Tennyson
Denver Patrick Leary (he/him)
b. March 22nd. As far as he knows, straight.
Lead guitarist of Tennyson.
Denver’s a gifted guitarist whose lifelong dream has been to make it as a musician, but he’s not interested in doing it if it’s not with the rest of Tennyson. He’s coped with the mountains of grief life has piled on him with a sense of humor. Although he’s prone to getting into fist fights and bar brawls, he’s selfless and constantly puts everyone else’s needs ahead of his own.
- Plays: Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s (Red), Ibanez RG320FM (Lavender)
- Favorite music: Dead Kennedys, Articles of Faith, Led Zeppelin, Naked Raygun, Rory Gallagher
Denver’s vibes as a song: “Offer” – Together Pangea
Get to know Denver a little more by exploring Denver’s Junk Drawer (most fun if ‘played’ on desktop)
Daniel Akutagawa (he/him)
b. September 15th. Gay.
Rhythm guitar, vocals.
Daniel is competent in all things, but has never felt like he excels in anything. After the loss of his twin sister, he spirals out into a deep depression and sleepwalks his way through life. He’s recently graduated from university and has had to return to his hometown on his parents’ request. He works weeknights at a piano bar, Keys on the River, while he looks for a “real” job.
- Plays: Fender American Professional II Telecaster (black with white)
- Favorite music: American Football, Maritime, Built to Spill, Sunny Day Real Estate, Death Cab for Cutie
Daniel’s vibes as a song: “Speaking Off the Record” – Hotel Mira
Alexandra “Alex” Akutagawa (she/her)
b. September 15th. d. May 2001. Straight (but like, as an afterthought).
Daniel’s twin sister who passed away in her senior year of high school. She also suffered the same impossible expectations placed on her by her parents, but never appeared to struggle with them. She was an extroverted, charismatic, piano prodigy who laughed her way through everything.
- Plays: prefers Steinways over Yamaha for pianos, and loves her Casio keyboard
- Favorite music: Mirah, Belle and Sebastian, Stars, The Dandy Warhols, Sleater-Kinney
Alex’s vibes as a song: “Anthem For a Seventeen Year-Old Girl” – Broken Social Scene
Tomás Shipman (he/him)
b. July 7th. Straight, but like, in a non-practicing sort of way.
Drummer of Tennyson.
Denver’s childhood friend and current roommate. Too unbothered for his own good. He works part-time at a record shop to pay his share of the rent on the apartment he splits with Denver, but often ends up spending that money on more records.
- Plays: a Yamaha 5-piece he inherited from his brother, Javier
- Favorite music: Pain, Less Than Jake, Catch 22, They Might Be Giants, Jets to Brazil, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Tomás’s vibes as a song: “The Science of Selling Yourself Short” – Less Than Jake
Stefon Martin (he/they)
b. November 2nd. Asexual.
Bassist of Tennyson.
Stef is the band’s resident metalhead and also its youngest member. Unfortunately for Stef, he’s also somehow the band’s only grown-up. A bassist with incredible execution who is in several bands at once, he seems to know everyone in the area’s music scenes. He’s probably too good to be in Tennyson, but he stays because he believes in Denver’s vision.
- Plays: Fender American Professional II Jazz Bass (mercury), Carvin LB-76 (natural wood)
- Favorite music: Lupe Fiasco, Hieroglyphics, Deltron 3030, Mehshuggah, MF Doom, Necrophagist
Stef’s vibes as a song: “Kick Push” – Lupe Fiasco
Everyone Else
Aurora “Rorie” Leary (she/her)
b. April 27th. Straight.
Roller derby jammer.
Rorie is the sister closest in age to Denver, and she also gets along with him the best. Everyone assumes Rorie is the reason Denver got into punk music, but it’s actually the other way around. Despite not being the youngest of the Leary kids, Rorie is the spoiled baby of the family — just the way she likes it!
- Favorite music: Le Tigre, Bikini Kill, Mannequin Pussy
Rorie’s vibes a song: “Mediocrity Rules” – Le Tigre
Elena Hernandez (she/her)
b. wouldn’t you like to know?! Trans lesbian.
Elena is the overworked and underpaid head bartender of Keys on the River, the piano bar Daniel works at. Being constantly busy suits her just fine, though. She is determined to befriend the new, quiet pianist she hired, even if it takes her all year!
Elena’s vibes as a song: “At Your Best (You Are Love)” – The Isley Brothers
- Favorite music: Aaliyah, Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Faith Evans, Janelle Monáe
William Hargrave (he/him)
b. at least 10 years before Daniel, as far as Daniel can tell. Married, but sleeping with men.
Other than the fact that he works in the Finance District and drives an expensive-looking car (and seems to trawl the online personals…), nothing much is known about William.
William’s vibes as a song: William doesn’t “do” music. F1 racing, though? He’ll talk (down) to you about that.
Margot Eriksen (she/her)
b. February 26th. Straight.
A former scene queen who transitioned gracefully into a hip fashion blogger. All the local bands know her, and she knows all of them. Most recently, she’s been seen hanging out with Denver Leary of Tennyson, which surprises pretty much everyone.
- Favorite music: Devendra Banhart, Neutral Milk Hotel, Dr. Dog, Okkervil River, Arcade Fire
Margot’s vibes as a song: “Boys Are Cuter When They’re Crying” – Venus & The Flytraps
David Akutagawa (he/him)
The twins’ father, currently going through a contentious divorce. He’s pretty sure paternal duties begin and end with “provide for your family financially.” Sansei (三世).
Emi Akutagawa née Sasaki (she/her)
The twins’ mother. Older than her soon to be ex-husband by two years. Moved from Shiga-ken to the U.S. as a child. Regrets not listening to her mother who told her not to marry “that American boy.”
