Jason Sebastian Russo
| Jason Sebastian Russo | |
|---|---|
 Jason Sebastian Russo at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York during the video shoot for Hopewell's "Island" by, directed by Art Boonparn. Photo by Alexandra Marvar.[1] | |
| Born | August 16, 1973 |
| Occupation | Musician |
Jason Sebastian Russo (born August 16, 1973 in Yonkers, New York) is a rock musician. He was a member of Mercury Rev from 1994 to 2001, and rejoined in 2011 for the Don't Look Back concert series Deserter's Songs reunion tour. He founded the psychedelic rock band Hopewell in high school.[2] Hopewell has since been constantly recording and touring. They released their fifth full-length album "Good Good Desperation" on Tee Pee Records in 2009. He is also leader of the band Common Prayer.[3]
Common Prayer's debut record 'There Is A Mountain' was released in the UK by Big Potato Records, a label founded in part by Neil Halstead. It was recorded on the site of the Truck Festival in Steventon, Oxfordshire, by Joe and Robin Bennett of Goldrush. Other players include Russo's brother, Justin Russo.[4]
Childhood
Jason Russo grew up in a religious household with two brothers, a sister and no TV. The son of a psychiatrist, he spent the better part of his youth in graveyards, woods and strip malls in upstate New York before music consumed much of his life. At the age of 19, Russo found himself touring alongside his brother Justin as bassist for critically acclaimed Mercury Rev during the band's peak, before moving on to focus entirely on his own eclectic psychedelic rock band Hopewell.[5]
Discography
Albums
- Harmony Rockets Paralyzed Mind of the Archangel Void (Big Cat, 1995)
- Hopewell Contact (Burnt Hair Records, 1997)
- Grasshopper and the Golden Crickets The Orbit of Eternal Grace (Beggars Banquet, 1998)
- Mercury Rev All is Dream (V2 Records, 2001)
- Hopewell The Curved Glass (Priapus, PIAS, 2001)
- Grand Mal Bad Timing (Arena Rock Recording Company, 2003)
- The Silent League The Orchestra, Sadly, Has Refused (File-13, Something in Construction, 2004)
- Hopewell Hopewell & The Birds Of Appetite (Tee Pee Records, Star Mole Records (Japan), 2005)
- Hopewell Hopewell and the Birds of Appetite (TeePee Records, 2005)
- Mercury Rev The Essential Mercury Rev: Stillness Breathes 1991-2006 (V2 Records, 2006)
- Grand Mal Love Is The Best Con In Town (New York Night Train, 2006)
- Hopewell Beautiful Targets (TeePee Records / Star Mole (Japan), 2007)
- Grand Mal Congratulations You¹ve Re-joined the Human Race ( Groover Recordings, 2007)
- The Silent League Of Stars and Other Somebodies (Something in Construction, Rallye/Klee, 2007)
- Camphor Drawn To Dust (Friendly Fire Recordings, 2008)
- Hopewell Good Good Desperation (TeePee Records, 2009)
- Grand Mal Clandestine Songs (Groover Recordings, 2010)
- Common Prayer There Is A Mountain (Big Potato Records / South Cherry Entropy, 2010)
- Hopewell Live Volume 1 (Virtual Label / South Cherry Entropy, 2010)
- Common Prayer Frame The River (O+ / South Cherry Entropy, 2013)
Soundtracks
- Jesus' Son Soundtrack (1999)
- Tarnation Soundtrack (as Hopewell) (2003)
- Alphonso Bow Soundtrack (2009)
- Psycho Guru Soundtrack (2010)
- Lapse: Confessions of a Slot Machine Junkie Soundtrack (2013)
- River Of Bears Soundtrack (2013)
EPs / Singles
- Hopewell Windy & Carl / Hopewell (Burnt Hair Records, 1996 7" Single)
- Hopewell Stranger (Priapus Records, 1997 7" Single)
- Hopewell Purple Balloon (Priapus Records, 1998 EP)
- Mercury Rev Goddess on a Highway (V2 Records, 1998 Single)
- Mercury Rev Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp (V2 Records, 1998 Single)
- Mercury Rev Opus 40 (V2 Records, 1999 Single)
- Mercury Rev Holes (V2 Records, 1999 Single)
- Hopewell Planetarium / Hopewell (Burnt Hair Records, 1998 12" S/Sided, Ltd)
- Hopewell Small Places (Zeal Records, 2000 7" Single)
- Hopewell Safe As Milk (Cutty Shark, 2001 CD/ 7" Single)
- Hopewell The Angel Is My Watermark (Cutty Shark, 2001 CD/ 7" Single)
- Hopewell The Notbirds EP (Sunnylane / South Cherry Entropy, 2006 EP)
- Hopewell Hopewell / Lions & Tigers Keep - Mother Vol 3 (Fire Records, 2006 10" Ltd)
- Hopewell Good Good Good Desperation / Opus Part 2 (TeePee Records, 2009 7" Single)
- Hopewell Another Music (TeePee Records, 2012 CD/7" Single)
Compilations
- Hopewell Clooney Tunes (Fierce Panda Records, 2000)
- Hopewell Psychedelica Vol: 2 (Northern Star Records, 2007)
- Hopewell Psychedelica Vol: 4 (Northern Star Records, 2011)
- Hopewell Songs From A Sonic Land (Reverb Records, 2011)
References
- ↑ Official Web site
- ↑ Nicholls, Dale. "Biography: Hopewell". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
- ↑ Review: The Line of Best Fit
- ↑ BBC
- ↑ "Getting Personal with Jason Russo," Jonny Leather interview for the New York Post
External links
- Official home page
- Jason Sebastian Russo at the Internet Movie Database
- Hopewell web site
- Common Prayer web site
- IFC.com
- Common Prayer Interview/Article from Perfect Sound Forever