Somebody knows how to stretch a pun to get a gig, so the Bad Housekeeping Seals played the state aquarium last Thursday.

“We did it as just the BH Seals. People kept asking us what a BH Seal was, like it was some rare class of seal,” says vocalist/ guitarist Bo Ra. “We didn’t want to blow their illusions, so we clammed up. So to speak.”

Not that the BHS didn’t bone up a bit on subjects aquatic: the band learned a wild surf rock medley with just a couple of rehearsals. “You get some amazing echo in an aquarium,” Ra offers. “It adds tone to the instrumentals. And it also helps cover up your mistakes.”

One seal-like mistake, however, was hard to miss. “I tried to balance a ball on my nose,” Bo Ra says, chagrined. “It came down hard and I think it cost us a microphone.”

Honey Spot, The Sleepys, Certified No Brainer and Companions & Homemakers at the Bullfinch, including some shared songs…. The  Hooss Tonics, Pre-Owned Center and The Sacred Hearts at Hamilton’s… Hamburg Sud and an unknown opening act (involving dogs, perhaps?) at Dollaire’s…