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Hopewell (band)

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Hopewell
Hopewell, in Staten Island, New York in 2008 Photo by Alexandra Marvar
Hopewell, in Staten Island, New York in 2008
Photo by Alexandra Marvar

Hopewell is an American rock band. The band was founded by Jason Sebastian Russo, of Hopewell Junction, New York. At 19, Russo joined Mercury Rev for a world tour, and then struck out on his own with a band named after his hometown.[1]

Career

History

In 1995, seminal Detroit-based space rock label Burnt Hair Records released the band's first single, a split with Michigan-based drone-ambient group Windy & Carl. Hopewell's first full-length, Contact, came out on Burnt Hair in 1997.[2] Their second release, 2001's The Curved Glass, led to European distribution, festival appearances and a John Peel session.[3] What followed was a transition period of line-up and stylistic changes. Most notable was the loss of Dalia Garih as drummer. After regrouping, the band signed to Tee Pee Records and released Hopewell & The Birds Of Appetite, produced by Dave Fridmann of Flaming Lips fame at Tarbox Road Studios.[4] Its follow-up, Beautiful Targets, produced by Fridmann protege Bill Racine, was released in 2007 and its symphonic rock leanings were often compared to Mercury Rev and the Flaming Lips.[5].

The band's 2009 release, Good Good Desperation, took them in a heavier direction, aligned by critics with Pink Floyd's Meddle and Can's Tago Mago.[6]

A selective list of bands Hopewell has performed or toured with: My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth, Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Dandy Warhols, Nicole Atkins, The Sleepy Jackson, British Sea Power, The Comas, The Black Angels, Goldrush, Mark Gardener, Mike Watt, The Posies, The Lovetones, Garth Hudson, Adam Franklin and others.

Film and TV

Hopewell's music has appeared on the soundtracks for films including Tarnation and PsychoGuru (Tribeca Film Festival selection 2011)[7], and television shows including One Tree Hill and Greek. Other notable appearances include skate videos by Thrasher magazine[8] and Converse[9], as well as the seminal Birdhouse Skateboards film The Beginning.

Recent Work

On November 2nd 2010, Hopewell released the first volume of a two-part live album, Hopewell Live, recorded between Truck Festival America (2010) and All Tomorrow's Parties NY in 2009.[10] The first of the two volumes features several songs from Hopewell's fifth full-length, Good Good Desperation (2009, Tee Pee Records) and was released to correspond with the bands US tour supporting the Dandy Warhols[11].

Albums

References

  1. ^ Interview by Jonny Leather for the New York Press
  2. ^ Hopewell Discography on Discogs
  3. ^ List of Peel Sessions
  4. ^ Biography: Dave Fridmann
  5. ^ Pitchfork Review: Beautiful Targets
  6. ^ Pop Matters Review: Good Good Desperation
  7. ^ PsychoGuru IMDB
  8. ^ Thrasher magazine "Prevent This Tragedy" Video
  9. ^ Jason Sebastian Russo Official Web Site
  10. ^ All Tomorrow's Parties Festival Line-ups
  11. ^ Time Out New York Events Listing: The Dandy Warhols + Hopewell
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