The Popular Monsters came together in Seattle in 2007, but their making was a long time coming. The band’s beginnings can be traced back to 2005 when Patrick, Sue, and Rob were in a lighthearted band with the curious name of I Like Danger? that had songs about whales and drinking tea. Their songwriting has evolved since those heady days, and though the songwriting garners comparisons to the often austere Mountain Goats, The Popular Monsters prefer to sing about light-hearted and approachable topics including local WNBA superstar Sue Bird, comic book superheroes, and blogging.
The Popular Monsters was started as a solo act by Patrick Tewson, and he maintains his status as the frontman and lead guitarist/vocalist. A native of the Seattle area, Patrick attended the University of Washington where he started playing music. Songwriting flowed naturally from there, and his desire to share his music with the world is what motivated him to start performing.
While Patrick is fully rooted in the Seattle scene, drummer Rob Anderson and bassist/vocalist Sue Tsoglin are a different story. They both grew up in New York (Rob went to Vassar, Sue attended Brandeis) but came to realize that they desired a more laid-back lifestyle than the east coast could afford. They packed up and moved to the painfully casual Pacific Northwest and never looked back.
Patrick met Sue at Bumbershoot in 2004 through a mutual friend. After hearing Sue play her original songs on a classical guitar they started playing together. As a duo they released the Rock, Paper, Schism! EP in late 2008. Rob, a talented musician with skills on guitar, bass, keyboard, trombone, harmonica, and glockenspiel, did not play the drums at the time, but used his inclination for music to pick them up and joined the band shortly after the release of their EP. He now plays on what is arguably the oldest, rattiest drum kit in the Seattle music scene.
The members are hesitant to categorize their sound, preferring for it to fall under the umbrella of “good music.” However, Patrick’s vocals are reminiscent of John Darnielle, and they list Guided by Voices, New Pornographers, and Breeders as musical influences. Their sound fits nicely into the broad and largely undefined genre of indie rock.
Outside of the band, a Patrick and Rob can be found around town performing as their solo acts (Seven Stars Panda and Day Laborers and Petty Intellectuals respectively). Rob is also in a couple other local bands (Panda Conspiracy and Beast Please Be Still) and when he’s not doing music he can be found playing ultimate frisbee or at his day job working for a local environmental nonprofit. Patrick also works for a nonprofit where he developed websites for other not-for-profit organizations in the Northwest. When he’s not writing code (or songs) he’s into brewing beer, biking, and sailing. Sue’s interest in the arts expands beyond music and her bandmates agree that she is an amazing painter. Her longstanding dream is to play roller derby under the name JujitSue.
The Popular Monsters are:
Patrick Tewson (guitar, vocals)
Sue Tsoglin (bass, vocals)
Rob Anderson (drums)
Contact the band: popularmonsters@gmail.com
