Well, they are signed, have released albums and clearly have more of a claim on the name, so I guess we will be changing or clarifying our name in due course. We are no longer active, so it is not a problem.

To answer your question, the inspiration for the name was that I wanted to call the band Sparkwood & 21 (which is a reference from the TV Show “Twin Peaks”). However, that name was already taken by a UK band. I adore the Pacific NW and Washington State, and Twin Peaks, so I decided to limit the universe of potential names to this. I had a cool photo from a visit to Snoqualmie railroad museum of an old traincar with “Portland-Spokane” written on it, and I just liked how the word Spokane looked and both the ways it seemed to be pronounced.

So, to answer the second part of your question, I have always heard it both ways. Although I believe the more correct pronounciation is Spo-can, I personally prefer Spo-kane (as that is how I first heard it said in other parts of the US and in the UK) but I would always kind of slide down the middle of the two pronounciations so people heard whichever was was most familiar to them!

I must admit I have never been to Spokane though…only Seattle and the Snoqualmie, North Bend and Fall City area.

Thanks,
Dan Morgan (of the band formerly called Spokane…)
San Diego CA (originally Oxford, UK)

Hi Spovangelist,

of course we pronounce the name Spo-can, how else?

i was born in spokane at sacred heart hospital and lived at the corner of east mont way and n monroe st near holy cross cemetery. my father and gradfather (1890) were born there also. my great grandfather was a resident before washington was a state. but the band being named spokane is just a coincidence!

all best,
r. alverson

—————– Original Message —————–
Date: Feb 15, 2009 11:22 PM
Subject: pronunciation?

Hi there,

I am a civic blogger out in Spokane, WA and I am doing a blog post about how your band has the same name as our city on Spovangelist.com.

I was wondering, what was the inspiration for your band name, and how do you pronounce Spokane?
Is it “Spo-kane” or “Spo-can”?

Thank you so much for your response, and best of luck to you in your musical career!

Sincerely,

The Spovangelist