Dan Paulus shown in the alley behind his first Capitol Hill apartment where he moved in 1992 and rent was $212.50

By Timothy Rysdyke

A decade ago, Dan Paulus was cementing his place in Seattle’s arts scene as the art director of City Arts magazine, while also performing in a brutal Misfits tribute band called Underworld Scum. His life was a whirlwind of design, music, and community, collaborating with local artists and shaping the visual landscape of the city’s cultural publications. Whether he was designing covers for City Arts or shredding guitar riffs at Chop Suey, Dan embodied the creative grit that Capitol Hill has been known for.

Since then, Dan has transitioned from his role at City Arts, which unfortunately ceased publication in late 2018. These days, his design work is divided between his job as a Senior Designer at the University of Washington and a range of freelance projects. His role at UW spans a wide variety of projects, from designing posters for their Faculty Lecture Series to graphics for the university’s iconic cherry tree blossoming festival. On the freelance side, he’s collaborated with various clients, but he’s particularly proud of the work he did for his Misfits tribute band, Underworld Scum. “Posters, T-shirts, costuming, amp grills, kick drum heads… it was a lot of fun interpreting the Misfits vibe into our own slightly more ridiculous take on it,” he shares.

When it comes to his musical endeavors, Dan has kept busy. He’s been part of several bands over the years, each one reflecting his deep connection to Seattle’s raw and gritty music scene. From his late-90s two-piece Parini with Lisa Orth to the more recent power trio ex Licks, Dan’s musical projects embody the same DIY ethos that first drew him to Capitol Hill. His latest collaboration, Graveyard of the Pacific, a post-punk/garage band with goth and surf tendencies, is set to open for punk legend Kid Congo at the Clock-Out Lounge this Halloween. “It’s going to be a real ghoul’s night out,” he laughs.

As for Capitol Hill, his longtime home base, Dan has seen the neighborhood evolve dramatically. “Higher rents mean fewer options for artists and queers,” he observes. But despite the neighborhood’s rapid changes, Dan is quick to point out that pockets of creativity still remain. “There are still weirdos bopping around, holding on to their space and integrity,” he says, giving a nod to Diana Adams and Vermillion for continuing to provide a communal arts space against all odds.

Reflecting on his time at City Arts and The Stranger, Dan misses the collaborative spirit of working with local artists. “Being able to give them paying work and greater exposure in the city at large was the biggest perk of working in those roles,” he recalls fondly. Despite the challenges of the changing media landscape, Dan remains passionate about supporting artists in Seattle.

When Hillebrity first caught up with him, Dan highlighted local artists Glenn Billard, Shannon Perry, and the late great Darryl Ary as some of his Seattle favorites. Fast forward to today, and his list of admired artists keeps growing. When asked who some of his favorites are currently he mentioned two Hillebrities in their own right: “Tara Thomas is my number one, always and forever, and is Seattle’s greatest living artist,” he says. He’s also a fan of Katlyn Hubner, who he says is doing “amazing, visceral things with oils on large canvases.” His love for Seattle’s creative ecosystem, despite its challenges, hasn’t faded.

For anyone keeping an eye on Seattle’s cultural pulse, Dan’s name is still synonymous with the city’s spirit of artistic rebellion. While Dan remains a bit of an underground legend—more likely to be spotted at a small venue show or working tirelessly behind the scenes of a magazine—his influence is undeniable. Whether through his music, his art direction, or his ongoing passion for Seattle’s creative world, Dan Paulus remains a Hillebrity in the truest sense.

You can catch Dan’s band Graveyard of the Pacific at the Clock-Out Lounge on Halloween—don’t miss out!

Hillebrities are beautiful, magical scenesters who make Capitol Hill the most dynamic neighborhood in the city. Whether they still live on the hill or only occasionally grace us with their presence, they will always be Hillebrities to us. We’ll be catching up with some of them to find out where they are now, what they are passionate about, what they’re wearing these days — and if they know if Linda’s is on Pike or Pine.

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