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It's no secret: I am a fan of adjectives. And when you combine two that are just varying degrees of the other, that's a recipe for a great band name.
We understand what big means, and we understand what gigantic means. But when you put the two together, is the result unfathomably colossal or do they somehow negate each other? We may never know.
Big Gigantic It's no secret: I am a fan of adjectives. And when you combine two that are just varying degrees of the other, that's a recipe for a great band name.
We understand what big means, and we understand what gigantic means. But when you put the two together, is the result unfathomably colossal or do they somehow negate each other? We may never know.
Good Old War At first glance you might be thinking metal when you see this name. But you'd be way off as after listening you will be thinking Simon and Garfunkel! Can't think of much that's good about war, old or new but band names are a challenge and this must have felt right to the players.
OK Go Less is more with this band name; it's short, sweet, and to the point. Most importantly, it suits this well-known, Grammy award-winning band perfectly.
OK Go rose to prominence in 2006 with a creative and elaborate (although low-budget) viral music video for "Here It Goes Again." The band has continued to churn out innovative videos for their catchy singles and have established themselves as a force in the alternative/indie scene.
Jukebox the Ghost We aren't sure what to make of this name but we like the way if flows. If you are "jukeboxing" something perhaps you are filing it away for easy access later. So what are we going to do with this "ghost" later?
Guantanamo Baywatch I'd like to solve the puzzle, Pat! Is it just me, or is Guantanamo Baywatch the best Wheel of Fortune Before & After puzzle ever? I can just see Vanna White revealing those letters as the contestants scramble to make sense of this wacky and bizarre band name.
Not only does it lend itself perfectly to Wheel of Fortune, but the name also employs one of the most effective strategies for band names: combining something terrible (Guantanamo Bay) with something awesome, albeit a little cheesy (Baywatch).
The band, from Portland, Oregon, prides itself on playing a sleazy, sexually-charged brand of surf punk in brief, 2-3 minute songs. The three-piece band also boasts a female bass player, as if it needed anything else to set it apart.
Fitz & the Tantrums I'm usually not a fan of band names that follow this format; they are a dime a dozen, and it's hard to make them stand out. Fitz & the Tantrums, however, defies the odds with its cleverness.
Michael Fitzpatrick, one of the singers for the band, is no doubt the source from which the "fitz" is derived. Throw "the tantrums" behind it and you've got a lovely mental picture of a screaming, out of control child having a meltdown in the local grocery store.
Luckily, the music of Fitz & the Tantrums bears no resemblance to shrieking kids. Their sound can be described as indie pop or rock, with a heavy soul influence. The absence of guitars is just one element that distinguishes this band from the slew of others that crowd the indie rock scene.
Marianas Trench You have to respect a band name that's inspired by the deepest part of the ocean in the world, eh? The Mariana Trench, located in the western Pacific Ocean, is over 6 miles deep; that's deep enough to contain Mount Everest - with a mile to spare.
Maybe it's a little presumptuous to name yourself after the most immense and awe-inspiring crevice in the whole world, but the guys from Marianas Trench deserve a little recognition for their attempt to enlighten us all. If nothing else, I, and those of you reading this, have a slightly deeper understanding of oceanography.
Despite the intelligent, sophisticated name, Marianas Trench plays a less cerebral brand of pop punk, with catchy hooks pervading every song.
The Acacia Strain Isn't acacia a great word? I love the way it sounds, the way it looks, the confusing spelling, and it makes a pretty good name for a girl, too. But the "strain" part of the band name sort of spoils the beauty of the "acacia" part. The Acacia Strain refers to a disease carried by insects in Africa that reside and breed in the nearby acacia trees.
On a more philosophic level, The Acacia Strain is an embodiment of the phenomenon in which things that appear beautiful or pristine turn out to be ugly and tainted, like the acacia trees being infested with disease-spreading insects.
The band is often labeled as deathcore, and they are certainly heavy and brutally unforgiving.
Breathe Owl Breathe For some reason, this band name has a certain emotional appeal to it, as it evokes an image of a compassionate fellow comforting an injured, possibly panicked owl, back to health. Of course, that's just my personal take on it, but the imagery of a majestic owl and its possible vulnerability creates a name that, in my opinion, is very powerful.
Another thing Breathe Owl Breathe has going for it is versatility. Not only has the band released 5 full length albums, but they are also working on a book project that they successfully funded through crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter.
The band seems refreshingly and naturally quirky, and they play a fitting brand of indie folk rock.
Plain White T's It's a bit of a risk naming a band after something so bland and unspectacular as a plain white t-shirt. But in many ways, the name is appropriate. Calling the Plain White T's bland is probably unfair, but the band possesses a certain familiarity and conveys a sense of comfort, as their music and image is unthreatening and comfortable.
While the band is known for their pop rock, acoustic guitar-driven sound ("Hey There Delilah," "1,2,3,4"), they also have a slightly heavier, electric side to their music persona.
Cake What a sweet, indulgent, icing-laden band name. I assume there aren't many people out there who don't enjoy a good piece of cake, so the band already has the support of the masses. Plus, Cake is short and memorable, two qualities that are often contradictory for a band name but give the group a unique, elusive edge.
Cake, an alt rock outfit from Sacramento, California, has been together, in some form, since the early 90's.
Finntroll If this name conjures up an image of some weird Finnish troll, then you aren't far off from the original inspiration for the band name. According to an old Finnish legend, a crazy creature called the Finn-Troll once attacked and killed most of the members of a group of Swedish priests on their visit to Finland. For whatever reason, the band adopted the name.
Strangely enough, Finntroll's lyrics are primarily in Swedish, because the original singer was part of a Swedish-speaking minority in Finland. The band can be classified as black metal, but they also draw heavily upon Finnish folk music, particularly humppa (look it up, it's interesting). However you want to label their music (viking metal? troll metal?), it is extreme and unlike anything you've heard.
Set Your Goals Whenever I see this name, I can't help but hear it said in a sarcastic, sneering voice. I imagine that was exactly the intention of the band.
Directly taken from the name of an album by hardcore punk band CIV, Set Your Goals is certainly meant to make a mockery of the stuffy suburbanite dad lecturing his misfit teenage son on how to navigate the waters of life successfully.
The moniker is perfectly fitting for the band, as their skate punk sound and sarcastic band name are both inherently rebellious.
Twenty One Pilots I can't think of a situation where twenty one pilots would be even remotely necessary, but I suppose that an excess in highly qualified aviators is far better than a shortage. However, as is true with most band names, there could be multiple interpretations of the meaning, and I could be way off.
It's hard to tell what inspired the name; the band members could have a fascination with aviation, they could be avid blackjack players, or, more likely, the name could be the result of a shared experience or band name brainstorming session. Who knows? (Actually, if you know, please enlighten us).
Musically, Twenty One Pilots has a unique style. They combine a solid, fairly conventional electronic base with their distinguishing feature: smooth, fresh rhymes that border on spoken word with their conversational tone.
Ease the Medic If I had to venture a guess, I would surmise that this band name is a commentary on society's failure to properly recognize the contributions of countless people in thankless positions. The name seems to urge us to help those who regularly help us, in this case, a medic.
Of course, I could be over-intellectualizing a band name that simply sounds cool. But I think it's a safe bet that Ease the Medic is supposed to be existential and thought-provoking.
Cowboy Mouth You really can't go wrong with a band name that draws from the works of such varied luminaries as Shakespeare, Bob Dylan, and Patti Smith & Sam Shepard. Plus, the term "cowboy mouth" is often used to describe an individual with a loud voice, a description perfectly fitting for the band.
Cowboy Mouth, the core of which has been together since the early 90's, proudly represents their hometown of New Orleans.
Valient Thorr All you need to know about Valient Thorr is that they claim to be from Venus, having come to Earth to warn humans of the error of our ways with their heavy rock 'n' roll. Yeah, that seems like an appropriate amount of crazy.
As for the name, it seems to pay homage to the valiant Thor, either the Norse god or the superhero, despite misspelling both words (deliberately, I assume). But even this assumption may be faulty, given the eccentricity of the band.
What's more, check out the names of the band members: Valient Himself, Dr. Professor Nitewolf Strangees, Eidan Thorr, Sadat Thorr, and Lucian Thorr...now that's commitment to a band name.
Bullet For My Valentine Nothing says love and romance like the cold, metal comfort of a death-bringing bullet. Or at least that's what the guys from Bullet For My Valentine must think. Clearly, they are lovers, not fighters.
Seriously though, this band name is slightly disturbing. I'm hoping it's supposed to be ironically brutal and violent, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Talk about a contradiction: What's worse than broccoli? And what's more awesome than a samurai? Broccoli smells horrible and is the object of every kid's abhorrence. Samurai are some of the most revered warriors in history. Combine the two and you've got one sweet band name.
Broccoli Samurai, based out of Cleveland, play a unique brand of electronica in a jam band format.
Animals As Leaders This unique band name is not some distorted vision of an Orwellian future but rather an observation of the elementally animalistic nature present in all of us.
Animals as Leaders is the first solo project from Tosin Abasi, a fleet-fingered guitar wizard formerly of Reflux, that is rounded out by equally proficient musicians on bass and drums.
The Town Monster Apparently the name refers to a feeling of loneliness and isolation, but The Town Monster paints an amusing picture in my mind of some Godzilla-like stuffed animal terrorizing a cartoon cityscape.
The band hails from Columbus, OH, and plays a fairly eclectic brand of experimental/indie rock. Whatever the genre, a synth-heavy sound pervades every song and is undoubtedly the differentiating characteristic of the band.
Jimmy Eat World Inspired by a humorous story of a childhood feud between brothers, the name Jimmy Eat World is memorable for its uniqueness and the ease with which it rolls off the tongue.
Apart from the name, Jimmy Eat World is often thought to have contributed significantly to emo's rise in popularity in the late 90's with Clarity and to its mainstream breakthrough with Bleed American in 2001.
By continuing to churn out quality records, Jimmy Eat World has stayed relevant and indispensable in the realm of alternative rock.
And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead Note to self: never do anything that might upset, disturb, or even slightly annoy this band. Seriously, it's not worth the risk.
Judging by their brutal name, And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead are a vicious, pulverizing metal band, right?
More like progressive alt rock, which, admittedly, is less intimidating.
Prize the Doubt This band name speaks to the incredibly empowering feeling one can experience when they decide to cherish the uncertainty in life, rather than be imprisoned by it. Or it could mean something completely different; it's hard to tell with band names.
Flotation Walls This name immediately caught my eye and piqued my interest. It has a mysterious component to it without being convoluted or excessively long, a pitfall that many band names fail to avoid.
Flotation Walls' music is chilling, even haunting at times, though they describe their sound as "melodramatic popular song."
Screaming Females What are the females screaming about!? Maybe they're screaming along with this catchy, infectious indie rock band out of New Brunswick, New Jersey.
With just 3 members (only one of them being a female), Screaming Females manage to create memorable, riff-driven songs with a punk-influenced, indie edge. The guitar sound is crunchy and distorted, and the vocals are rough, aggressive and memorable.
No Age On the surface at least the meaning behind this name is ideal for a band. Although it is no longer a big problem since there are so many older rockers, at one point being old and being in a rock band were a bad mix. Well how about no age! This band is out of LA and consider their music to me Experimental, Powerpop and Punk.
UltraViolet Hippopotamus Here's a name that's not too easy to forget. It might mean something to someone but it's the seriousness/silliness that makes it work. Certainly a lot of t-shirt ideas can come from it. The band originates from Grand Rapids, MI.
Fractured Past Now this name certainly has us looking forward to the future! What's a past that's fractured? In some shape or form if you think about it all of our experiences can be viewed as coming from all over the place... leading to what we are today! Clever.
3OH!3 Pronounced "three oh three" - you may have heard of this band as they are experiencing some great success. The first viewing the name it can make one stop and do a double take... like how do I say that.. a couple of 3's with Ohio in the middle.
Cloud Nothings This name just seems to sooth us. A cloud can sometimes seem to be nothing as you travel through it. Yet it can develop into a mighty storm. Just like the dynamics of a good band!
LoveSick Radio Well just how lovesick can one be for the radio. From a lot of what we listen to not very, though it's a subjective topic. Perhaps this band is lovesick for more radio airtime having already cracked the charts with their song "Boys Don't Matter" - and just maybe they should get more. They hail from Ohio and currently play around Columbus quite a bit. Catch them now!
Hi Tiger Okay this name might just have come about based on recent headlines... but you gotta do what you need to to grab attention in the crowded band name arena and this name does. Who did you think about when you saw the name?
Their web site suggests they are an Art Punk band - decide for yourselves by visiting their site.
Red Wanting Blue According to their website "Red Wanting Blue has been called the hardest working rock band in America. " and who are we to question it. They've been around since the mid -90's pounding the pavement and pounding out the songs yet you've probably not heard of them. We hope to change that as they become our first Double Feature: Band Name and Video.
Not sure what they were thinking when they named the band, certainly the Red & Blue State thing has become a lot more prevalent in recent political battles but perhaps it played no roll in the name. Just a nice play on words and easy to remember.
Red Wanting Blue hail from Columbus, OH and can be found playing in many establishments
7 Roads To Nowhere We can speculate quite a bit about this band name: Perhaps there are 7 members in the band all heading toward what they believe is nowhere. Maybe they were looking at a map and saw 7 roads - none leading to where they wanted to go. Maybe the 7 roads lead up to the eighth road which does lead somewhere...
Or we can go with what the band says: "you ask yourself where did that name come from. Well if you ever think up a good answer please let us know because we have no idea where it came from...."
Sometimes when we get the answers we are looking for they are a lot less complicated than what we expect. You can catch 7 Roads To Nowhere playing around Ohio with their next stop on May 30th at Clay's Park Resort - "Summer Kick-Off Celebration"
Iron & Wine I'm racking my brain, and I can't seem to come up with a relationship between iron and wine, which I suppose is why the joining of the terms makes for such a unique and memorable band name.
To be more precise, Iron & Wine is the stage name of Samuel Beam, a singer-songwriter from South Carolina. The moniker was taken from a dietary supplement, as strange as that sounds, called "Beef Iron & Wine," which Mr. Beam came across in a general store.
This heavily bearded Southern gentleman has been churning out folk rock tunes since 2002, amassing an impressive discography in the process. You can catch Iron & Wine tonight at the House of Blues in Cleveland, OH, where he'll be playing until late May.
The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza I feel like this name belongs on a big banner or billboard, complete with flashing lights and fireworks, advertising a Broadway show starring the one and only Tony Danza.
In reality, The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza is an extreme metal band. Talk about a curveball, right?
Obviously the moniker is making a mockery of Tony Danza, who apparently claims that tap dancing is one of his professions. Danza is a talented, multi-faceted man though, so ridiculing his dancing abilities might just be a cover for the uncontrollable jealousy the band feels for the man's fleet-footed skills.
I'm not sure you'll see much dancing, but the band will be playing at Peabody's Concert Club in Cleveland, OH, tonight in support of Carnifex and Oceano. The show is sure to be brutal, so leave your tap dancing shoes at home.
Avenged Sevenfold Not only does Avenged Sevenfold sound really cool, but I think it has a very universal quality to it, a mass appeal if you will. That's because it speaks to our inherent desire for revenge when we're wronged.
We're often encouraged to turn the other cheek in situations where we are mistreated, but there is a basic human instinct to retaliate, or at least hope for the wrongdoer to get what's coming to them. To be avenged (vindicated) sevenfold, or seven times, would be incredibly gratifying, even if it borders on overkill.
While the band is not guided by religion or any kind of higher power, they did take their name from Genesis 4:24, a Bible verse about Cain and Abel.
Avenged Sevenfold are one of the biggest and most important acts in the new school of heavy metal, specifically American heavy metal. They will be headlining the Peoria Civic Center in Illinois tonight, supported by Three Days Grace and Sevendust.
Trailer Park Ninjas Another entry on the list of band names with conflicting ideas, Trailer Park Ninjas combines plebeian housing communities with exceptional Japanese warriors.
Trailer parks and ninjas couldn't be further apart on the awesome spectrum, which is why their union makes for such a great band name. If you're seen living in a trailer park, you're personal stock takes a bit of a hit, and if you're seen being a ninja... well, then you're not a ninja.
To speculate, the band name could be an attempt to accurately represent their talents rather than oversell themselves and mislead their potential audience. By claiming to be musical ninjas, albeit the low-grade, trailer park variety, the band has managed to temper my expectations without losing my interest.
Apparently this three piece cover band is doing something right, because crowds from around Columbus, OH, have been responding to their sets that span the range from classic rock to hip hop. Trailer Park Ninjas will be bringing the party to the Grandview Cafe tonight and Hamilton's Pub & Patio next Saturday.
French Horn Rebellion Of all the things to rebel against (tyrants, oppressive parents, etc.), French horns seem to be the least likely candidate to incite such an action. But the members of French Horn Rebellion clearly have something against this beautiful brass instrument.
It's hard to tell what the French horn did to fall out of favor with the band; maybe it employed a suppressive tax system or trampled on their right to free speech or expected them to clean their rooms more than once a week.
In reality, the younger brother of the duo, Robert, was playing French horn for the Chicago Civic Orchestra in 2007 when he decided to give it up. Feeling that the instrument was not an effective way to express himself, he decided to form a band with his brother David in order to gain total creative freedom.
French Horn Rebellion is the result, an electro/indie duo that describes themselves as a "basement dance party." If you're in Texas and are into the basement dance party scene, check out the band at The Granada Theater in Dallas tonight.
Bleeding the Fifth We're gonna need some Band-aids in the courtroom, we've got a bleeder! Bleeding the Fifth clearly wishes to swap the scrubs and scalpels of our hospitals for the robes and gavels of our nation's courtrooms.
Obviously the moniker is derived from the phrase, "pleading the Fifth," which usually refers to a defendant or witness in a trial refusing to testify, a right granted by the Fifth Amendment.
To try and extract a deeper meaning from this band name may be an exercise in futility, as it's entirely possible, even probable, that Bleeding the Fifth is simply the product of a brainstorming session rather than an accusatory statement of humankind or the justice system. But who knows.
The brutal band name is extremely fitting for this 6 piece death metal outfit out of Cleveland, OH. The guys will be playing Peabody's Concert Club in their hometown tonight in support of Hester Prynne and Nightshade.
Coheed and Cambria Even if you don't know the meaning behind this name, doesn't it just sound really cool? It seems to roll right off the tongue, despite being a full six syllables. The flow is impressive, and the abbreviated form of the name (Coheed) lends itself brilliantly to being chanted at a concert.
Coheed and Cambria is a concept band, meaning they are founded on a central storyline, and each album is an entry in the saga. It'd be foolish to even try to sum up the epic tale of Coheed and Cambria in a paragraph, so I won't.
I will tell you that Coheed and Cambria Kilgannon are seminal figures in a collection of planets called Heaven's Fence, which is held together by the Keywork and boasts a cast of characters that includes Humans, Mages, Prises, and IRO-Bots. If you're interested in making your brain hurt, I'd encourage you to check out the full story for yourself.
Musically, Coheed and Cambria can be described primarily as progressive rock, but their music has obvious flavors of everything from emo to heavy metal. Folks in Baltimore, MD, are fortunate enough to welcome the band tonight to the Rams Head Live!
Funeral Party Ah, the classic double entendre band name. The first reading of this moniker likely leads you to think of mourners of a lost loved one. A further consideration brings the possibility of a second, slightly irreverent meaning.
I doubt the band seeks to mock the deceased by suggesting that a party be held at a funeral. This is pure speculation, but maybe the name is simply a reflection of the band's beliefs that a funeral should be a celebration of the person who has passed away.
In reality, Funeral Party was inspired by The Cure's song of the same name, so maybe all of that previous conjecture should be thrown out the window.
Musically, the band has been described as indie/alt rock, electro, new wave, and dance-punk. Call it what you will, Funeral Party is a band worth seeing (and hearing). You can catch them tonight on the Late Show with David Letterman.
We All Have Hooks for Hands This seems a bit presumptive, because last time I checked (right now), I do not have hooks for hands. With all due respect to pirates, I doubt that many people have anything but hands at the end of their arms.
The name is creative though, and I admit that if the declaration were true, life would be considerably more interesting and challenging. On the other hand, acting like a pirate is amusing for awhile, but to permanently mimic their appendage setup is another story altogether.
We All Have Hooks for Hands could also be symbolic, considering the inclination for musicians to embed meaning and significance into everything they do. Maybe the name is an observation of mankind's tendency to hurt everyone we get close to. Is that a stretch? Yeah, probably.
Hailing from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, this sextet has been belting out a really catchy brand of folksy, indie pop/rock since 2005. The band's hometown fans will be treated to a show Friday night at the Sioux Falls Arena's Orpheum.
TV on the Radio Now I've heard of having radio on TV, and I've even listened to it (or watched it?) from time to time, but the idea of TV on the Radio is completely foreign. Upon further consideration, is it even possible?
Well since television is all about images, I don't see how this could possibly work, but I concede that I might lack the creativity and forward-thinking that the band seems to possess.
Beyond the logistics of the idea, it's possible that the name has a deeper meaning. Maybe the moniker is a commentary on how the radio format has gotten progressively more commercial, bogged down with endless ads, much like current TV. I'm guessing here, but the name seems to have a much more interesting explanation than simply being the result of a random band-name-generating session.
TV on the Radio has been lighting up the music scene for 10 years strong, blending funk, soul, jazz and electronic influences into a unique brand of art rock. You can catch them tonight on the Late Show with David Letterman.
The Black Beverly Heels The Black Beverly Heels has at least 3 or 4 feasible interpretations, giving it a rare versatility not often found with band names. In other words, different people will inevitably draw different conclusions about the meaning and origin of this name, which is great for the band.
Obviously, the name plays on Beverly Hills, a city in the band's hometown of Los Angeles, CA. But beyond that, your guess is as good as mine. I assume "heels" refers to the shoe, but it could mean villains. And does "black" describe the heels, or Beverly? Ahhhh! There are just so many questions!
The Black Beverly Heels absolutely exude Hollywood... they not only look the part, but their music is a brash, grungy form of unapologetic rock 'n' roll that is proudly and undeniably Hollywood. The foursome is bringing the party tonight to the Viper Room on Sunset Blvd. for what will certainly be a raucous, memorable show.
Pretty Lights Am I the only one that imagines Billy, the blind kid from Dumb and Dumber, saying Pretty Lights in the same way he said "pretty bird" in the movie? Yeah, I probably am. But even so, there is something inherently creepy about the word "pretty."
In actuality, the moniker is inspired by a Pink Floyd concert poster that encouraged fans to "Come and watch the pretty lights!" And the stage name is certainly needed, considering the man behind the name was born Derek Vincent Smith, which obviously lacks some panache.
Pretty Lights is an electronic musician that digitally samples funk, soul, and hip hop tunes through the use of digital controllers and music production software to create original works. Joined by a second member for live performances, Pretty Lights is in Indianapolis, IN, tonight at the Old National Centre's Egyptian Room.
I believe this is the first rapper ever featured as the Band Name of the Day, and deservedly so. Generally, rappers' names lack some creativity and can be very predictable, but Wiz Khalifa piques my interest and makes me wonder where the name came from.
Born Cameron Jibril Thomaz, Wiz Khalifa was often called "young Wiz" by his grandfather due to his knack for excelling at everything he tried, including music. Obviously, Wiz is a just a slang abbreviation for "wisdom," and khalifa means "successor" in Arabic.
Wiz, if I can call him that, is certainly a well-traveled, worldly individual, having spent time in Japan, England, and Germany throughout his formative years before settling in Pittsburgh, PA. Just 23 years old, Wiz Khalifa is already a notable figure in hip hop, thanks in large part to "Black and Yellow," his #1 hit that has become an anthem for the city of Pittsburgh and its sports team. You can catch this whiz kid in action tonight on the Late Show with David Letterman.
I Set My Friends on Fire Ok, I understand if you find this declaration a little alarming, but I think it's important to consider the big picture here: the gentlemen from I Set My Friends on Fire are incredibly honest.
Sure, setting your friends on fire raises some red flags, but at least the band is willing to come clean and warn us ahead of time. And maybe all the guys are arsonists and stuntmen, in which case lighting your friends on fire is merely lending a helping hand.
The band actually shares its name with an Aiden song that predates the formation of the band, but I Set My Friends on Fire insists that the moniker came from an inside joke amongst themselves.
Either way, the trio will dole out a dose of their electronicore tonight in Cleveland, OH, at Peabody's Concert Club before moving on to Chicago and Minneapolis on Saturday and Sunday.
Toad the Wet Sprocket Uhh, what? This name seems to border on the nonsensical, and that's being generous. I'd like to think that I have a good grasp on the English language and word meanings, and yet I have absolutely no idea what a toad and a sprocket, especially a wet sprocket, have to do with each other.
I might be clueless, but any hardcore Monty Python fan knows that the name came from an Eric Idle monologue, "Rock Notes," from the troupe's Contractual Obligation Album. The fact that the band name was taken from a Monty Python sketch certainly helps explain the absurdity.
Toad the Wet Sprocket are grizzled veterans of the alternative rock world, having been together since 1986. The foursome experienced significant success in the early 90's by charting numerous singles and have since reunited after a lengthy hiatus. New York City's Irving Plaza welcomes the band to the Big Apple tonight.
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows This is what you might call a pessimist's point of view. You know, the glass half empty folks. I'm not saying they're wrong, but this band name certainly reflects a pretty dismal outlook on humanity.
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows is undoubtedly a sarcastic, but brutally honest, condemnation of human behavior. The name effectively captures our cyclical tendency, whether it's with war, relationships, or otherwise, to ruin and reconstruct without much thought or hesitation.
Whether intentional or not, the band name is abbreviated D.R.U.G.S., which is a common styling of the name.
This post-hardcore five piece was formed as recently as 2010 and boasts some serious pedigree; D.R.U.G.S. is comprised of former members of such proven acts as Chiodos, From First to Last, Story of the Year, and Matchbook Romance. Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows is in Milwaukee, WI, tonight in support of Black Veil Brides at The Rave/Eagles Club.
Infantree I admit defeat... I can not come up with a pun to describe this band name that is superior or even equal to the witty word play of Infantree.
There are several crafty devices at play here; not only is it a great pun, but the moniker also combines "infant" and "tree," eliminating one of the t's and mashing the two words together for maximum effect.
Besides the obvious pun on "infantry," Infantree paints a lovely, hopeful picture of an undeveloped tree primed for a sun-soaking, windblown, shade-providing future. In fact, the band claims that the name is a symbol for growth, a concept the guys take to heart and seemingly guides them both as musicians and human beings.
The band has an interesting and engaging indie sound, one that a few adjectives wouldn't adequately or appropriately describe. Only a first-hand audit of the band does justice to their sound. Luckily, you can catch Infantree tonight on Conan.
The Joy Formidable I know this isn't exactly what you want to hear, but it's time for a grammar lesson! Ok, so my enthusiasm for grammar is matched by, well no one, but hear me out. The noun-adjective arrangement of this band name is what gives it its pizzazz. The Formidable Joy? I think not.
The Joy Formidable is an extremely versatile band name; it can be pronounced in a couple different ways, depending on whether you stress the "f" or "m" in formidable, and it could have several different meanings. For the record, I like to stress the "m," and I like to imagine the moniker refers to the annoyingly constant happiness some people seem to possess, or at least put on, that becomes nearly unbearable after awhile. We all know "that guy," right?
Hailing from North Wales, The Joy Formidable boasts a female on guitar and vocals, and words like "primal," "grunge," and "pop" have all been used to describe their sound. The Columbus indie rock scene will welcome the band with open arms this evening as they headline a show at The Basement.
Monolithic Cloud Parade This one makes my brain hurt. I think we all know what clouds and parades are, but what the heck does monolithic mean? Not surprisingly, the term has several meanings.
Monolithic can mean marked by tremendous size and invulnerability, or it can mean unbroken. The latter interpretation makes the most sense in this case, as a parade of continuous clouds provides a pleasant mental picture.
As the band's bio jokingly suggests, Monolithic Cloud Parade may be inspired by "an atmospheric scientist describing cumulonimbus cloud patterns." In reality, the moniker came from a brainstorming session of founding member, Corey Fry, during a cross-country drive to California. Fry chose the name from an assortment of randomly generated word clusters.
The indie band is in action tonight in Columbus, OH, at Rumba Cafe. They then take their talents north to Detroit for another show on Saturday night.
The Shoulder Devils I can't decide if I should write favorably about this band name or tear it to shreds. If I subscribed to the apparent message behind The Shoulder Devils, I suppose I would be swayed toward the sinister.
Everyone's aware of the plot device that uses the shoulder angel and shoulder devil to illustrate the inner conflict arising from a choice between right and wrong.
The Shoulder Devils takes this common analogy and turns it on its head. Instead of the customary balance between good and evil, the band name chooses to forego the influence of an angel and instead exclusively employ the services of two devils.
The foursome from Ohio describe their sound as a mix of "twang-thrash & power-pop." If you find this combination as interesting as I do, you can check the band out tonight at The Treehouse in their hometown of Columbus.
iwrestledabearonce I think a round of applause is in order. I don't care if it was only once, wrestling a bear is nothing short of remarkable.
The fact that the name is not capitalized and has no spaces only adds to its originality and complete uniqueness.
If it weren't great enough already, Gary Busey provided the inspiration for the name. That's right, Gary Busey. He apparently once made the statement on Comedy Central.
It seems fitting that iwrestledabearonce plays a brutal sort of avant-garde metal. I mean it wouldn't be right if they played bluegrass or sang children's tunes, right? The guys (and girl lead singer) will be in Cleveland tonight in support of Dance Gavin Dance at Peabody's Concert Club.
Dashboard Confessional Dashboard Confessional has been on my radar for quite a few years now, but I've always wondered what the name meant.
The moniker is derived from the opening line of "The Sharp Hint of New Tears," a song on the band's debut album, The Swiss Army Romance. The line reads: "On the way home, this car hears my confessions."
It doesn't take a brain surgeon to surmise that the name hints at the therapeutic quality the dashboard of a first car can have for its teenager driver. I think if we're honest with ourselves, we'd all admit to having used the dashboard of our car as a makeshift confessional a time or two.
Falling into the murky category of emo/acoustic/indie rock, Dashboard Confessional has made its mark on the Billboard charts and even appeared on the Spider-Man 2 soundtrack. They'll be playing Columbus Ohio's Newport Music Hall Tuesday evening.
Panic! at the Disco Is there a fire at Studio 54? Have the cops just stormed in to bust up the rampant drug use? I can't seem to figure out why there is such a frenzy at the disco.
If there's any reason disco should cause a panic, it would be because disco listeners suddenly realize it's terrible. I guess you can count me in the I-don't-quite-get-disco crowd. In fact, I wouldn't mind having a crack at smashing those records on Disco Demolition Night back in '79.
My personal tastes aside, Panic! at the Disco (exclamation point optional) derived their name from the lyrics of "Panic," a song by the now defunct Name Taken.
After surviving a significant line-up change, the band is back with their third studio album, Vices & Virtues. The always dapper foursome will be visiting Conan tonight with their undeniably unique sound: a pop punk, alt rock blend with an obvious baroque influence.
Victor Made A Time Machine I don't know about you, but I, for one, would love to meet Victor. Making a time machine is no small feat.
However, I'm afraid a little pessimism is in order. I can only assume that the time machine did not work. Otherwise, there are just too many questions.
If the band knows someone who has a time machine, why haven't they exploited their knowledge of the future for personal gain? If I was in a band with access to a time machine, you can be sure we would write all the hit songs before they were originally written (or something like that).
Time travel aside, Victor Made A Time Machine is in Columbus Friday night for several shows. On April 2, the alt rock outfit from NYC will be playing in the final round of a contest that can earn them a spot on the Bamboozle main stage.
Stretch Lefty When it comes to what this name means or where it came from, your guess is as good as mine.
The moniker instantly makes me think of Stretch Armstrong, the famous 70's action figure that endured even the most brutal treatment by kids thanks to its gel-filled insides and resilient rubber outside.
Even if Stretch Lefty derived their name from the toy, however, the "lefty" portion remains a mystery.
Musically, the Columbus-based band combines hip hop with traces of funk and soul. The product is fresh and instantly appealing. Stretch Lefty will be headlining Kobo on North High Street tonight.
Friendly Fires As always, alliteration adds an air of arresting appeal to any artist's appellation. Luckily for everyone, Friendly Fires stopped at just two words.
But the band manages to remain clever despite the brevity of their name. Not only is it an apparent oxymoron, the moniker also plays on the term "friendly fire."
Personally, Friendly Fires conjures an image of bright-eyed and smiling people whimsically setting a forest ablaze. In reality, the name came from the title track of an LP, Always Now, by fellow English band, Section 25.
These Brits will be showcasing their dance-punk sound on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight, so check them out.
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Rarely does a long band name avoid the pitfall of being overly complicated, as the lengthier a band name, the more desperate and pompous it usually sounds. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart seems to spit in the face of this premise.
What's really remarkable about this particular moniker, though, is that the length does not detract from its simplicity and straightforwardness.
Based on the title of an unpublished children's story authored by a friend of the band, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart captures an honest sentiment about the difficulty of living a wholesome life.
You can catch this indie pop band tonight on the Late Show with David Letterman.
Veil of Maya Deeply rooted in the traditions of such Eastern religions as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism, the term "veil of maya" is far too complex to be explained in a few short sentences. But I'll give it a shot.
Maya is the arch deity that embodies the illusion of duality. Maya is often manifested as a veil, and subscribers to this ideology seek to pierce, or see through, it to find a greater truth. Interestingly, Pierce the Veil is another band that employs this philosophical tenet for their name.
However, it's possible that this particular band isn't aware of the deeper meaning of the term, as it also is the name of a poem by George William Russell and the title of a Cynic song.
Veil of Maya is out of Illinois and plays a technical, progressive brand of death metal. They will be joining a few of their deathcore comrades at the Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City, OK, tonight.
Crescent Fresh I'll be honest, this band name instantly makes me think of crescent rolls. The name could be referring to the shape of the moon, I suppose, but I think the food association gives Crescent Fresh staying power, an ability to stick in the mind.
The noun-adjective format also lends itself to making the name more memorable, as "Fresh Crescent" is not only hard to say, but also lacks the stickiness factor.
While I've never heard it used, the term "crescent fresh" is apparently used to describe something that is awesome or really cool.
Knowing its slang meaning, Crescent Fresh makes a great band name for the trio out of Columbus, OH. Playing mostly covers, the band will be in action Friday and Saturday night at Hamilton's Pub & Patio and the Keystone Pub, respectively.
Lt. Dan's New Legs (LDNL) Band names are like a box of chocolates: you don't know what most of them are and the number of bad ones far outweighs the good.
Ok, I realize that was a stretch, but I'm just trying to emphasize the Forrest Gump connection.
I'm a big fan of band names that reference famous movie moments, and it doesn't get much better than Lt. Dan's New Legs. The best part about this particular Forrest Gump reference is that it's full of hope: Lieutenant Dan's prosthetic legs that he receives at the end of the film represent a reversal of fortune for the downtrodden character and a brighter future.
Musically, Lt. Dan's New Legs combines a DJ and live band to cover the hottest hip-hop and party tunes of today and yesteryear. The group will be highlighting the St. Patty's Day party tonight at Flannagan's in Dublin, OH.
Vanilla Ice Robert Matthew Van Winkle. That is the birth name of 90's one-hit wonder, Vanilla Ice. And no, I'm not joking about his name.
Van Winkle's stage name is fitting though, considering he is about as white and uncool as it gets (just look at the picture). At least the name Vanilla Ice is memorable, if nothing else.
"Ice Ice Baby," which was the first hip hop single to sit atop the Billboard charts, famously samples the bass line of "Under Pressure," the 1981 tune by Queen and David Bowie. Since its release in 1990, "Ice Ice Baby" has been the object of an ironic fascination in pop culture.
If you're aching for a blast from your 90's past, tune in today to the Rachael Ray Show to catch Vanilla Ice perform his smash hit. If you're wondering why he's on Rachael Ray, it's because Mr. Van Winkle possesses considerable knowledge of and experience with home renovation. Who would've thought?
As I Lay Dying Paints a lovely picture, doesn't it? I can't help but imagine a gruesome scene on a battlefield as a soldier clings to life.
If you're a well-read individual, however, you probably recognize the name as the title of William Faulkner's 1930 stream of consciousness novel. The band took its name from Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, which was originally inspired by a line from Homer's The Odyssey.
As I Lay Dying, from San Diego, California, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2008.
The band's style is widely labeled as metalcore, a genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. They will be headlining the Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff, AZ, Tuesday night.
Flogging Molly I've always thought this band name was a little brutal. One can only assume that it refers to whipping a girl named Molly, right? Actually, no.
The name actually refers to the relentless appearances the band made in their formative years at Molly Malone's, a bar in their hometown of Los Angeles. The band played there so frequently, they felt that they were "flogging Molly."
Flogging Molly, one of the premier Celtic punk bands in the country, boasts an eclectic instrumentation; banjos, fiddles, mandolins, and accordions lend the group a unique sound.
The band will be in action Tuesday night in Oklahoma City at the Diamond Ballroom.
New Vancouver I've never been to Vancouver, but I imagine it's nice. It is Canada, so the people are sure to be friendly. I'd love to try the maple syrup, catch a hockey game, or see the Mounties. I could go on with the Canadian stereotypes, but you get the point.
New Vancouver, however, is a whole new ball game. The possibilities are endless for such a city: new nice people, new maple syrup, new hockey, and new Mounties!
In reality, New Vancouver is actually a small community in British Columbia. That this town served as the inspiration for the band name, however, is doubtful.
New Vancouver's first EP, Armchair Fanfare, was released on February 24 is available for download or purchase via their Bandcamp site.
Neon Trees Ah, the classic adjective-noun band name format. It's a proven method, and particularly effective for Neon Trees because of the brilliant image it provokes.
Personally, I picture a hilltop adorned with a row of glowing trees, like a rave meets Christmas. In reality, the band's name was inspired by the lighted trees found on the signs of Southern California favorite, In-N-Out Burger.
Neon Trees has several unique features going for it: the band boasts a female drummer, who also sings backup vocals, and every member of the band is Mormon.
You wouldn't be surprised, then, to learn that the band hails from Provo, Utah. They will be flexing their alt rock chops on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno this evening with "1983," the second single from Habits.
The Floorwalkers If nothing else, the obvious and straightforward nature of this name deserves some praise. Rather than craft an excessive and over-indulgent name that ponders the very meaning of life, the band simply went with The Floorwalkers.
The moniker is almost redundant; if you're walking, there's a good chance you're doing it on a floor. How many other options are there of things to walk on? Or ways to traverse a floor?
The Floorwalkers are one of a growing number of artists using Kickstarter, a crowd-funding platform, to raise money for a cause, in this case, to buy a new van.
In the vein of live music, the band will be in action on Thursday night at Rumba Cafe in Columbus, Ohio. Check them out and help them raise money for their trip to SXSW.
Mini Mansions Following in the footsteps of such legendary and oxymoronic band names like Quiet Riot and Iron Butterfly, Mini Mansions provides a feast of possible interpretations of seemingly contradictory terms.
"Mini" certainly resides in the lower levels of its adjective family hierarchy. And mansions are on the extreme side of the architecture taxonomy (short of palatial, but bigger than a manor).
The question then is to what degree the "mini" part of the name renders the "mansions" part meaningless. Are miniature mansions just regular houses? Are they closer in size to a modest apartment? Or does the mansion retain its superiority over the average house despite being deemed mini?
All valid questions, but luckily this isn't foreign policy; it's a band name. Mini Mansions, boasting the bassist from Queens of the Stone Age, will be bringing their Beatles-esque sound to Last Call with Carson Daly tonight (early Wednesday morning to be exact).
Outlaws I & I The fact that band names containing terms like "outlaws" or "rebels" are a dime a dozen kind of defeats the whole idea of sounding edgy. But Outlaws I & I manages to maintain a uniqueness with the interesting grammar at the back end of the name.
It's difficult to tell exactly what the intention was in forming the name this way, but it certainly catches your attention and is likely to stick in your mind.
Outlaws I & I is a reggae band out of Cleveland, OH. They'll be back in action Friday at the Rock & Reggae Festival at the Beachland Ballroom.
Beer for the Ear I have to admit, the rhyme reeled me in on this one. The moniker certainly has a mass appeal: beer, rhyming, and brevity all help to create a very memorable band name.
If taken literally, there are serious medical concerns here. To pour beer into one's ear would certainly result in some painful complications.
It's probably safe to assume that Beer for the Ear instead refers to the mood-altering effect their music has on listeners. This certainly makes much more sense.
Beer for the Ear is an acoustic duo out of Columbus, Ohio, that plays a mix of rock, country, pop and R & B. You can see them tonight at Hamilton's Pub & Patio at 9:00 PM.
These Guys Live Yeah, you read that right. The band name is literally "These Guys Live." I love the cleverness of this name, as it seems to pay homage to the famous "Who's on First?" routine by Abbott and Costello.
Imagine asking your friend, "Have you ever seen These Guys Live?" Your friend replies, "What guys?" Frustrated, you retort, "These Guys Live!" This could go on for hours. In my opinion, the ability to start fights and end friendships is quite the accomplishment for a band name.
This classic rock cover band from Columbus, Ohio, will be playing The Lazy Chameleon tonight.
Tomorrows Bad Seeds Let me put on my psychologist hat on for a moment: Tomorrows Bad Seeds is a fitting, although exceptionally pessimistic, example of self-fulfilling prophecy. The name seems to capture a feeling among today's youth of the seeming inevitability of their propensity to develop into "bad seeds."
For me, however, the name conveys a tone of sarcastic resignation rather than one of immature defiance.
This attitude is reflected in their music. Hailing from Hermosa Beach, California, the band's sound primarily dwells in the arena of chill, laid back reggae, but it's the punk rock influence that gives Tomorrows Bad Seeds a unique sound.
The So Cal five piece will be making their national television debut tonight on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
John Popper & The Duskray Troubadours You might recognize the name John Popper as the large, harmonica-wielding frontman of mid-90's tour de force, Blues Traveler. Well, Popper is now showcasing his virtuosity on the mouth organ with his new side project, John Popper & The Duskray Troubadours.
If nothing else, the fact that Popper has made a name for himself on the harmonica warrants respect. As for the band behind him, I can only assume that with a name like "The Duskray Troubadours," they have to be good.
If you're curious like I am, you can catch Popper & Co. tonight at 12 on Lopez Tonight, playing in support of their self-titled album, which is released today.
