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 #64
The celebration of Northwest Loser Pride continues! It is a complete coincidence that this theme overlaps with LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, though I imagine there’s a certain amount of intersection. Anyone can feel like a loser and shout it from the rooftops. As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask, get your vaccine, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.
Least Likely to Succeed
(October 22, 2016) Here we have a fine example of Northwest loser pride. It’s not about success or failure, it’s about getting out there and making some noise. And annoying the squares. [They didn’t have an internet presence then and don’t seem to now, either.]
Least of These
(June 6, 2015) This seems to fit into one of my personal favorite categories, “loser pride.” Own it, and make it look like you’re winning. I also have to like the Biblical reference to those Jesus calls us to serve.
Neerdowells
(April 15, 2014) Rock will never be dead as long as young teens have the opportunity to plug in a guitar and turn it up. And, no small thing, the opportunity to name the project! Again with the Seattle loser pride. I also like the way it’s all run together, even though that risks being read as Near Dowells (what we call the Oneder Effect.) [Update: this band has gone through at least one name change since 2014 and is not currently active. They live on under this name in chapter 3 of my garage-rock fairy tale The Gospel According to St. Rage.]
Pity Kiss
(May 16, 2015) Sweet and sad at once, and feels like another aspect of Northwest loser pride. Even a pity kiss is still a kiss; we’ll take what we can get.
Power Cowards
SuperNothing
(November 28, 2015) They’re not the same genre, but the names, at least, belong together. They both take Northwest loser pride to the next (comic-book hero) level.
Two last things before you go:
- My new thing in 2021 is 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 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. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)
Karen Eisenbrey 