Resident Genius

Resident Genius was a Springfield, Illinois-based independent rock band. Jason Perry and Benjamin Hopper were the band's only constant members. They broke up in 2006 after releasing three EPs and one split album.

Band History

On August 29, 2002, guitarist Jason Perry and drummer Benjamin Hopper played their final show with their band, The Non-Committals. That same night they teamed up with bassist Chris Stroud, formerly in the Non-Committals, and guitarist Trish Anderson, to play the first Resident Genius show at a local gay bar. The two bands' sets were divided by performances by strippers.

Many of the band's early shows were played at a sandwich shop owned by Hopper's father and were planned by Perry and Hopper. As a general rule, Perry insisted on a variation of the "Package Show" concept. Instead of simply loading a bill with three or four indie bands, Perry would search out groups from other genres. There was also a strong emphasis placed on bringing bands from outside the Springfield music scene. Perry formed contacts across the country; these resulted in the band playing with several note-worthy members of well known bands such as Even in Blackouts and Squirtgun.

By 2004 the band had released two EPs, "Headlights" and "Accelerator" In 2005 the band released their third EP, "Tribute To Band Aids". That same year they suggested the idea of splitting their next album with the radical historian Howard Zinn. The result was an album containing excerpts from some of Zinn's talks and six politically charged songs.

The band split in July 2006 when Hopper moved to Seattle, Washington. Perry has since formed a new band, The Seething Coast.

Members

Jason Perry: guitar/vocals/etc;

Benjamin Hopper: drums/vocals/etc;

Trish Anderson - guitar / vocals;

Nick Wasmer - keyboards / vocals;

Chris Stroud - bass

Barnabas Helmy - bass/guitar/vocals

Discography

*Headlights EP (2003)
*Accelerator EP (2004)
*Tribute To Band Aids EP (2005)
*Mean It Man (2005 Thick Records / Warped Tour sampler) (2005)
*You Can't Blow Up A Social Relationship - Split CD w/ Howard Zinn (2005, Thick Records).