PROFILE - Pattern-Seeking Animals: Complexity, Immediacy, and Melody at the Top

Pattern-Seeking Animals is an American progressive rock supergroup formed in 2018, consisting of current and former members of the band Spock's Beard. The group consists of Ted Leonard (vocals, guitar), John Boegehold (keyboards, programming), Dave Meros (bass), and Jimmy Keegan (drums). They are known for their intricate and melodic progressive rock music, which often features conceptual lyrics and solid musicianship. The band's name comes from a quote about human behavior by science historian Michael Shermer.

The band's name, "Pattern-Seeking Animals," and the title of their latest album, "Friend of All Creatures," are beautifully translated. The title comes from a verse in the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture over 2,000 years old, appearing in Chapter 5, Verse 29, at the end of a passage about purifying the mind. "Friend of All Creatures" isn't a concept album, but the theme cited in the title is a recurring idea in several songs.

Principal Members
Ted Leonard: Lead vocals, guitar
John Boegehold: Keyboards, guitars, programming
Dave Meros: Bass, backing vocals
Jimmy Keegan: Drums, percussion, backing vocals

The band plays an intricate and immediate style of progressive rock, balancing complex arrangements with powerful melodies.

John Boegehold, the main composer and producer, focuses on creating concept-based songs, similar to short stories or novels, rather than writing about personal experiences.
Their music incorporates rich orchestrations and complex vocal harmonies, demonstrating the band's songwriting and production prowess.

A side of progressive rock I wasn't familiar with and that I find difficult to channel. This is a unique band. The songs are all beautiful, it feels like listening to a rock masterpiece that's been around for over 20 years, but that's not the case; it's all new and original, truly beautiful, credible, and certainly promising.

John Boegehold himself gave a magnificent description of their style when, explaining the project's intention, he said, "to produce progressive and complex music, while maintaining immediacy and melody." They achieved this goal perfectly.

Pattern-Seeking Animals' Works

Pattern-Seeking Animals - 2019
Prehensile Tales - 2020
Only Passing Through - 2022
Spooky Action at a Distance - 2023
Friend of All Creatures - 2025