Despite recently losing singer/guitarist Erik Appelwick to Tapes 'n Tapes, the Hopefuls are still a quintet. Sort of. Mortgage-broker-by-day and Hopeful-fanatic-by-night Rupert Matthew Pederson II can frequently be seen onstage with the band in a kind of go-go dancing role. He does the Sprinkler, plays air guitar, and lip-synchs into a mic-less stand, shedding his monkey suit in the process. I talked to Rupe about his... More >>>