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 #69

The food and beverage theme continues, with a tasting flight and a beer sponge. The buffet and bar should remain open for most of the summer. As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask where required, 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.

Booze & Glory
(May 21, 2016) This seems like a more realistic aspiration for a band than fortune and glory. Playing for beer money.

The Bourbonites
(January 14, 2012) Preferable by far to being a suburbanite.

Comfort Food
(November 5, 2016) It feels significant that they’re playing next Tuesday, Election Day. We’ll need a nation-sized pot of mac & cheese to get over this campaign. (If you care about this flawed but functional republic, remember to vote if you haven’t already.) [Update: We had no idea. –ed.]

Djinn and Tonic Belly Dance Revue
(February 25, 2012) I love the translinguistic pun, as well as the West-meets-East idea of the drink and the dance. And then there’s the whole bottle thing . . .

The Gargle Blasters
(January 7, 2012) I cannot fail to honor this reference to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I’m surprised I hadn’t done it already.

Two last things before you go:

1. 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.
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 is out now and includes an excerpt from Barbara and the Rage Brigade. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)