Denver Patrick Leary (he/him)
b. March 22nd, 1982. Ostensibly 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 load-bearing sense of humor that keeps his psyche from collapsing. Although he gets 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, Led Zeppelin, Naked Raygun, Rory Gallagher
Denver’s vibes as a song: “Hope” – The Descendents
Daniel Akutagawa (he/him)
b. September 15th, 1983. 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: Elliott Smith, Death Cab for Cutie, American Football, Maritime
Daniel’s vibes as a song: “Speaking Off the Record” – Hotel Mira
Alexandra (Alex) Akutagawa (she/her)
b. September 15th, 1983. 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: Le Tigre, Broken Social Scene, Garbage, Mirah, múm
Alex’s vibes a song: “Anthem For a Seventeen Year-Old Girl” – Broken Social Scene
Tomás Shipman (he/him)
b. July 7th, 1982. Straight.
Drummer of Tennyson.
Denver’s childhood friend and lifelong accomplice in (sometimes literal) crime. Tomás and Denver currently share a shitty apartment on the east side where Tomás never does dishes or consistently pays his share of the rent, but it’s impossible to stay mad at him.
- Plays: a Yamaha 5-piece he inherited from his brother, Javier
- Favorite music: Less Than Jake, They Might Be Giants, RX Bandits, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Tomás’s vibes a song: “The Science of Selling Yourself Short” – Less Than Jake
Stefon Martin (he/they)
b. November 2nd, 1984. Asexual.
Bassist of Tennyson.
Stef is the band’s resident metalhead, and also the 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 Chicago’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, Mehshuggah, MF Doom, Necrophagist
Stef’s vibes a song: “Kick Push” – Lupe Fiasco
Aurora “Rorie” Leary (she/her)
b. April 27th, 1980. 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 bands: 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!
- Favorite music: Aaliyah, Alicia Keys, K-C & JoJo
Elena’s vibes a song: “Bag Lady” – Erykah Badu