Band names just keep getting crazier all the time. Here are a few of my favorites: Large Marge and the Tell ‘em I Sent Ya’s, The Band Formerly Known as Sausage, Nothing Heavier Than a Car on My Head, The Only Alternative and His Other Possibilities, Rebel Without Applause, Shamwow and his Horse Cubs, and of course Jiggle the Handle. Yes, these are all actual, verified band names. Don’t take my word for it though, you can find these and hundreds of others here: (warning this site is not for the kiddies) Weird band names

I went to this site and a slew of others in search of a particular band name but I was stunned and amazed to find that it was nowhere to be found. Right in between The Runz and The Saltwater Vampires there should be the name of one of the weirdest band names of all times. It is a travesty of justice that band in question remains in absentia. I’m not talking about a bunch of nube wanabes after all, I’m talking about a band that’s been playing all throughout the Okanagan from bars to festivals, for over a decade now. I am talking about the super hot, (voted best R & B band at the 2006 and 2007 Okanagan Music Awards) nine piece unit known as the Salmon Armenians.

To those who live in the Okanagan, their name makes perfect sense but for those who live abroad, perhaps an explanation is in order. But first visit there web site here: Salmon Armenians

Now you know where the name came from right? What? Oh, they don’t explain the name? Are you sure? Hm. What’s that? Are they Armenian immigrants? Um no. Yeah, Murray Holmes the bass player does look like he could pass for Armenian but no, that’s not it. I’ll give you a hint, think Salmon! What do you mean there’s something fishy about Lody Kieken, the keyboardist? Ok, forget it, your way off. Here it is, Salmon Arm is the name of a small town in North Okanagan. Yes that is a weird name for a town and no, I don’t know if people from Salmon Arm seriously refer to themselves as Salmon Armenians. You’ll have to take that up with their chamber of commerce located right next to Fred’s Bait Shop. Or actually, correction, Fred’s Bait Shop IS the chamber of commerce.

Anyways, that’s enough of that. Let's talk about the Vernon Jazz Club. Located upstairs in a nice old heritage building is a room that’s a cross between a renovated hotel and my dad’s basement. You won’t find lazer shows or disco balls here but you will find some smoking hot swing, jazz and R & B. So I had two firsts this past week. A new club and the club’s band that night, the oddly named, Salmon Armenians. I can’t say that name out loud without cracking a smile.

I haven’t danced so much since New Years Eve. I thought I blew out my knee at one point turned out to be nothing more than a cramp though. I loved the set. Knock on Wood by Eddie Floyd, You Me and the Bottle Makes Three by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Late in the Evening by Paul Simon… the music was as diverse as the audience and everybody was loving it the dance floor was jammed from note one to last call.

Are weird names a help or a hindrance? I think they work at getting people's attention but it’s a great sound that keeps them coming back. I’ll be back for some more of the Salmon Armenians and for the Vernon Jazz Club.

Just a little footnote. I submitted the Salmon Armenians to the Weird band name web site and at the time of this article's release, it still wasn't on there. I think it's updated monthly so we won't start the protest march just yet... I'll keep you posted.