The Hopefuls

Bio Imagine John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr each had solo careers, and got together to form the Beatles. Olympic Hopefuls were the Minneapolis indie rock version of that. Their damaged power pop anthems took Minneapolis by storm from 2004 to 2006. Arising from Erik Appelwick and Darren Jackson's feverish melodic minds, the band began in 2000 as a scrappy quartet called Camaro. They reconfigured a couple of years later, adding John Hermanson (keys, vocals), Heath Henjum (bass), and Matt O'Laughlin (drums).  Eventually, former Spymob drummer Eric Fawcett replaced O'Laughlin. A run-in with the United States Olympic Committee led to the band becoming The Hopefuls in 2006. Erik Appelwick exited the band the same year.  The original line-up disbanded in 2009. Discography The Fuses Refuse to Burn  (2004, 2024 Records) Now Playing at the One-Seat Theatre  ( 2008, Draw Fire Records)

Bio Starting in 2000 as a John Hermanson solo project, Alva Star came together as a real band with players Darren Jackson (guitars, vocals), Brian Roessler (bass), and Peter Anderson (drums).  Their second album featured Erik Appelwick on bass and Ian Prince on drums. Links Alva Star on Bandcamp Alva Star on Soundcloud Discography Alligators in the Lobby  ( 2001) Escalator (2004)

Bio Bozeman, Montana native John Hermanson began his musical career as one half of Chris & Johnny / Storyhill. He went solo in 1997 before reuniting with Chris in 2001. He's the guiding force behind Alva Star, a key member of the Hopefuls, and is also a member of Intl Falls. Links Official website Bandcamp Discography John Hermanson (1998) Psalms (2009) Dragonfly (2015) Isaiah (2016)

Bio Kid Dakota is the musical appellation of South Dakota bred songwriter Darren Jackson. Originally forming in Minneapolis in 1999 with 12 Rods drummer Christopher McGuire, the duo's dark, brooding, confessional, hard-hitting music brought them to the attention of indie rock darlings Low, who would end up helping Kid Dakota release their first two records. Through ensuing albums and personnel changes, Jackson's visceral songwriting vision has served as the constant. Links Official Website for Kid Dakota Bandcamp Official Website for Darren Jackson Discography So Pretty EP (2000) So Pretty LP (2002, Chairkickers' Music) The West is the Future (2004, Chairkickers' Music) A Winner's Shadow (2008, Graveface Records) How the Light Gets In , with the Fantastic Merlins (2009, Hope Street) Listen to the Crows as They Take Flight ( 2011,  Graveface Records) Blunt Force Trauma  (2016) Denervation ( 2018, Graveface Records) Age of Roaches (2020, Graveface Records