The Hopefuls

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This article is about the band. For the TV series segment, see The Word (TV series).
The Hopefuls
John Hermanson, Darren Jackson, Eric Fawcett, and Heath Henjum playing First Avenue in June 2009
John Hermanson, Darren Jackson, Eric Fawcett, and Heath Henjum playing First Avenue in June 2009
Background information
Also known asOlympic Hopefuls, Camaro[1]
OriginMinneapolis, Minnesota
Genresindie-pop, power pop
Years active2004-2010[2]
Labels2024 Records
Draw Fire Records
Associated actsAlva Star, Tapes 'n Tapes, Kid Dakota, Vicious Vicious, Beatifics, Storyhill, Spymob, Friends Like These
Past membersDarren Jackson
Heath Henjum
John Hermanson
Eric Fawcett
Erik Appelwick
Matt O'Laughlin

The Hopefuls, formerly known as The Olympic Hopefuls, are an indie-pop group from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Hopefuls won both the Artist of the Year and Best Pop Artist awards at the 2005 Minnesota Music Awards.[3]

Musical Style[]

The Hopefuls' music is peppy, light, and often deliberately corny. They define their music as "fun music for fun times" and keep their songs upbeat and fast-paced. They often use xylophone fills, synthesizers, and hand claps to, as their webpage says, "keep heads bopping and asses shaking."

On their first album, Jackson and Appelwick switch off writing and singing songs; Appelwick sings the odd-numbered songs and Jackson sings the even-numbered. Their songs are typically about romance and the problems associated with it.

History[]

Darren Jackson and Erik Appelwick, (of Minnesota bands Kid Dakota and Vicious Vicious, respectively) began recording and performing under the name of Camaro in the early 2000s. As their popularity on the Minneapolis music scene increased, they changed their names to The Olympic Hopefuls and were picked up by 2024 records, a local independent label. They released their debut album, The Fuses Refuse to Burn in 2004.[4]

In 2005 the band was forced to shorten its name to The Hopefuls after being informed that the United States Olympic Committee owned the trademark to the word "Olympic."[5]

The song "Let's Go!" was featured on the second seasons of both The O.C. and Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County.[6][7]

The song "Drain the Sea" was featured on the first disc of the "For New Orleans" charity cd set produced by "".

In April 2006, Appelwick left The Hopefuls to play bass for Tapes 'n Tapes.

On December 20, 2008, The Hopefuls released their second album Now Playing at the One-Seat Theatre on local independent label Draw Fire Records. Due to their busy schedules, all four band members were never present in the recording studio at the same time during the album's recording. The band's last show was played the following year.[4]

Band members[]

  • Darren Jackson: guitar and vocals.
  • Heath Henjum: bass.
  • John Hermanson: keyboards, vocals.
  • Eric Fawcett: drums.
  • Erik Appelwick: guitar and vocals (until 2006).
  • Matt O'Laughlin: drums (until 2005).


Discography[]

The Fuses Refuse to Burn
Label: 2024 Records[8]
Released: 2005
1. "Imaginary" (Applewick)
2. "Holiday" (Jackson)
3. "Shy" (Applewick)
4. "Drain the Sea" (Jackson)
5. "Motobike" (Applewick) 		6. "Whisper" (Jackson)
7. "Let's Go!" (Applewick/Jackson)
8. "Trust Fund" (Jackson)
9. "Pretty Bigmouth" (Applewick)
10. "Stoned Again" (Jackson)
Now Playing at the One-Seat Theatre
Label: Draw Fire Records
Released: Dec. 20, 2008
1. "Edge of Medicine" (Jackson)
2. "Idaho" (Jackson)
3. "Virgin Wood" (Jackson)
4. "Stacey" (Hermanson/Jackson)
5. "Miss You" (Jackson)
6. "One-Seat Theatre" (Jackson) 		7. "Only Dreaming" (Hermanson)
8. "Red Stain" (Jackson)
9. "What She Wants" (Jackson)
10. "Hold Your Own" (Hermanson/Appelwick)
11. "Love Without a Future (The Director's Cut)" (Jackson)


Media[]

In 2018, Paul V. Allan released The Hopefuls: Chasing a Rock 'n' Roll Dream in the Minnesota Music Scene, a book about The Hopefuls and many other related bands (Spymob, Storyhill, Kid Dakota, Tapes 'n Tapes, Vicious Vicious, etc.)

References[]

  1. ^ Schober, Jon. "Artist of the Month: The Hopefuls". 89.3 The Current.
  2. ^ Ritland, Erik. "THE HOPEFULS: BLAST FROM THE PAST". Curious North. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  3. ^ Behe, Regis (March 2, 2006). "Minneapolis band pays tribute to influences - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review". www.pittsburghlive.com. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Riemenschneider, Chris (December 19, 2008). "Music: The Hopefuls are refusing to burn". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  5. ^ Montgomery, James (August 5, 2005). "Olympic Hopefuls' Dreams Dashed". MTV News. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  6. ^ Terhark, Chuck (November 24, 2004). "Minneapolis News - Talk of the Town - page 1". City Pages. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  7. ^ "Lo and Behold, The (Olympic) Hopefuls Are Back in the Game". St. Paul Pioneer Press. December 19, 2008. p. E3.
  8. ^ 2024 Records label site

External links[]

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