Big names in Seattle music: together at last

In December, the 53rd annual Ehrensperger Report was published, reporting as usual on the activities of American Name Society members for the year. (On the Web at www.wtsn.binghamton.edu/ANS.)

Ernest L. Abel, a professor at Wayne State University, published an article titled "Nicknames Increase Longevity" as well as "Gender-related Naming Practices: Similarities and Differences between People and their Dogs."

Bruce L. Brown, professor of Psychology at Brigham Young University, co-authored (take a deep breath): "A Cross-cultural Comparison of Four Generations of American, Brazilian, French, and German Male and Female First Names Categorized According to Gender, Decade of Birth and Geo-location of Birth."

Mike Campbell continued work on www.behindthename.com, "adding about 850 new names to the site."

In the future, perhaps one of these professional onomasts will study names in Seattle music. Someone, really, should investigate this prevalence of Kims and Jasons and Nicks and Jens.

Here are a few bands that could be formed, based on common names recurring in our music scene:

• This is Chris would feature Chris Newmon of Greenriver Thrillers (March 24 at Re-bar), the masterful guitarist Chris Martin of Kinski and Unnatural Helpers (Feb. 29 at Winterland in Bremerton) and bass player Chris Duryee of the glam-garage band RazRez (working on a new album). As the biggest Superchris, Chris Cornell, has left Seattle, vocals might be provided by Chris Ballew, best known for his work with The Presidents of the USA (March 15 at Paramount), but also goofing around with side project Feelings Hijackers (Feb. 29 at the High Dive).

• Should we call it Alan Ladd Riding or the Shane Company? Either way, it would feature Shane Berry, formerly with the Divorce; singer-songwriter Shane Tutmarc of Dolour and the Traveling Mercies (March 7 at the Vera Project); Hypatia Lake bass player Shane Browning; and busy, multi-instrumentalist Shane Peck (March 12 at the Sunset with Laguna, March 14 at the Mars Bar with I-9 and March 15 at Nectar with '80s Invasion).

• Sunny Day Real Estate alum Jeremy Enigk (now solo), Jeremy Hadley of Velella Velella (Wednesday at Nectar) and Jeramy Koepping of the synth-space band Voyager One (March 29 at High Dive) would make a nice trio, which we'll call Surprise Left. (Pearl Jam, anyone?)

• The Shaving Cuts would be heavy on bass players, with Nick Wiggins of Aiden (on tour, as usual), Nick Harmer of Death Cab for Cutie (new album "Narrow Stairs" coming soon) and Nick Heliotis of the Red Sea Sharks. Add in Nicholas Peterson, drummer of new Sub Pop signing Fleet Foxes, and singer-guitarist Steve E. Nix from the Briefs and Cute Lepers.

• What should we call a band with now-retired bass player Kim Warnick (the Fastbacks, Visqueen), singer Kim Archer (tonight at Poppa's Pub in Kent), in-demand bass player Kimberly Morrison (Unnatural Helpers, the Hacks, the Dutchess & the Duke) and exceptional new Mono in VCF singer Kim Miller? With a nod to the Green Pajamas, let's go with the Waitress.

• Lake Timber: Argo singer-guitarist Justin Benson; Justin Harcus, bass player of sassy pop-punk band the Catch; Justin Wilmore, who plays bass in Aqueduct; and Justin Cronk of Lonesome Rhodes & the Good Company (Tuesday at the Triple Door).

• The Welcomers would bring together Mat Brooke of Grand Archives (touring with Sub Pop debut); Matt "Sonic Smith" Bracher of rowdy garage rockers Thee Emergency (Saturday at Comet Tavern); Matt Menovcik of the sadly unappreciated and just-plain-sad Saeta (April 24 at Mars Bar); Matt Ralston of Spook the Horse (an alt-country band that has, disturbingly, three Brian's); and Matt Woll, guitarist of Stella by Starlight (March 7 at West Seattle's Easy Street Records, March 14 at the Sunset).

• Stuperhero quirk-rocker Jen Garrett, talented solo artist Jen Wood, poetic singer Jenn Ghetto (of S), Buttersprites drummer Jen Gay and Night Canopy contributor Jenny Jimenez ... the Wu-Tang Jen.

• Introducing Saving Private, featuring Ryan Nickel of Caravel (Thursday at High Dive), drummer Ryan McMackin of the Maldives (March 14 at High Dive), Ryan Shea Smith from the Vicci Martinez Band (Saturday at the Showbox at the Market), the Whore Moans' bassist-singer Ryan Devlin (Feb. 29 at Neumo's) and dynamic Schoolyard Heroes singer Ryann Donnelly.

• Rick Springfield would dig Just Jess, a band combining the dazzling alt-country singer Jesse Sykes, Sub Pop neo-folk gem Jesy "Tiny Vipers" Fortino, the folksy Jessy Waylon (March 26 at Studio Seven), Jesse Lortz of new Hardly Art signing the Dutchess & the Duke, Jesse Paul Miller of Climax Gold Twins and Maldives guitarist Jesse Bonn.

• Hip-hoppers are a little more elusive, as they often come up with their own, singular names. Even so, we could make a powerhouse DJ/producer crew called One on One, with DV One, Bean One, Jake One and TilesOne (of Cancer Rising, March 13 at Nectar).

• Last, and probably least, somebody round up a jam band featuring Jason Holstrom of United State of Electronica (March 15 at the Paramount); Jason Palaniuk from hard rockers Skullbot; Jason Bazinet of the experimental-metal band SMP (March 15 at El Corazon); Mono in VCF's Jason Falk; out-there singer-songwriter Jason Webley (Saturday at Estradasphere Studios in Ballard); and Jason Milne and Jason Atkin, both of the Purrs (Tuesday at Chop Suey).

This band of Jasons? I'd call them The Slashers.

Tom Scanlon: tscanlon@seattletimes.com