I love the idea of the Seattle Rock Lottery: 25 musicians, randomly assigned this morning to 5 bands, spend the day writing and rehearsing songs to be performed tonight (past my bedtime, so I'll have to hear about it tomorrow). Aside from the good cause of raising funds for music education, I think my favorite part is that, of course, these bands need names and because of the ad hoc nature of the project, the names don't have to be good enough to sell records -- the nuttier, the better!
Meanwhile, these:
Major Miner
Nice -- a music joke disguised by spelling as a VIP (Very Important Prospector).
Mammoth Salmon
A regional icon! I love it when words that share phonemes can be put together and actually make sense. Even better if the same sound is spelled two different ways.
Man made moons.
That's not a moon. It's a space station.
The Raven and the Writing Desk
Classic X and the Y structure meets literary reference! The English majors go wild.
Teepee Creeper
Like Mammoth Salmon, the two words have the same sounds and make a silly kind of sense. The only thing better than the repeated long e sound is the repeated "eep" sound. Bonus: they're on the same bill as Mammoth Salmon.
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, April 26, 2014
Saturday, April 19, 2014
April 19, 2014
We've been fasting from alcohol for Lent, and I don't really drink pop anymore, so when we went out to the Victory Lounge on Good Friday, I ended up standing around with a water glass in my hand most of the night. It was an intoxicating evening, anyway, thanks to Kleine, Hoax Foot, Lion Pincher, and Pouch!
This week's picks:
Gloomsday
AKA three-fourths of March - June in Seattle. Turn up the music. (I also appreciate the Joyce reference.)
Lion Pincher
It takes a lot of nerve (or stupidity) to pinch a lion. As I understand it, one member of this duo is a Leo and the other is a Cancer. Given the opportunity, a crab probably would pinch a lion -- that's what crabs do. Lion Pincher is also the band at the intersection of past honorees Hoax Foot and Pouch. These three bands would make for a very compact show to take on the road.
Moon Hooch
The repeated oo sound is fun. Is this another name for moonshine, or is this another level of illegal: bootleg moonshine?
Parzival
Couldn't be more perfect for a show on Good Friday.
A Yawn Worth Yelling
The repeated y sound is not only fun to say, but conducive to yawning. This is secretly an effective vocal exercise.
This week's picks:
Gloomsday
AKA three-fourths of March - June in Seattle. Turn up the music. (I also appreciate the Joyce reference.)
Lion Pincher
It takes a lot of nerve (or stupidity) to pinch a lion. As I understand it, one member of this duo is a Leo and the other is a Cancer. Given the opportunity, a crab probably would pinch a lion -- that's what crabs do. Lion Pincher is also the band at the intersection of past honorees Hoax Foot and Pouch. These three bands would make for a very compact show to take on the road.
Moon Hooch
The repeated oo sound is fun. Is this another name for moonshine, or is this another level of illegal: bootleg moonshine?
Parzival
Couldn't be more perfect for a show on Good Friday.
A Yawn Worth Yelling
The repeated y sound is not only fun to say, but conducive to yawning. This is secretly an effective vocal exercise.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
April 12, 2014
I wish I could have been there on that historic evening (last week) when Neerdowells met Dead Bars. I wish even more that I could see these two bands on the same bill. I wish most of all to be part of that show myself (not outside the realm of possibility). Here's to generation-spanning shows at The VERA Project!
Bombus
Because who doesn't love bumblebees, at least as something to say if not encounter? (I don't mind meeting them. They're generally pretty chill, just bumbling about their business). I love that the genus name is nearly the same as the common name, but sounds much more hardcore.
Infected Mushroom
Does it get more fungal than this?
Oi Polloi
Greek for "Hey! People!" I like that I can appreciate a pun in a language I studied for one semester over 30 years ago.
Spear & Magic Helmet
Classic X and Y naming structure, and a Wagner reference (how Seattle!) by way of Looney Toons? It's like they know me.
Stuporhero
How have I not already done this one? Wonderful play on words that sound similar but mean very different things (super, stupor) and also similar things (stupor, stupid) to transform a stereotypically competent character type into a lame bumbler who, I hope, keeps getting up and eventually wins the day, with a little help from the rest of the band.
Bombus
Because who doesn't love bumblebees, at least as something to say if not encounter? (I don't mind meeting them. They're generally pretty chill, just bumbling about their business). I love that the genus name is nearly the same as the common name, but sounds much more hardcore.
Infected Mushroom
Does it get more fungal than this?
Oi Polloi
Greek for "Hey! People!" I like that I can appreciate a pun in a language I studied for one semester over 30 years ago.
Spear & Magic Helmet
Classic X and Y naming structure, and a Wagner reference (how Seattle!) by way of Looney Toons? It's like they know me.
Stuporhero
How have I not already done this one? Wonderful play on words that sound similar but mean very different things (super, stupor) and also similar things (stupor, stupid) to transform a stereotypically competent character type into a lame bumbler who, I hope, keeps getting up and eventually wins the day, with a little help from the rest of the band.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
April 5, 2014
If last night's Music Night Out @Nova is any indication, the future of Seattle music is in good hands. Classical guitar, baroque recorder trio, singer-songwriters, punk rock, jazz, hip-hop -- we had a little of everything from the engaged and talented students (and some parents and staff) of our amazing public alternative school. Go Dead Rats!
And the band names just keep coming:
Baby and the Nobodies
Two of my favorite things: the classic X and the Y structure, with our characteristic Northwest loser pride.
Emergency Volcano Evacuation Route
For readers elsewhere, we see these signs along certain roads near Mt. Rainier, one of our local volcanoes. Although I'm a big fan of wordplay, I also love it when existing text from out in the world can be lifted unchanged into a band name.
Largemouth Bastards
One syllable, a surprising twist, and it still makes sense!
Neerdowells
This is one of the Nova bands from last night. 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.)
The Phenomenauts
They sail the strange and unusual, and live to sing the tale.
And the band names just keep coming:
Baby and the Nobodies
Two of my favorite things: the classic X and the Y structure, with our characteristic Northwest loser pride.
Emergency Volcano Evacuation Route
For readers elsewhere, we see these signs along certain roads near Mt. Rainier, one of our local volcanoes. Although I'm a big fan of wordplay, I also love it when existing text from out in the world can be lifted unchanged into a band name.
Largemouth Bastards
One syllable, a surprising twist, and it still makes sense!
Neerdowells
This is one of the Nova bands from last night. 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.)
The Phenomenauts
They sail the strange and unusual, and live to sing the tale.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
March 29, 2014
SHAMELESS PLUG: Your Mother Should Know (the band for which I am drummer, backup vocalist, and calm center of sanity and order) is playing next Friday, April 4, at a benefit show for NOVA High School, the coolest public school ever. We'll present 5 songs from our planned full-length album, to be recorded later this spring. More details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1459740187577437/
On with the band names:
Bear Hands
What I want to know is, does the Constitution give us the right to arm these bare-handed bears?
Earth Eater
Spacewaster
I put these together because they're on the same bill and seem related. My first (admittedly nerdy) thought was of Galactus, the Fantastic Four villain who roams the universe devouring planets -- laying waste to space. It was hard to believe I hadn't written about Spacewaster before, because I like the assonance and the lack of space between the words, as well as the loser-grunge mentality. I'm happy to include it with another band that gives a whole different slant on "waste."
Pink Octopus
What's not to like about an intelligent eight-armed mollusc that's both a shy loner and fierce ambush predator? When they're red, they're angry. Pink seems more friendly, but I could be wrong. Approach with care.
Wrinkles
In Seattle, we don't iron, so they should fit right in.
 |
| Nova HS mascot, the Dead Rat |
Bear Hands
What I want to know is, does the Constitution give us the right to arm these bare-handed bears?
Earth Eater
Spacewaster
I put these together because they're on the same bill and seem related. My first (admittedly nerdy) thought was of Galactus, the Fantastic Four villain who roams the universe devouring planets -- laying waste to space. It was hard to believe I hadn't written about Spacewaster before, because I like the assonance and the lack of space between the words, as well as the loser-grunge mentality. I'm happy to include it with another band that gives a whole different slant on "waste."
Pink Octopus
What's not to like about an intelligent eight-armed mollusc that's both a shy loner and fierce ambush predator? When they're red, they're angry. Pink seems more friendly, but I could be wrong. Approach with care.
Wrinkles
In Seattle, we don't iron, so they should fit right in.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
March 22, 2014
A local musician posted this on Facebook yesterday:
"If you aren't in your favorite band, you are in the wrong band."
Yes! The most important music is the music you are doing yourself. Next most important is the music your friends are doing. And so on. Just make sure you have a great name so I can write about it!
Bring Me the Horizon
Epic. Romantic. Futile.
Charlie and the Foxtrots
I keep trying to learn the NATO phonetic alphabet; Charlie and Foxtrot are the only letters I consistently remember. That, plus the classic X and the Y structure, makes this a winner.
Dead Cat Hat
This is awful and funny at the same time, with an obvious but irresistible rhyme. Not the cat in the hat; the cat is the hat.
The Tentacles
I'm picturing a one-octopus four-piece band.
Wakey!Wakey!
Eggs and bakey! An ironic act in a late-night show, but perfect for the hangover breakfast.
"If you aren't in your favorite band, you are in the wrong band."
Yes! The most important music is the music you are doing yourself. Next most important is the music your friends are doing. And so on. Just make sure you have a great name so I can write about it!
Bring Me the Horizon
Epic. Romantic. Futile.
Charlie and the Foxtrots
I keep trying to learn the NATO phonetic alphabet; Charlie and Foxtrot are the only letters I consistently remember. That, plus the classic X and the Y structure, makes this a winner.
Dead Cat Hat
This is awful and funny at the same time, with an obvious but irresistible rhyme. Not the cat in the hat; the cat is the hat.
The Tentacles
I'm picturing a one-octopus four-piece band.
Wakey!Wakey!
Eggs and bakey! An ironic act in a late-night show, but perfect for the hangover breakfast.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
March 15, 2014
Wow, I might actually get out to a show today -- not one but two favorite bands, Acapulco Lips and Red Ribbon, are playing an in-store at Everyday Music! 6:00 p.m. is my kind of start time. As names go, it's hard to beat Acapulco Lips, but here are some close seconds:
Endorphins Lost
What goes up must come down, alas.
Raptor Tractor
I had a tractor phobia when I was a small child (and it has already been pointed out that Tractorphobia would be a good band name). Now I'm picturing fierce dinosaurs on John Deeres. Extra credit for being on a bill with past honorees Power Skeleton and Skunk Rider.
Silent Land Time Machine
Anything with "time machine" in the name is almost guaranteed to catch my eye. What I like about this, aside from the length, is that it can be read as three modifiers with one noun; one modifier with three nouns; or two nouns with one modifier each. Mix and match!
Space Cretins
There's no stopping the cretins from launching . . .
Stranger on Mars
I imagine it will be a long time before this is not true, by definition, of anyone who gets there. But it can also be read as a comparative: "This music is strange enough on Earth, but it's ever stranger on Mars."
Endorphins Lost
What goes up must come down, alas.
Raptor Tractor
I had a tractor phobia when I was a small child (and it has already been pointed out that Tractorphobia would be a good band name). Now I'm picturing fierce dinosaurs on John Deeres. Extra credit for being on a bill with past honorees Power Skeleton and Skunk Rider.
Silent Land Time Machine
Anything with "time machine" in the name is almost guaranteed to catch my eye. What I like about this, aside from the length, is that it can be read as three modifiers with one noun; one modifier with three nouns; or two nouns with one modifier each. Mix and match!
Space Cretins
There's no stopping the cretins from launching . . .
Stranger on Mars
I imagine it will be a long time before this is not true, by definition, of anyone who gets there. But it can also be read as a comparative: "This music is strange enough on Earth, but it's ever stranger on Mars."
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