Help us name the new band

August 12, 2006    By: Geoff J @ 4:55 pm   Category: Life,Rock 'n' Roll

A couple of months ago I got a call out of the blue from an LDS guy I’d never met before. He told me his name was Rick and that he was trying to put together an all LDS rock/ska band here in the Phoenix area. (I still haven’t figured out exactly how he tracked me down but I think it had to do with this blog…) Anyway, one thing moving to AZ took away from me was my membership in a band. I’d played in at least one rock band basically without a break from 1991 until moving here; but moving away from San Diego in 2004 ended that streak. I did travel back to San Diego for one farewell gig in 2005 but that was it and I have been beginning to miss it all. So when Rick called I was very interested on all sorts of levels: a) He was into ska and every band I’ve played in over those years has done some ska; b) He was taking care of the details to get us going (the hard part ); c) I liked the idea of playing with grown-ups now that I’m a grown up and all. I was actually the youngster in my last cover band and it worked really well; d) I was intrigued by the fact that Rick played trombone and he had a trumpet player lined up too — I play sax and sing but have never played in a band with a full horn section like this; e) I was intrigued by the fact that all seven potential players in this new band were LDS — I hadn’t tried that since my Sam I Am days at BYU.

So I agreed to give it a try. It has taken some time but it looks like the band is gonna fly. We had a rehearsal this morning and did rough run-throughs of nearly 20 songs. I’m pretty stoked about it. Everyone in the band is experienced and well-trained musically. Nearly everyone can play multiple instruments and sing. So with 5 males, two females, and a lot of resources and experience I think we could become a pretty killer cover band.

But we don’t have a name yet. This is where you come in. You get to suggest band names for us this week!

Now our fearless leader, Rick, is a serious ska dude; more so than me actually. He started us off with the name “No Rudys”. You ska-heads know that Rudy is sort of a ska cliche� (short for Rude Boys which is what ska-obsessed kids have called themselves for decades). But most of us (including me) don’t think that’s the right name for us. For every Beat or Reel Big Fish tune we cover there will be a Chicago or Van Morrison tune so giving us a ska-centric band title would just be misleading. We’ll play some ska but that does not make us a ska band. So we have been trying to figure out a better name. I personally have mostly been working the Mormon angle so far. Here are a few ideas I came up with:

– Mo Rudys; Morudis; The Morudis (This is a nod to Rick’s original idea but also with a nod to our Mormonness)
– 7 More (Get it? Seven Mormons???)
– Yo Mo; Yo Yo Mo (Get it?? Like the cellist or something…)
– The Smiths (In honor of Joseph… Oh wait… is that taken?)
– Saint Isn’t So (Feeling punny… like “Say it isn’t so”)

You get the gist. Suggest names now. Or if you like any of my existing ideas let me know. The winner gets free admission to one of our shows!

(P.S. — While you’re at it please suggest songs you think we ought to cover. Remember, we have a full horn section at our disposal and we don’t want to waste it.)

[Associated radio.blog songs: Several recordings of covers and originals from my old band Noisepie]

57 Comments

  1. The Coprolites.

    Comment by danithew — August 12, 2006 @ 5:08 pm

  2. Band names my youngest son has thought up in the past:

    Four Fat Guys on a Couch
    You Stink With Cheese

    Songs you should cover:

    Madness – “Embarrasment”
    OK, anything by Madness.

    If you’re doing a Chicago song, I really hope it’s “25 or 6 to 4.” Or “Saturday in the Park.”

    Comment by Susan M — August 12, 2006 @ 5:38 pm

  3. If there’s a lead guy or gal you could try:

    –Gadiaton and the Secret Combinations–

    Comment by Jack — August 12, 2006 @ 5:54 pm

  4. Led Kindly Light

    Comment by danithew — August 12, 2006 @ 5:59 pm

  5. Good call on Madness Susan. They are sort of like The Beat with only a sax in the band but we plan to do a few Madness tunes too. “Embarrassment” is a good call and I am fond of “Baggy Trousers” as a potential cover. “Our House” is already on the list of course since people prefer covers they know.

    Speaking of that — you named the two Chicago songs we practiced already this morning! Nice picks.

    One semi-obscure song I will push is Style Council’s “My Ever Changing Moods”. I love that song and it uses a horn section.

    Dan (#1) – Eww!

    Comment by Geoff J — August 12, 2006 @ 6:10 pm

  6. You know they’re all over covering “You’re the Inspiration” (is that the right name?).

    Comment by Kristen J — August 12, 2006 @ 6:15 pm

  7. Gadiaton and the Secret Combinations

    Nice Jack. Or maybe just “The Secret Combinations”. (Although it may freak out some Morms…)

    Comment by Geoff J — August 12, 2006 @ 6:25 pm

  8. You could always rip Arrington off: Saints Without Halos.

    Something folk magical perhaps: the Stone Gazers.

    A tip off to speculative theology: More Lives than One.

    Bridge the old and the new: Follette’s Rocket.

    I kind of like the idea of taking the names from early Mormons: The Patten Band; GQ Cannon; Snow.

    Perhaps something from the old utah economy: Dixie Wine.

    Rip off Costco: Kirtland Select.

    There are just soooo many possibilities.

    Comment by J. Stapley — August 12, 2006 @ 6:29 pm

  9. Dude… J…

    Those. Names. Rock. (GQ Cannon — love it)

    Nice work bro. Got any more?

    Comment by Geoff J — August 12, 2006 @ 6:33 pm

  10. King Fallout
    The Hebers
    Moisture Means Rain
    The Sweet Spirits

    Comment by Geoff J — August 12, 2006 @ 6:39 pm

  11. Moisture Means Rain! King Fallout! The Hebers! Awesome.

    Comment by J. Stapley — August 12, 2006 @ 6:47 pm

  12. No Tattoos
    Descending Gradually
    Wheat in the Cellar
    The Primary Graduates
    (or) Seminary Dropouts
    Live from the Cultural Hall

    Comment by Bored in Vernal — August 12, 2006 @ 7:35 pm

  13. Noisy Sunbeams (dang, taken) ;)
    Kolob High
    the seer stones
    destroyer on the waters (maybe a bit dark)
    Twinkled flesh

    Comment by Doc — August 12, 2006 @ 7:48 pm

  14. or if you want to tip to wild speculation
    Quakers on the Moon
    I don’t know if Ronan makes it round these parts, but I’m sure he’d clamor for
    TK smoothies

    Comment by Doc — August 12, 2006 @ 8:06 pm

  15. I haven’t thought of any good names yet, but why are you going to be a cover band? With all that talent you should be writing your own music. That is the fun part. One from my bad idea bucket: “The Kirtland Safety Society” If the band bombs out you can blame it on the name.

    Comment by Jacob — August 12, 2006 @ 11:16 pm

  16. Madness have more than just a sax player–they have trumpet and trombone too. I think the trumpet plays (Chas) switches off between trumpet and trombone maybe. Anyway, “It Must be Love” is a popular Madness tune now too.

    Comment by Susan M — August 13, 2006 @ 8:03 am

  17. “Wheat in the Cellar”

    har!

    Comment by Geoff J — August 13, 2006 @ 11:48 am

  18. Not particulary clever, but I have always thought there should be a band named, “Pulsatile Mass”. There is a medical interpretation, there is pulse or beat implication and even a Catholic angle. Perfect for a mormon cover band with Ska overtones. If you choose it, and I’m sure you will, I will want a t-shirt.

    S in STG

    Comment by S in STG — August 13, 2006 @ 1:52 pm

  19. Molly & Peter
    Pregnant MIL
    I Know this Band Is True

    You should definitely do some Oingo Boingo. “Dead Man’s Party,” of course, and “Only a Lad.” Or, to blow some minds, “Wild Sex In the Working Class.”

    If you wann be hip you should do some Sufjan Stevens, like “They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From the Dead!! Ahhhh!”

    Comment by Tom — August 13, 2006 @ 2:51 pm

  20. I Know this Band is True — lol

    Comment by Jacob — August 13, 2006 @ 3:20 pm

  21. Gazelem
    Porter Rockwell
    The Seer Stone Society
    Multiple Mortal Probations
    Priddy Meeks
    The Mulekites
    J. Golden
    Tubaloth
    Tight Like Unto a Dish
    Deseret Alphabet
    Walls of Jericho
    Horatio Hornblower
    Saltair Seven

    Comment by Justin — August 13, 2006 @ 3:36 pm

  22. Excellent Geoff! There is nothing worse than a musician without a band.

    Two names:

    “Ask” which is a simple scramble of ska, and of course the first word in a very important verse we all ascribe to…

    then, for the more out there name: “Combies” a short version of what someone else already suggested in the secret combination direction.

    I like “Ask” because it says what and when you’ll play. Just ask.

    Comment by chronicler — August 13, 2006 @ 4:20 pm

  23. You should do a cover of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” substituting “saxophone” (or trombone, trumpet, whichever you want to emphasize that time) for “fiddle.”

    Comment by Kaimi — August 13, 2006 @ 6:06 pm

  24. Somebody already made my suggestion–Tight Like Unto a Dish–so I’ll just suggest some more hornblowing songs to cover.

    Lowdown – Chicago
    Lucretia MacEvil – Blood, Sweat & Tears
    Aire of Good Feeling – Ides of March
    Easy Street – Edgar Winter Group

    Comment by Last Lemming — August 14, 2006 @ 7:33 am

  25. Good song suggestions LL. I think we had “Lucretia MacEvil” on the potentials list already so we are on the same wavelength.

    Kaimi – Great idea on the song selection. It would make me brushup on my chops for sure.

    Comment by Geoff J — August 14, 2006 @ 9:00 am

  26. Better, I think, than covering tunes with horns would be to horn up some hornless tunes.

    Comment by Tom — August 14, 2006 @ 9:11 am

  27. Slippery Riches

    And if you cover any Oingo Boingo songs, I’m there!

    Groovy! Groovy Dude! You’re a groovy dude and I wanna be a groovy dude too!

    Comment by Timburriaquito — August 14, 2006 @ 9:15 am

  28. Good idea Tom — we’ll have to do that. It opens worlds of new song possibilities too.

    Nice Tim! You should have seen the live version of Groovy Dude back in the day — we had it choreographed.

    Comment by Geoff J — August 14, 2006 @ 9:40 am

  29. How about a band called Fetch or Heck.

    Or maybe Fetch and Heck.

    Comment by danithew — August 14, 2006 @ 12:06 pm

  30. Righteous Pride.

    Comment by danithew — August 14, 2006 @ 12:08 pm

  31. Green Jello?

    Comment by jothegrill — August 14, 2006 @ 12:14 pm

  32. Not bad, Dan. Here’s one:

    The Fetchers

    Comment by Geoff J — August 14, 2006 @ 12:24 pm

  33. A couple of others I got by email:

    Cultural Haul
    Commitment Pattern
    Rockwell (Even though that has been used before…)

    Comment by Geoff J — August 14, 2006 @ 2:49 pm

  34. How about Seven Alone (throwback to the 70s and Stewart Peterson)?

    Comment by Capt. Obsidian — August 14, 2006 @ 3:07 pm

  35. Fun Boy 7

    Comment by Jacob — August 14, 2006 @ 5:13 pm

  36. Lingo Jingo (nod to Johnny L. plus Oingo Boingo, “by jingo” slang etymology, chauvinist overtones…), 7-Cow Brides (another J.L. nod w/ gender confusion and polygamous overtones), Dead Pioneers (as in Milkmen/Kennedys), The 7 Rabbits (Covey + procreative reputation of Mormons), No Frickin’ Doubt (b/c I heard Gwen et al play in Provo before they got big…), Special Spirits (in tribute), Magic Kingdom (No Doubt’s “Tragic Kingdom” plus a feel-good name w/uniquely Mormon baggage)…

    Comment by Robert C. — August 14, 2006 @ 6:19 pm

  37. And I don’t think covering primary songs has been overdone yet, there are some good ones (Popcorn Popping, Little Stream, Leafy Treetops, etc.) which non-Mormon audiences are sure to appreciate. And b/c I like Klezmer music, you could try a whole “religious-outreach” set of songs (e.g. “Everything’s Alright” from JC Superstar has a great 5/4 groove; many southern-gospel would sound good w/ horns, or even N. Diamond’s “Brother Love’s Salvation Show”; “Peace Train” or “On the Road to Find Out” by Cat Stevens for Islam since he converted—listen to the 10,000 Maniacs cover of PT if you can find it; U2 is thought to be Catholic w/many choices there—”Still Haven’t Found”; I’m sure you could come up with better…).

    Comment by Robert C. — August 14, 2006 @ 7:01 pm

  38. The Wicked Priests, or alternately, Amalakai and the Wicked Priests
    Lazor
    Bigg Nife
    Taranchula
    Limozeen

    What about Thad?

    Comment by Starfoxy — August 14, 2006 @ 9:04 pm

  39. Let’s not forget Cipher in the Snow – one of the all-time great tear jerker movies. That could be a band name. I like it. It would constantly remind me to be nicer to people.

    Personal connection – one of my husband’s missionary companions was the kid in the movie who pushed the “cipher” down in the snow, pretty much the cipher-killer.

    Comment by Mckell — August 14, 2006 @ 9:33 pm

  40. Really??

    That is a sweet bit of trivia Mckell.

    Hmmm… We could try something like “The Ciphers”… That would be amusing yet cool and only subtly Mormon…

    Comment by Geoff J — August 14, 2006 @ 9:47 pm

  41. How about the stinky armpits?

    Comment by Blake — August 14, 2006 @ 9:55 pm

  42. Well it is pretty hot here in AZ Blake…

    I checked and there is already a band called Ciphers.

    Oooh — I got it!

    “Ciphers in the Sun”

    Sounds cool; only old-school Morms would get the reference; we’re in the valley of the sun out here… What more could we want?

    Comment by Geoff J — August 14, 2006 @ 10:18 pm

  43. Creaky staircase.

    Comment by Kim Siever — August 15, 2006 @ 7:24 am

  44. Off course Ciphers in the Sun would be a great nod to your other favorit band: Splendid Sun. :)

    Comment by J. Stapley — August 15, 2006 @ 9:18 am

  45. How’s about:

    The Facsimiles
    Mo’ Better Ska
    AzMos
    Y-Sparkle
    Tootsie Mo’s
    Weekend Movers
    EQ Downlow

    Comment by Chad Too — August 15, 2006 @ 11:07 am

  46. Here it is: The Skalds. It combines ska + lds and it actually means something. Skalds were the court poets and bards of Nordic countries during the days of the Vikings. Thus, you could use a stylized rune or something in the logo, etc.

    Comment by Carl — August 15, 2006 @ 6:02 pm

  47. Oooh… That is clever Carl!

    Comment by Geoff J — August 15, 2006 @ 6:06 pm

  48. 3 Horny Mormons and a Couple of Sisters
    Iron Rod (better for a rock cover band)
    B Sec. 52s
    Bad Interview
    Rameumptom

    Comment by TLC — August 15, 2006 @ 9:13 pm

  49. Here’s a few more:

    Son of a Dan (reference to Dannites only hard core LDS would know of) – Or something similar.

    Spudnuts (A donut-like treat made with potatoes)

    Uncaffeinated

    Muck Jumpers (an old SNL skit about guys who would jump in the septic tank and make you pay to get them to leave

    Kicker (a slacker missionary – “I don’t want to work, I just want to bang on the drums all day”)

    Comment by Rick — August 15, 2006 @ 10:07 pm

  50. How about Funeral Potatoes? Or Trunky Monkeys?

    Comment by Kristen J — August 15, 2006 @ 10:53 pm

  51. hey guys 2 al that gets this im making a heavy metal rock band and need hlp with names so mail me with some good ideas.

    Comment by Tap — August 16, 2006 @ 8:38 pm

  52. fiends of the infernal pit..or… scourged with faggots

    Comment by craig — August 17, 2006 @ 6:01 pm

  53. How about the Non-smoking section

    Comment by Brian — August 20, 2006 @ 11:06 am

  54. Better than Brigham
    Maybe a little to blatant a Better Than Ezra rip-off, but I like it.

    Comment by Doc — August 20, 2006 @ 2:59 pm

  55. A bad name would be something like: “In Tune.” Now that’s bad–a horribly cheezy platitudinal pun. (I hope someone didn’t suggest that one already. If so, oops!)

    Comment by Jack — September 16, 2006 @ 10:07 am

  56. The Boyd Finger

    Debate it, justify it, but remember, Packer don`t like it.

    Comment by ezra — October 12, 2006 @ 3:38 pm

  57. “scourged with faggots”

    Lol! (I totally forgot some of these)

    Comment by Geoff J — July 17, 2009 @ 11:21 pm