie Rodriguez, who figures prominently in the lyrics of “Tear-Shaped Bruise” by Your Mother Should Know (I play drums) and covered here by Dead Bars.)

Mind Beams

I want this superpower: the ability to project my thoughts without having to find the right words.

Racoma

Of course I will choose one that combines my favorite music genre with the City of Destiny, where I spent my first five adult years. Bonus points for going for the simplest spelling.

Shitty Person

This reminds me of a story my husband tells about being stranded by the side of the road and the sympathetic stranger who stopped to help. He spoke the same two words, “Shit, man,” as greeting, commiseration, and farewell, and is known around our house under his nom de  superhero, ShitMan.

Shameless Self Promotion: In case you didn’t know, I write about a lot more than band names! My young adult wizard fantasy novel Daughter of Magic releases May 22, 2018 from Not a Pipe Publishing. As part of the Year of Publishing Women, in 2018 Not a Pipe is publishing nine books by seven women; I’m honored to be one of them.

Square Pig in a Round Hole-March 17, 2018

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Square PigNaming 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 club listings for abundant source material!

I didn’t come up with a list of Irish-themed band names, but I will still wish a Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all who celebrate it! My day will consist of editing and donating blood, but I plan to recover at home with corned beef and beer; celebration enough. Meanwhile, the bands continue to come through:

Death Coach

By happy linguistic accident, either funeral transport or end-of-life doula. A bit of personal serendipity: the book I will be editing this afternoon is book 1 of a trilogy; book 3 might be titled Death’s Midwife.

The Exquisite Taste of Plain Water

“If you’re thirsty, drink water,” Mom would say. Fortunately, we were on a well with excellent water; I grew up baffled by kids who had to have juice or pop. In case you didn’t know, Seattle has pretty great tap water.

Gloom

Yeah, it’s almost spring and the cherry trees are blooming, but don’t forget: Junuary is just around the corner.

(h)ourglasses

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Our Glasses

They might not wear glasses, but I come from a long line of bespectacled people, back through time. (This group also shares a drummer with previous honoree Razor Clam!)

Mortuary Beach

Don’t look too close at the sand. Those aren’t shells.

 

Shameless Self Promotion: In case you didn’t know, I write about a lot more than band names! My young adult wizard fantasy novel Daughter of Magic releases May 22, 2018 from Not a Pipe Publishing. As part of the Year of Publishing Women, in 2018 Not a Pipe is publishing nine books by seven women; I’m honored to be one of them.

Square Pig in a Round Hole-March 10, 2018

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Square PigNaming 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 club listings for abundant source material!

PSA: It’s TIME CHANGE NIGHT! If you’re still analog enough to rely on a clock you have to set, remember to “spring ahead” one hour so you won’t be late for church!!! We will be making an early night of it for this very reason. If you don’t have to get up in the morning, by all means go out and support your local bar band. If you’re still up at 2 am, you can watch DST begin. I’ve heard it’s an unforgettable experience.

The Lone Bellow

This can be a complete sentence about a solitary subject and their loud utterance; or a description of a loud utterance in isolation; or the title of a work about a decrepit organ in its last gasp.

Opposite Armor

After the battle, trade uniforms and go home friends.

Pairanoiseum

When single-celled animals collide with a sense that everyone’s out to get you, you get NOISE. And of course, it’s a two-piece.

Trash Panda

The humor and aptness of the words make this a memorable insult for Starlord to throw at Rocket. Rhythm, repeated vowel sounds, and percussive consonants that crash and thump make it a perfect band name.

The What For

When you’re getting a stern lecture but don’t know why.

Shameless Self Promotion: In case you didn’t know, I write about a lot more than band names! My young adult wizard fantasy novel Daughter of Magic releases May 22, 2018 from Not a Pipe Publishing. As part of the Year of Publishing Women, in 2018 Not a Pipe is publishing nine books by seven women; I’m honored to be one of them.

 

 

Square Pig in a Round Hole-March 3, 2018

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Square PigNaming 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 club listings for abundant source material!

It has been a busy musical and literary week here at Square Pig HQ: spouse’s piano recital last Saturday, memorial reading for Ursula LeGuin on Sunday, free improvisation on Monday, writing group on Tuesday, last-minute rock & roll trouperism at the Skylark on Thursday, Seattle Composers Salon on Friday. It’s like I have a life, in spite of appearances. And I’ve earned a Saturday at home. If you have something left in the tank, consider going out and appreciating a well-named band; perhaps one of these:

Bigger Than Mountains

Oceans. Planets. The sky.

Brianna Skye & the Dark Clouds

I’m a perennial fan of classic X and the Y structure, especially when there’s clever or poetic connection between the name of the band leader and the name of the band. By happy coincidence, my garage-rock fairy tale The Gospel According to St Rage includes an important character named Storm Skye. I wonder if they’re related.

DANGG

A mild swear powered up with a touch of reverb.

Good Old War

Nostalgia is strange. “…wars and lechery, nothing else holds fashion.” (Troilus and Cressida, Wm. Shakespeare)

Riot at the Dojo

Over-the-top fight scene. Everyone bows at the end. (The resident young person was hoping for an exclamation point after “Riot.” You can’t always get what you want.)

Shameless Self Promotion: In case you didn’t know, I write about a lot more than band names! My young adult wizard fantasy novel Daughter of Magic releases May 22, 2018 from Not a Pipe Publishing. As part of the Year of Publishing Women, in 2018 Not a Pipe is publishing nine books by seven women; I’m honored to be one of them.

Square Pig in a Round Hole-February 24, 2018

· Leave a comment ·

Square PigNaming 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 club listings for abundant source material!

OK, Winter, you’ve had your say. Having faith in Spring, I planted peas before the snow fell. I also believe in band names; they never fail to cheer me up, no matter the weather. These five warmed the end of a cold week:

Blacklite District

A different and groovier vibe than the other common ___-light district.

The Common Names

I’m a fan of shining a spotlight on the ordinary. In a humorous twist, they seem to be hiding behind a blank wall; they have no obvious web presence.

Icon for Hire

I like that it’s icon rather than hero. An icon is a window to inspiration and could go more than one way. Appropriately, this group is not hiding.

Mythical Vigilante

Who to call when you need to track down the villains of lore and legend.

The Square Feet

Another common concept in the spotlight, also with no obvious web presence. Although square feet might make it hard to dance, claiming squareness probably means you’re the opposite.

Shameless Self Promotion: In case you didn’t know, I write about a lot more than band names! My young adult wizard fantasy novel Daughter of Magic releases May 22, 2018 from Not a Pipe Publishing. As part of the Year of Publishing Women, in 2018 Not a Pipe is publishing nine books by seven women; I’m honored to be one of them.

Square Pig in a Round Hole-February 17, 2018

· 1 Comment ·

Square PigNaming 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 club listings for abundant source material!

I’m too angry and sad about gun violence to come up with a lighthearted intro this week. Thankful the band names came through once again to lift weary spirits.

Are They Brothers

Worded, but not punctuated, like a question. As if someone already knows the answer.

Chance to Steal

Another sign of hope: spring training has begun.

Krunch Sauce & Kranky Nugs

Obscure bar snacks hiding the identities of musicians playing undercover.

Mostly Other People Do the Killing

Well, as long as it’s mostly other people, I guess we can sit back and enjoy the show. Ulp.

Night Lunch

I appreciate the subtle similarity of brownbagging it after dark to a spectacular space shot.

Square Pig in a Round Hole-February 10, 2018

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Square PigNaming 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 club listings for abundant source material!

I am amazed and grateful to be surrounded by so much creativity. Last night we enjoyed scenes from three new plays at Ghost Light Theatricals’ Battle of the Bards. I have the privilege of reading advance copies of the books my publisher (Not a Pipe Publishing) is bringing out this year. How’d I get into this club? It’s exciting and humbling at once. And then there are the band names, which just don’t quit.

Between Seasons

Sunny and nice today, rainy tomorrow with snow in the forecast. We’ve reached that point in February where it can’t decide whether it’s winter or spring.

Dirty Rugs

If you clean it, the cat will just barf on it again.

Long Day on Mars

Sometimes I suspect bands of picking a name just to get my attention. Did they know I have an unpublished SF novel on my hard drive that includes a chapter about 3 space travelers on Mars, trying to get from their crashed shuttle to the base 90 km away before their oxygen runs out? It takes them more than one long day.

Nocturnal Mayhem

Great when it’s onstage; not so much at your neighbor’s house.

Two Headed Crow

As if they weren’t intelligent enough with only one head.

Square Pig in a Round Hole-February 3, 2018

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Square PigNaming 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 club listings for abundant source material!

We went (by bus) last night to a concert at St. James Cathedral of a 14th century Mass, the first known setting by a named composer (Machaut). This was from back in the day when they were inventing the rules for music and notation. Seriously weird, cool stuff. But getting home at that hour (not even that late) by bus is complicated and time-consuming. After it was all over, I dreamed that one of the buses never came and we had to spend the night in a warehouse. It turned out to be full of drum sets, but then the ceiling collapsed, revealing even more drum sets in the attic. Clearly not a safe place to be sleeping, but visually quite cool. Then a giant (empty) cymbal bag floated down on top of me. I’d like to hear or even play a 6-foot diameter cymbal but it’s more interesting to imagine than actually deal with. I wish you simple, reliable transport if you go out to hear a band this weekend; maybe one of these:

Cumulus

I’ve actually heard this band live, so it comes as something of a surprise that I hadn’t featured them before. A massive pile of matter that yet floats in the air, altogether real but you can’t hold it.

Death by Overkill

Exaggeration wrapped in hyperbole. What a way to go.

Howling Gods

Deities lifting their voices dyslexically to the noom.

Mega Bog

Super-powered swamp creature rises from the undrained morass to save us from the real monsters.

These Fine Moments

What a good life is made of if you’re paying attention.