hi. i know band names have been discussed over and over again but i really need some help. i'm member of a band. we're taking bookings for xmas in some local hotels and they want to advertise us under a name. there's 4members in our band, 2 boys and 2 girls and we're all 16 or 17yrs old. we play fiddle, banjo, uilleann pipes and flute mainly. we're looking for something irish, and if possible a bit different, or else we'll just call ourselves tír na nóg, and thats too common. any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks!!!
My this lot are really helpful! Don't, under any circumstances, call yourselves Tir na nOg as you might encounter the wrath of Sonny Condell or Leo O'Kelly who still occasionally use the name.
Are you from the west coast? If so, what about Tuam na Farraige?
Using a gaelic word may seem authentic but can have its dissadvantages.
Will people be able to pronounce or even spell your band name when they want to buy a CD in a store or request a song from a radio show....
More importantly will you be able to pronounce the word and explain what it means and why you called the band after it.
I have a good friend in Kansas City who played in a band for 2+ years before some one pointed out that they were pronouncing their own bands name wrong. And it wasn't a gaelic word, but a name of an Irish town.
Just think, in a few years when your famous, the first thing people will want to know is where you got the band name from and you say an Irish music chat forum....
Not that there is anything wrong with this fine forum nor getting advice from it, but, I'm sure you can think of a phrase or word that means more to you personaly.
I'd go with a childhood pet, the name of a favourite tune, maybe a play on other irish music band names,
e.g. Plankton, Stocktons Other Wing,
The Sheetans, Chief Tums,
Ceol Beathe ("Music of Life" with Irish alphabet, accent thangies and hopefully my spelling and grammar are correct). Its along the theme of "water of life" or "uesisce beathe" or whiskey.
A common trait is a tune name or a song name or a musicians name some examples in uk are
London lassies
drops of brandy
bang on the ear
trim the velvet
stack of barley
bucks 'from' oranmore
the wild rovers
wraggle taggle gypsies
the morning lane jew
morning dew
maids from mount cisco
coleman and co.
its just a name at the end of the day weather its cheesy dire good or bad
was having a chat about this topic the other day with a friend and the conclusion was that for a new band, anything starting with THE will make people not take you seriously because it sounds like its more of a joke and not a serious outfit. the wild rovers for example are probably more likely to be better drinkers than musicians! (apologies to all rovers out there)
then anything in irish will sound like every other band in trad with a fada.
something short and simple that's not an everyday word is your best guide. ie. (altan, dervish, etc....)
kriesler1, we're from co. mayo. we live in the gaeltacht so we thought that something as gaeilge would be nice....we haven't thought of getting famous.....yet!!!! but do watch this space!!! thanks for all the help, we just needed some ideas. we have to have a name by the end of this week and we're still undecided but you lot have definitely helped. thanks a mill!!! o and if anyone has any more suggestions........
Hey,
Band naming stuff is pretty funny here in Poland. Many fresh projects get their names looking thru the Gealic-English dictionary. Thanks to that we have bands with names that reflect the ambition of having something celtish, elves-like, romantic and Tolkien-style. (barf!) When scrolling the Google with polish-celtic bands, after while you grin and laugh eventually.
(don't ask what is my projects name... ;) ).
But seriously- I really like band names that are:
1) Catchy
2) Humorous
3) smart
If I started a band I would call it something like :
Rub my Feet,
Pitch Black,
Noodle Kings
Toothless Goofs,
Cry Babies
Folk 'em All
or simply
Session Breakers
I`m in a band called "los Pobres". It`s the name of the street where I live and where we began to play. For all you spanish ignorants it means poor people. It isn't the first street in the name of a band, think in St. Patrick street.
There are less modest names like "the stars of munster".
songtitles: Fiddlers Green
names of tunes: Toss the Feathers, Boys of the Lough
places: Alba, Lindisfarne, Friel's Kitchen, Easy Club
gaelic terms: Oisin, De Dannan, Tir na nOg
players' names: Peter, Paul & Mary; The Fureys and Davey Arthur
play on words: Horslips, Fish 'n Jigs
parodies: Paddy Goes To Holyhead, Ceilidh Family
the ...s : Hothouse Flowers, Waterboys, Dubliners
- the ... Band: The Oyster Band, The Albion Band
invented words: Chumba Wamba
thanks guys, you've all been a great help! we haven't made up our minds yet on a name but we're getting close!!! i really never thought choosing a band name would be so hard....but then again i suppose thats the reason we never discussed it before now!!!! thanks again everyone!!!!
ah thanks lisaniska!!! as it happens we stil haven't decided on a band name yet! we must b e the most indecisive band alive!!! ah well....as long as we're still together and enjoying ourselves!!
band names...yet again!!!!
band names...yet again!!!!
hi. i know band names have been discussed over and over again but i really need some help. i'm member of a band. we're taking bookings for xmas in some local hotels and they want to advertise us under a name. there's 4members in our band, 2 boys and 2 girls and we're all 16 or 17yrs old. we play fiddle, banjo, uilleann pipes and flute mainly. we're looking for something irish, and if possible a bit different, or else we'll just call ourselves tír na nóg, and thats too common. any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks!!!
# Posted on November 6th 2005 by siobhánmc
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
Siobhan and the Siaggers
# Posted on November 6th 2005 by Bren
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
The Polka Dots. Ceathair (Irish for 4). Four play (maybe not).
# Posted on November 6th 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
Siobhan Big Macs - in a Sean Connery accent!
# Posted on November 6th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
Siobhan,
My this lot are really helpful!
Don't, under any circumstances, call yourselves Tir na nOg as you might encounter the wrath of Sonny Condell or Leo O'Kelly who still occasionally use the name.
Are you from the west coast? If so, what about Tuam na Farraige?
# Posted on November 6th 2005 by Floss the Tethers
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
hahaha....thanks..ye're a funny lot -ach as gaeilge if possible please!!!
# Posted on November 6th 2005 by siobhánmc
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
dogbreath, ya we're from the west coast. thats a really good name actually. thanks!!!any other suggestions??
# Posted on November 6th 2005 by siobhánmc
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
"ya we're from the west coast'
West coast of where?
Using a gaelic word may seem authentic but can have its dissadvantages.
Will people be able to pronounce or even spell your band name when they want to buy a CD in a store or request a song from a radio show....
More importantly will you be able to pronounce the word and explain what it means and why you called the band after it.
I have a good friend in Kansas City who played in a band for 2+ years before some one pointed out that they were pronouncing their own bands name wrong. And it wasn't a gaelic word, but a name of an Irish town.
Just think, in a few years when your famous, the first thing people will want to know is where you got the band name from and you say an Irish music chat forum....
Not that there is anything wrong with this fine forum nor getting advice from it, but, I'm sure you can think of a phrase or word that means more to you personaly.
I'd go with a childhood pet, the name of a favourite tune, maybe a play on other irish music band names,
e.g. Plankton, Stocktons Other Wing,
The Sheetans, Chief Tums,
Keep thinkin !
# Posted on November 6th 2005 by tompipes
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
what about Cois Farraige or Caethair na nIarthar? Please excuse me if I've used poor spelling or grammar.
# Posted on November 6th 2005 by Aberandy
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
Ceol Beathe ("Music of Life" with Irish alphabet, accent thangies and hopefully my spelling and grammar are correct). Its along the theme of "water of life" or "uesisce beathe" or whiskey.
# Posted on November 7th 2005 by CeolCairdeas
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
The Craics of Doom
# Posted on November 7th 2005 by wormdiet
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
Off topic- my nomination for Worst Band Name of All Time, Rock Genre...Pontius Pilate and the Nailbenders (from my own high school, circa 1968)
# Posted on November 7th 2005 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
A common trait is a tune name or a song name or a musicians name some examples in uk are
London lassies
drops of brandy
bang on the ear
trim the velvet
stack of barley
bucks 'from' oranmore
the wild rovers
wraggle taggle gypsies
the morning lane jew
morning dew
maids from mount cisco
coleman and co.
its just a name at the end of the day weather its cheesy dire good or bad
# Posted on November 7th 2005 by Ripthecalico
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
The Young Ones
# Posted on November 7th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
was having a chat about this topic the other day with a friend and the conclusion was that for a new band, anything starting with THE will make people not take you seriously because it sounds like its more of a joke and not a serious outfit. the wild rovers for example are probably more likely to be better drinkers than musicians! (apologies to all rovers out there)
then anything in irish will sound like every other band in trad with a fada.
something short and simple that's not an everyday word is your best guide. ie. (altan, dervish, etc....)
hope that helps.
martin.
# Posted on November 7th 2005 by martin t
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
OK then - Young Ones
# Posted on November 7th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
You can use my old school band name -Na Mafdhuí. You can read how we got our name here:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/825/comments#comment11854
# Posted on November 7th 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
kriesler1, we're from co. mayo. we live in the gaeltacht so we thought that something as gaeilge would be nice....we haven't thought of getting famous.....yet!!!! but do watch this space!!! thanks for all the help, we just needed some ideas. we have to have a name by the end of this week and we're still undecided but you lot have definitely helped. thanks a mill!!! o and if anyone has any more suggestions........
# Posted on November 7th 2005 by siobhánmc
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
oh and conán, hahaha....good name, very...erm...imaginative...but we're not looking for something THAT different!!! thanks though!!!!
# Posted on November 7th 2005 by siobhánmc
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
Hey,
Band naming stuff is pretty funny here in Poland. Many fresh projects get their names looking thru the Gealic-English dictionary. Thanks to that we have bands with names that reflect the ambition of having something celtish, elves-like, romantic and Tolkien-style. (barf!) When scrolling the Google with polish-celtic bands, after while you grin and laugh eventually.
(don't ask what is my projects name... ;) ).
But seriously- I really like band names that are:
1) Catchy
2) Humorous
3) smart
If I started a band I would call it something like :
Rub my Feet,
Pitch Black,
Noodle Kings
Toothless Goofs,
Cry Babies
Folk 'em All
or simply
Session Breakers
Best wishes from
Poland
Kuba
# Posted on November 8th 2005 by kuba
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
Kuba - what a great name for a Band!
# Posted on November 8th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
Yeah! I already had that in mind...
Kuba - abbreviation
original in Polish -Jakub,
elsewhere - Jacob
# Posted on November 8th 2005 by kuba
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
I`m in a band called "los Pobres". It`s the name of the street where I live and where we began to play. For all you spanish ignorants it means poor people. It isn't the first street in the name of a band, think in St. Patrick street.
There are less modest names like "the stars of munster".
# Posted on November 8th 2005 by fer
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
If you want a name containig "four" do a search in the tunes section. there are lots of them. I like "the four posts of the bed"
# Posted on November 8th 2005 by fer
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
Four in a Bar :-p
# Posted on November 8th 2005 by kuec
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
Sorry, got the smiley wrong.
To be more systematic I give you some categories.
songtitles: Fiddlers Green
names of tunes: Toss the Feathers, Boys of the Lough
places: Alba, Lindisfarne, Friel's Kitchen, Easy Club
gaelic terms: Oisin, De Dannan, Tir na nOg
players' names: Peter, Paul & Mary; The Fureys and Davey Arthur
play on words: Horslips, Fish 'n Jigs
parodies: Paddy Goes To Holyhead, Ceilidh Family
the ...s : Hothouse Flowers, Waterboys, Dubliners
- the ... Band: The Oyster Band, The Albion Band
invented words: Chumba Wamba
# Posted on November 8th 2005 by kuec
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
thanks guys, you've all been a great help! we haven't made up our minds yet on a name but we're getting close!!! i really never thought choosing a band name would be so hard....but then again i suppose thats the reason we never discussed it before now!!!! thanks again everyone!!!!
# Posted on November 8th 2005 by siobhánmc
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
The Four Fields
# Posted on November 9th 2005 by wormdiet
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
The Clashing Plaids is always fun!
# Posted on November 10th 2005 by jennie_corr
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
The Boron Goats
# Posted on November 11th 2005 by wormdiet
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
@ Gang of Elks ( _now extinct in ireland / the real collective name / flute player Niall Keegan's 1999 CD is 'Don't Touch The Elk')
@ Burren ( _that's west coast / past one of mine)
@ Alana ( = my child, my dear / past one of friends that inspired name for my second daughter -first one is Ciara)
@ Thraween ( = a wisp of straw or grass / anything 'grass' has a solid theme)
@ Dhudheen ( = a short-stemmed clay pipe / my grandma use to smoke one)
@ Boreen ( = a lane or path / we've all been somewhere up one . . . )
@ The Cap in the Hedge ( just made that one up, but we have a cat called Hedge because that's where we found him)
siobhanmc, hope these prompt some ideas, even if only names for tunes you may get around to writing, i love the pipes too, good luck
# Posted on November 30th 2005 by lisaniska
Re: band names...yet again!!!!
ah thanks lisaniska!!! as it happens we stil haven't decided on a band name yet! we must b e the most indecisive band alive!!! ah well....as long as we're still together and enjoying ourselves!!
thanks again
siobhán
# Posted on December 1st 2005 by siobhánmc