When it comes to creating original music in Athens amongst a sea of indie bands which seem to share a common ancestor, Athens pop-rock quartet Doctor Squid has found a way to stand out amongst the masses — have fun, leave the work behind and free-style rap until you come up with a band name.

“We went through that struggle that every band goes through, that ‘what should our band name be’ kind of thing,” said lead singer and guitarist Larry Cardinal. “So then we decided to not push it, and just sort of let it emerge.”

Sam Perren, Jason Moody, Larry Cardinal and Mark Spurlock (from left) were inspired by the vision of Dr. Phil as a squid and used it to fashion their band name, Doctor Squid. Photo by: Lily Price

“It got to the point where we had a show schedule, just not a band name,” said lead guitarist Mark Spurlock.

With the pressures accumulating and a looming schedule in the distance, the band turned to a familiar favorite — free-style rapping.

“We were talking about Dr. Phil one day and how he does that whole serious, ‘You know, you’ve got to eat healthy, every day!’ type of thing,” Cardinal said. “We thought, ‘What if Dr. Phil became a squid, but kept his show?’”

Bassist and singer Sam Perren’s input made the band name fully stick.

“I may be a squid, but I don’t think you should beat your wife!” Perren said in his best Dr. Phil impersonation.

While Cardinal is belting out high notes or harmonizing to Perren, keep an ear open for his lyrics.

“We’ve performed songs that didn’t have lyrics written for them, and just had Larry wing it,” Spurlock said. “And other times we’ve written lyrics and had Larry forget them the next day…then we wing it again.”

In fact, the ability to improvise is a cultivated skill for Cardinal.

“I kind of take pride, though, in being able to say stuff that makes sense and no one notices that they are made up on the spot,” Cardinal said. “Sometimes they don’t make sense, but they still don’t notice because my flow is so smooth and heavy.”

In 2008, on a tight budget and with little time to prepare, the band hit the studio.

In true Doctor Squid fashion, they recorded their first self-titled album and laid down tracks they previously had not even had the time to work out in practice.

“I was literally on the phone with Larry as they were printing the final cut of the CD asking what he wanted to name the songs,” Spurlock said.

Though, as often happens with the band, this touch of rushed decision-making was a success.

“For us, the focus is always on just trying to write good songs in just a very simple and basic kind of way,” Spurlock said. “I wouldn’t say we’re not trying to be innovative, but our focus is always making music that people can honestly just enjoy.”

Other band members agreed.

“The difference is we’re just brilliant, to sum it up,” Cardinal said.

with MyNameIsJohnMichael, Clay Evans and Groove Tangent

When: Tonight; doors open at 6, music starts at 8

Where: The Melting Point

Price: $5