Today we celebrate three years of Square Pig in a Round Hole, and bid a sad farewell to longtime fave Curtains for You, featured in the fifth post of this blog. Based on Facebook response, their "last live show ever" was shaping up to be a real love-fest. Who will be the new Curtains for You? Perhaps one of these:
Bad Motivators
I'm a sucker for an obscure Star Wars reference, especially one that implies disreputable influences. Plus, they're on a bill with two of my favorite local bands: Acapulco Lips and Red Ribbon!
Dead Animal Assembly Plant
I'm picturing a slaughterhouse in reverse, turning out reanimated livestock -- perfect for the holiday just past.
Def Leprechaun
I'm assuming tribute band here, which is often where you get the best wordplay. Or badass fiddle outfit. There's something engaging about that turn from sleek jungle cat to cereal-box sprite.
Pentagraham Crackers
Also fitting for Halloween, something dark rendered harmless by a comfort-food image.
Trivium
The only thing more trivial than trivia is a single trivium. I have only recently learned that "trivium" is part of classical academic education. I don't remember seeing the word before, so I was tickled to come across it as a band name.
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 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!
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Sunday, October 27, 2013
October 27, 2013
Just one year ago tonight, Your Mother Should Know closed out a rockin' Halloween party/show at Sound Effects. Little did we know we would be the last band to play there before the building was demolished. RIP Sound Effects, Jam Box, Funhouse, and I guess the Comet, too. This winter will be a little darker without you. But other venues are still kicking, and there are plenty of well named bands to play in them this Halloween week:
All New Material
I'm always amused when I go to hear a band for the first time and they announce that the next song is a new one. (But Your Mother Should Know hasn't played the same set twice, so we probably fall into the "This is a new one" trap every time out.) Also, they're a cover band -- nice.
Curse of the Black Tongue
This is great for Halloween week -- creepy and gross and sorcerous. It also makes me think of a friend who used to be in a band called Black Hairy Tongue, which is even grosser.
La Fin Absolute du Monde
Everything sounds better in French, even the absolute end of the world.
Nervous Curtains
Shakey Blankets
I so wish these two were on the same bill! They need only Quivering Quilts to complete a themed show of haunted household textiles.
All New Material
I'm always amused when I go to hear a band for the first time and they announce that the next song is a new one. (But Your Mother Should Know hasn't played the same set twice, so we probably fall into the "This is a new one" trap every time out.) Also, they're a cover band -- nice.
Curse of the Black Tongue
This is great for Halloween week -- creepy and gross and sorcerous. It also makes me think of a friend who used to be in a band called Black Hairy Tongue, which is even grosser.
La Fin Absolute du Monde
Everything sounds better in French, even the absolute end of the world.
Nervous Curtains
Shakey Blankets
I so wish these two were on the same bill! They need only Quivering Quilts to complete a themed show of haunted household textiles.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
October 19, 2013
I identify as both writer and musician, but writer first, though I've probably made a little more money as a musician. I figured the blogosphere did not need another blog about writing, so I was pleased to find a different kind of word-based creative expression to ponder. When I started this project almost three years ago, I didn't imagine the supply of band names would last this long. Apparently, this well has no bottom.
Minot
I am never surprised to meet someone from Minot, ND. It is a town people are from. (My mother grew up near Minot and worked there for a time before her marriage to my dad.) I don't think I've ever met anyone who was moving there, but maybe that's because Seattle is a place people move to.
Power Skeleton
I have it on good authority that October is Skeleton Awareness Month. I have a sore hip, so I'm quite aware of my own personal skeleton. When I eventually have my hips and/or knees replaced, I want them to put in a sound chip to make noise like a servo motor.
Skunk Rider
Whether hero or villain, this character must have very short legs and no sense of smell. Probably not afraid to use chemical weapons.
Where My Bones Rest Easy
More Skeleton Awareness! Let them rest when their work is through.
The Wiled
Fun with spelling! It sounds like what rock music is, and describes those who have succumbed to its charms.
Minot
I am never surprised to meet someone from Minot, ND. It is a town people are from. (My mother grew up near Minot and worked there for a time before her marriage to my dad.) I don't think I've ever met anyone who was moving there, but maybe that's because Seattle is a place people move to.
Power Skeleton
I have it on good authority that October is Skeleton Awareness Month. I have a sore hip, so I'm quite aware of my own personal skeleton. When I eventually have my hips and/or knees replaced, I want them to put in a sound chip to make noise like a servo motor.
Skunk Rider
Whether hero or villain, this character must have very short legs and no sense of smell. Probably not afraid to use chemical weapons.
Where My Bones Rest Easy
More Skeleton Awareness! Let them rest when their work is through.
The Wiled
Fun with spelling! It sounds like what rock music is, and describes those who have succumbed to its charms.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
October 12, 2013
On vacation one day and I've already been to a fabulous show! Big thanks to the Skylark and all the bands -- Dead Bars, Bigfoot Wallace and His Wicked Sons, and Charms -- for a fun night out for our anniversary. And the names are good, too. They're in good company this week:
Bigfoot Wallace and His Wicked Sons
This one gets in for a whole bunch of reasons: classic [proper noun] and [possessive pronoun] [noun] form, accessorized with strong adjectives and nice syllabic rhythm; long but not too long; eye/ear-catching and humorous without being silly; and as a bonus, the form of the name suits the punk-blues style of the music.
Dead Bars
I'm surprised I haven't included this one already, though I have referenced them a couple times. I actually know the story behind the name, which grew out of drinking in bars where there was no energy or excitement, nothing going on but drinking and thinking. If these guys are playing, the venue is automatically not a dead bar anymore.
The Debaucherantes
At the coming-out after-party.
Heaven's Basement
This is, of course, where we live. No wonder there's so much weird stuff around.
Monogamy Party
Either this is what we were at at the Skylark last night, or it's what I've been a card-carrying member of for the last 27 years. I'm all for it either way.
Bigfoot Wallace and His Wicked Sons
This one gets in for a whole bunch of reasons: classic [proper noun] and [possessive pronoun] [noun] form, accessorized with strong adjectives and nice syllabic rhythm; long but not too long; eye/ear-catching and humorous without being silly; and as a bonus, the form of the name suits the punk-blues style of the music.
Dead Bars
I'm surprised I haven't included this one already, though I have referenced them a couple times. I actually know the story behind the name, which grew out of drinking in bars where there was no energy or excitement, nothing going on but drinking and thinking. If these guys are playing, the venue is automatically not a dead bar anymore.
The Debaucherantes
At the coming-out after-party.
Heaven's Basement
This is, of course, where we live. No wonder there's so much weird stuff around.
Monogamy Party
Either this is what we were at at the Skylark last night, or it's what I've been a card-carrying member of for the last 27 years. I'm all for it either way.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
October 5, 2013
Macefield Music Festival tonight in Ballard! It's a little smaller than the old Reverb Fest, but I'm so happy they pulled something together. It's a beautiful day to go discover some new bands and hear old favorites The Young Fresh Fellows and new favorite Courtney Marie Andrews.
Meanwhile, there are so many great band names in the listings that I had to settle on a theme and narrow the list from there.
Alabaster
I don't know what they were intending, but as a Pogo fan of long standing, I can't help thinking of Albert Alligator's adorable little nephew Alabaster, and his pal Rackety Coon Chile. And so I smile.
Cute is What We Aim For
Whattayouknow! This is the theme. I don't usually find this much cuteness in the club listings.
Dung Beatles
Not so cute, you say? But the spelling -- adorable.
Oh! Pears
Perhaps more goofy than cute, but charmingly accessorized with punctuation. Read aloud, it reveals its secret.
Sleepy Kitty
Aw.
Meanwhile, there are so many great band names in the listings that I had to settle on a theme and narrow the list from there.
Alabaster
I don't know what they were intending, but as a Pogo fan of long standing, I can't help thinking of Albert Alligator's adorable little nephew Alabaster, and his pal Rackety Coon Chile. And so I smile.
Cute is What We Aim For
Whattayouknow! This is the theme. I don't usually find this much cuteness in the club listings.
Dung Beatles
Not so cute, you say? But the spelling -- adorable.
Oh! Pears
Perhaps more goofy than cute, but charmingly accessorized with punctuation. Read aloud, it reveals its secret.
Sleepy Kitty
Aw.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
September 28, 2013
This week's band names (or maybe album titles) I'd like to see:
St. Rage (inspired by a mini-storage sign with one letter burned out).
Moose Family Detour (from an Alaska friend's Facebook post).
But these are all real bands:
Bat Sabbath
OK, probably a tribute band, but a great name all on its own. I picture a congregation of bats having upside-down church services up in the rafters. The repeated b and short-a sounds make it sound just right.
Bugs
Magpies
Tacos
I'm a big fan of really long band names, but I also have a soft spot for the one-word type. I like these three plural nouns without the definite article. One of these things is not like the others, but I suppose somebody somewhere would make a taco out of bugs and/or magpies.
Voodoo Organist
Pull out all the stops and raise the dead.
St. Rage (inspired by a mini-storage sign with one letter burned out).
Moose Family Detour (from an Alaska friend's Facebook post).
But these are all real bands:
Bat Sabbath
OK, probably a tribute band, but a great name all on its own. I picture a congregation of bats having upside-down church services up in the rafters. The repeated b and short-a sounds make it sound just right.
Bugs
Magpies
Tacos
I'm a big fan of really long band names, but I also have a soft spot for the one-word type. I like these three plural nouns without the definite article. One of these things is not like the others, but I suppose somebody somewhere would make a taco out of bugs and/or magpies.
Voodoo Organist
Pull out all the stops and raise the dead.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
September 21, 2013
Singing and playing drums at the same time is hard! Duh, you say. At this point, I can sing an involved part if the drum part is simple, or play an involved part if the vocal part is simple. So now I'm stepping it up and trying to sing a sort-of complex vocal part against a sort-of complex drum part. What I'm finding is, I can do some of it but can't remember all of either part at the same time, and sometimes I can't remember any of either. BUT it's better than expected and enough fun that I plan to keep trying! (Good thing we don't have a show booked yet, but I look forward to playing this song in public after a lot more practice). Meanwhile, these well named bands have shows this week:
Grackles
Equally great as a name for birds or a band. I think it's the enclosed "ack" that makes it so much fun to say. It just sounds like something noisy.
Hound Dog Taylor's Hand
There's a disconnect between a hound dog and a hand that makes this name end on a surprise. Plus, you think it's a band named after the late Hound Dog Taylor, but then, no, it's named after his hand. Presumably not disembodied, but still -- makes you sit right up.
Loops of Fury
"Fury" is not the first thing to come to mind when I think "loops" so there's the surprise and goofiness factor of an unexpected pairing. But it is Decibel Festival, so who knows? Maybe it isn't hyperbole, after all.
Mind Spiders
Worse (or better) than ear worms!
Thrasher's Corner
A classic place name that sounds too metal for the bucolic reality.
Grackles
Equally great as a name for birds or a band. I think it's the enclosed "ack" that makes it so much fun to say. It just sounds like something noisy.
Hound Dog Taylor's Hand
There's a disconnect between a hound dog and a hand that makes this name end on a surprise. Plus, you think it's a band named after the late Hound Dog Taylor, but then, no, it's named after his hand. Presumably not disembodied, but still -- makes you sit right up.
Loops of Fury
"Fury" is not the first thing to come to mind when I think "loops" so there's the surprise and goofiness factor of an unexpected pairing. But it is Decibel Festival, so who knows? Maybe it isn't hyperbole, after all.
Mind Spiders
Worse (or better) than ear worms!
Thrasher's Corner
A classic place name that sounds too metal for the bucolic reality.
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