Riding Shotgun With Hopewell
Some of my favorite bands are those that my dear friends have introduced me
to. Hopewell is such a band. It was summer 2005, and a friend suggested I
meet her at the Velvet Lounge to see a band she had heard good things about.
I agreed and have been a Hopewell fan ever since, even venturing out to see
them twice more before the end of the year. Their brand of psych-rock is
utterly hypnotic and mesmerizing. Hopewell were in town often last year,
and it seems this year will be no different. Jason Russo (he of the glorious
vocals) gives us the inside track on all things Hopewell. Keep your eyes
peeled for live dates around town, because believe you me, you need to see
this band.
Touring is: a warm gun.
Our first gig was: sometime in the 90s. In high school.
Our favorite venue to play is: Bowery Ballroom, NYC. Spaceland, L.A.
Hygiene on a tour is: A vague concept. A distant memory. A curiosity.
Our favorite thing about touring is: Actual physical contact with our audience.
And the least favorite thing is: When people are disinterested, not there, or hostile.
City with the best audiences: D.C., NYC, L.A., San Francisco. All the major coastal ports, in other words.
The band member most likely to disappear after a show is: Rich Meyer.
The tour bus/van smells like: Regret. Love. The inside of a wooden leg.
Laundry is: a) washed regularly, b) washed irregularly, c) we go shopping a lot: None of the above.
What's the most unusual item on your rider? Ointments, salves. Chips.
Who controls the music in the touring vehicle? And what
are you listening to at the moment?
The driver of course, though
he is likely to be heckled. Lately there’s been a lot of Lucinda
Williams, Nick Cave, the Police, the Glands, and the unabridged
Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien.
Your new favorite watering hole after being on tour?
And/or the best place to get greasy, hangover-curing food?
The Green Room in Chicago. Afterhours.
Breakfast? Probably the Waffle House we found in Georgia, where we noticed
the chef killing a cockroach with his spatula.
Most amusing memory from your current or most recent
tour?
Most things involving
our bass player Rich Meyer are highly amusing. Indescribable though. You kind
of have to be there. He has…gifts.
Everyone has one. Please name the city you wouldn't ever
play in again? Or, if not a particular city, which venue makes your skin
crawl?
The Canadian border
makes our hair stand on end. Only the border though. Once through, we love
Canada.
What band (or bands) have you most enjoyed touring with?
And what bands would you love to tour with in the future?
We have loved the Posies and the Comas,
plus Goldrush and Mark Gardener. High
Dials are great too. We think we would
be a great fit with Rogue Wave or the Warlocks.
Apart from the obvious cd, what's the merch item of yours
you think people should shell out for?
Cds! They are cheap and you can burn them for your friends!
You've played an incredible amount of shows this year.
Would you say Hopewell is one of the hardest working bands in showbiz? And
do you feel that your behemoth tour has paid off?
We are one of the hardest working, for sure. Touring has
paid off. We have tripled our fan base, at least. We have made so many new
friends and have laid the groundwork for our next record. We're not done yet
though! We will be back out in support of Hopewell & The Birds of Appetite in March. Another full US tour with a stop at SXSW.
How do you like D.C., and what do you think of the people
who come to the shows?
We love D.C. We always have a great time. No lie. We look forward to
it. The people are always appreciative and slightly rowdy.
Have you been to the top of the Washington Monument?
No. Is that even possible?
When I was a cub scout I went to the top of the Statue of Liberty. It was rickety.
What does Hopewell have planned for the year ahead?
So much -- another tour
(read above) plus we are recording a new record. We hope to have it out by
the fall and plan to continue touring straight though to 2007.
What would you like people to be saying about Hopewell in 50 years? The little band that could.
Utterly unrelated, but please recite a line of poetry (no cheating!):
“I became a fabulous opera and saw that all creatures had a fatality for
happiness.” Rimbaud. No cheating, swear.
And finally, it's BigYawn's round. What's your poison? Hopewell drinks vats
of vodka gimlets. And green tea.
Between tours, check out Hopewell at www.hopewell.tv, or www.myspace.com/hopewell.
Photo credit: Jeremy Wolf (courtesy www.hopewell.tv)