What's in a Name?
I was thinking about the names of rock bands and even blues bands not long ago. It’s been a long time since these bands have been naming themselves. I think it must be difficult to come up with a name that’s new and original. A look at local listings provides just a few local bands: Horsehead, The Nevvers, Sledgeback, The Shackles, The Jailbirds, The Bloodbags and The Histrionics. Well, that gives you an idea. I’m sure your newspaper will give you names just as funny...or maybe not.
Blues bands seem to have names a little less inane. Nick Robinson and the Flip Flops, The Highway 99 All-Stars, The Midnight Movers, or simply the James Solberg Blues Band.
I was at a powwow at the University of Washington a few weeks ago. There were twenty-one drums. There were two host drums; one a northern drum and one a southern. The styles of drumming are slightly different and singing even more different. Each drum with its singers carries its own name. And those names are as different as the names of rock bands. Here’s a list of the twenty-one drums: Toppenish Creek, Spearfish, Big Bear, Red Bull, Young Bird, Small Town, Midnight Express, Wild Rose, 206, Pejuzda, Broken Rope, Windy Point, High Rock, Indian Nation, Dancing Eagle, Eagle Thunder, Sitting Horse, Medicine Wheel, Secret Coulee, Little Thunder, and Chute No. 8. Several names are places near where the singers live. 206, a local drum, is named after their telephone area code. Chute No. 8 must have a rodeo cowboy among their number. I was most attracted to Secret Coulee. Well, so goes some of the names on the Powwow Trail.
Blues bands seem to have names a little less inane. Nick Robinson and the Flip Flops, The Highway 99 All-Stars, The Midnight Movers, or simply the James Solberg Blues Band.
I was at a powwow at the University of Washington a few weeks ago. There were twenty-one drums. There were two host drums; one a northern drum and one a southern. The styles of drumming are slightly different and singing even more different. Each drum with its singers carries its own name. And those names are as different as the names of rock bands. Here’s a list of the twenty-one drums: Toppenish Creek, Spearfish, Big Bear, Red Bull, Young Bird, Small Town, Midnight Express, Wild Rose, 206, Pejuzda, Broken Rope, Windy Point, High Rock, Indian Nation, Dancing Eagle, Eagle Thunder, Sitting Horse, Medicine Wheel, Secret Coulee, Little Thunder, and Chute No. 8. Several names are places near where the singers live. 206, a local drum, is named after their telephone area code. Chute No. 8 must have a rodeo cowboy among their number. I was most attracted to Secret Coulee. Well, so goes some of the names on the Powwow Trail.
2 Comments:
Frank: I "joined" a band in November, called Hardy Drew and The Nancy Boys... - Randy
Bands don't name themselves? Is there a band naming service they can subscribe to? Where do they get their names. Brian, Dave, and I aren't a band, just three guys who get together and play once in a blue moon, but I thought it would be fun to give us a name. After several false starts (i.e., Jerry's Kids) I came up with The Moops. Seinfeld fans will know what it means.
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