Like every proper pop band, Hope Chest was formed in a bedroom...

 

...in 1991 by singer/songwriter Raymond Puzey in his grandmother’s house, to be precise, after two years of writing songs that would never be played by the bands he was in.  The first release, 1993's A Sentimental EP, was released in the days of Sarah Records and shoegaze and featured their first and best known single, "Three".  A move to Sacramento saw a new lineup and the release of The Bedroom EP in 1997, followed by their shoegaze and dream-pop laden album Constellation Prize in 1998.  A follow-up album, titled Sugar Fix, was recorded in 1999 yet languishes on the studio tapes at the band's compound and remains, criminally, unreleased.

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A return to the Bay Area in 2000 saw the immediately sold-out rerelease of A Sentimental EP, as well as the return of original guitarist Paul Straghalis and since then the two have been the songwriting and recording core of Hope

Chest, working with close mates and fellow musicians to realise their sound.  The band gigged heavily,

varying in size and personnel to suit the

music and playing more and more diverse

shows, displaying a distinct mid-60s

sunshine pop influence.  In 2007, the

If Luck Should Smile Down Upon Us EP

was released along with the promo video

for the single Sleeper.  This was followed by

a few free digital 45s in 2012 featuring

covers of particular faves as the b-sides.

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The band took a live hiatus to write and

record and celebrated their 20th anniversary with the release of the I'll Walk You Home EP at a packed special release party & 20th anniversary show at the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco.  Another free digital single, Saturday Morning Girl, was released on Valentines Day 2019.

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Summer 2025 sees the entire back catalogue up on Bandcamp, including remastered versions of If Luck Should Smile Down Upon Us EP and A Sentimental EP.  New covers album Over The Moon & Under The Influence available  8.31.2025. 

 

Corduroy Sweetheart EP coming in Autumn 2025.  Live shows in early 2026.