Here in Baltimore, the best bands are often named after literary characters, usually from 20th century American literature. For example, ellen cherry takes its name from Ellen Cherry Charles, a character in the 1990 Tom Robbins novel Skinny Legs and All. Here's an excerpt.
The band ellen cherry has a number of different configurations, but it always includes Kristin Putchinski.
Another example is June Star, which takes its name from a character in the 1955 Flannery O'Connor short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find." Here's the entire text of the story.
The band June Star also features a number of different configurations, but it always includes Andrew Grimm.
Here are some pictures I've taken of ellen cherry and June Star:
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October 2, 2004 -
June Star, Cardwell's Tavern, Baltimore, MD.
November 6, 2004 -
June Star Austin Grill, Baltimore, MD.
December 7, 2004 -
ellen cherry with Andrew Grimm, Ram's Head Roadhouse,
Crownsville, MD.
January 14, 2005 -
June Star, Mum's, Baltimore, MD.
February 1, 2005 -
ellen cherry, Ram's Head Roadhouse, Crownsville, MD.
April 15, 2005 -
ellen cherry with Andrew Grimm, Corky's Hard Bean Cafe,
Severna Park, MD.
April 23, 2005 - Andrew
Grimm at the Full Moon Saloon, Baltimore, MD. Grimm
was backed up by Pete Baker for his set and Grimm also
backed up Matt Hopper (using Baker's super cool Telecaster
with a tremolo bridge) for part of Hopper's set.
April 30, 2005 -
Andrew Grimm and Matt Hopper at Johannson's,
Westminster, MD.
May 1, 2005 -
Andrew Grimm and Matt Hopper at the Austin Grill,
Canton, MD.
May 13, 2005 -
Andrew Grimm and ellen cherry at Johannson's,
Westminster, MD.
June 25, 2005 -
June Star at Ryan's Daughter, Baltimore, MD. The second
set (or was it the third?) features ellen cherry. I saw
ellen cherry solo the night before (with her brand new
guitar), but I forgot the camera!
July 17, 2005 -
ellen cherry with Andrew Grimm at the HONBar, Hampden,
MD. Kristin's 30th birthday bash! Pete Baker played a few
tunes for us too!
July 22, 2005 - Andrew
Grimm solo at Dangerously Delicious Pies in Canton and
with June Star at
Ryan's Daughter in Baltimore, MD.
August 5, 2005 - Andrew
Grimm at Corky's Hard Bean Cafe in Severna Park, MD.
August 23, 2005 - Andrew
Grimm at Dangerously Delicious Pies in Canton. It's
my birthday and I likes pie!
September 27, 2005 - Andrew Grimm
at the Mojo in Baltimore, MD.
September 30, 2005 - ellen cherry at
Corky's Hard Bean Cafe in Severna Park, MD.
November 11, 2005 - Briar
Mountain Regulars at the Waterfront Hotel in Fell's
Point (Baltimore, MD).
November 18, 2005 - Andrew Grimm
at Dangerously Delicious Pies in Canton.
December 9, 2005 - June Star
at Mum's in Baltimore, MD.
December 17, 2005 -
Andrew Grimm at Corky's Hard Bean Cafe in Severna Park,
MD.
December 30, 2005 -
ellen cherry at Corky's Hard Bean Cafe in Severna Park,
MD.
January 6, 2006 - Andrew Grimm with
Jay Filippone and Clark Matthews at Mum's in Baltimore, MD.
March 25, 2006 - June Star at
the Beltways Rock'N'Roll Party, Timonium, MD.
April 23, 2006 - June Star at
the Full Moon Saloon in Fell's Point (Baltimore, MD).
May 13, 2006 - June Star at
the Waterfront Hotel in Fell's Point (Baltimore, MD).
May 27, 2006 - June Star at
Bike Jam in Patterson Park (Baltimore, MD).
June 10, 2006 - ellen cherry
at HonFest in Hampden (Baltimore, MD).
June 19, 2006 - June Star at
the 8x10 on Federal Hill (Baltimore, MD).
July 16, 2006 - ellen cherry
at the HonBar in Hampden (Baltimore, MD). Kristin's 31st
birthday bash! Drew Vervan played a couple tunes for us
too!
July 30, 2006 - Andrew Grimm
at the Waterfront Hotel in Fell's Point (Baltimore,
MD). Record release party for "Palace to Palace"!
August 5, 2006 - June Star at
Mum's in Baltimore, MD.
August 20, 2006 -
Andrew Grimm at the Waterfront Hotel in Fell's Point
(Baltimore, MD). Hosting SNAFU featuring Timothy
Bracken.
October 19, 2006 - June Star at the
Sidebar Tavern in Baltimore, MD.
December 16, 2006 -
ellen cherry at the Austin Grill in Canton (Baltimore,
MD).
January 13, 2007 -
June Star at the Waterfront Hotel in Fell's Point
(Baltimore, MD).
February 24, 2007 - June Star at
Mum's in Baltimore, MD.
April 26, 2007 - June Star at
the 8x10 in Federal Hill (Baltimore, MD).
May 26, 2007 - June Star at
Bike Jam in Patterson Park (Baltimore, MD).
June 9, 2007 - ellen cherry
at HonFest in Hampden (Baltimore, MD).
June 21, 2007 - Andrew Grimm
at the 8x10 in Federal Hill (Baltimore, MD). CD release
party for "Wolves."
July 20, 2007 - June Star at
Artscape in Baltimore, MD.
July 29, 2007
- June Star
opening for Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles at the
Patterson
and again at the Waterfront Hotel (both in Baltimore,
MD).
September 15, 2007 - June Star
at HampdenFest (Baltimore, MD).
December 8, 2007
- ellen
cherry and
June Star at
Mum's in Baltimore, MD.
December 13, 2007
- Andrew
Grimm at the Waterfront Hotel in Fell's Point
(Baltimore, MD).
March 10, 2008
- Andrew
Grimm
and ellen
cherry at Ryan's Daughter in Baltimore, MD.
Finally, there's Daisy Buchanan, who clearly take their name from the character in the 1925 F. Scott Fitzgerald novel The Great Gatsby, but I don't actually know their real names. Who the heck would name themselves after Daisy Buchanan anyway? She was an awful person!
Of course, not all the bands in Baltimore are named after literary characters; some are just named exactly what they are.