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.)