The Hopefuls

Once upon a time, Erik Appelwick and Darren Jackson were hard at work writing songs and gigging for their "other bands" (Vicious Vicious and Kid Dakota, respectively). But in the damp basement shadows of a lowly squire's Minneapolis cottage, the two were experimenting with a mysterious and magical sound that didn't seem to fit the vibe of either band. They'd lay down a few tracks here and there to blow off steam or to find a good home for an orphan guitar lick or synth riff. You know, just for kicks.

The lucky few in the kingdom who heard the handful of resulting songs liked them very much. So although the duo focused on their other efforts, they nevertheless played an occasional show under the name "Camaro," airing the charming innocence of '60s-era pop cuts like "Drain the Sea" and the bittersweetness of anti-love songs like "Pretty Bigmouth" to enthusiastic crowds. And each time, they had only a sheepish shrug for the hapless fans who inevitably demanded, "Where can I buy your record?"

Eventually, the two began asking themselves the same question. They took a closer look at the repertoire that had materialized into a full-fledged album in those dark basement corners, and decided that "sooner than later" was the appropriate response. The king of 2024 Records gave a listen one fateful January day (with Jackson singing live into the computer screen on some songs) and decreed that a debut was, indeed, long overdue.

Then again, timing is everything, and in the interim, Jackson and Appelwick had gained valuable experience behind the boards working on their own projects, as well as those of the artists who sought out the pair's production skills. Their songs had evolved. They had acquired some new gear. They had grown in wisdom and beauty. And they had chosen a new name to launch this musical adventure.

The resulting well-oiled music gemini now known as The Hopefuls added the engineering wizardry of Lord Alex Oana (Honeydogs, Spy Mob) to the mix. The finished record, titled "The Fuses Refuse to Burn," is slick in all the right places but always full of soul, and combines a bit of Weezer guitar grit with the playful, carefree anthems of bands like The Apples in Stereo and Beulah. Onstage, bassist Heath Henjum (The Beatifics), drummer Matt O'Laughlin (Friends Like These) and multi-instrumentalist John August (Storyhill) complete the The Hopefuls lineup. And the quest for rocking mightily continues...