Eric Empson: lead vocals & guitars & songwriting
John Barber: drums
Jeff Elbel: bass guitar & vocals & production
Alumni:
Josh Ramsey: drums, vocals
Andy Lorance: bass guitar
Rob Kandell: bass guitar
Wally Segeida: keyboards & vocals
Brian Richardson: vocals
Influences
Beatles, the Who, U2, XTC, Arena Rock
Sounds Like
dada, Oasis, Boston, Pink Floyd, U2, Radiohead, it really depends on the song
The Hopescope formed in 1994 when Eric Empson moved to Orange County, California upon his college graduation. He had come in contact with California musicians Josh Ramsey (drums) and Andy Lorance (bass) through a high school friend. They immediately worked on Empson's compositions and played live shows and recorded a 10 song demo CD at Falcon Studios in Anaheim, CA.
The Hopescope spent 1994 through 1996 as a 3-piece and opened for such national acts as Night Ranger, Charlie Sexton, The Plimsouls, Susanna Hoffs, dada and many Christian rock artists as well.
In February of 1997 Empson moved back to Michigan for a brief hiatus and returned with college friend and drummer John Barber to replace Ramsey on drums and had Ramsey take over lead singing and rhythm guitar duties. They rehearsed and quickly worked Empson's compositions into their first studio release "Eureka" on Marathon Records. The Hopescope parted ways with Lorance during sessions and Empson took over bass tracking in addition to guitar tracking.
Upon release of their CD the band offered Jeff Elbel(Farewell to Juliet, Sunny Day Roses, EDL & ping) the position as bass player and he would prove be an important ally to the band in the future. Through 1997 the band would perform at notable California venues such as: The Whisky A-Go-Go, The CoachHouse Theater in San Juan Capistrano & The Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana.
Empson would then return to Michigan for personal reasons and Barber returned to Michigan and Ramsey relocated to Michigan. The Hopescope then hired long time friend Rob Kandell on bass guitar. They continued to play many venues in Michigan.
Barber and Ramsey returned to California in 1998 and the group disbanded. After a 3 year hiatus Empson began writing songs for his magnum opus "Bring in the Sun: A Five Year Journal". Barber returned from California and Empson enlisted Rob Kandell on bass guitar and Brian Richardson on vocals and Wally Segeida ..boards and background vocals to record his concept record. They completed the CD at Perfect Balance Studios in Ann Arbor in 2003 with steady and skillful production by Elbel and patient and energetic engineering by Joe Mancuso (North).
The Hopescope supported this CD release with many shows throughout Michigan and closed a chapter on their musical output at the Ann Arbor Art Fair in 2004.
Ramsey continues on in his own band "Fantastic Plastic" and also performs in a U2 tribute band in California. Empson continues to perform with Ann Arbor, MI based art-rock band Mumble. Elbel records music under the moniker of Ping and is currently producing Mumble's forthcoming release "Happy Living".
Barber, Elbel & Empson will perform a reunion show at Paycheck's Lounge in Hamtramck, MI on March 21st with John Hawthorne of Mumble sitting in on rhythm guitar duties. Ping & Mumble will also perform.
