Hop Along Single Drops w. FADER Today

Known for their enigmatic indie-pop meets growling guitar grunge, Philadelphia's Hop Along return with their sophomore full-length album Painted Shut, slated for release May 5th on Saddle Creek. Painted Shut is a record of lush compositions, fuzzed-out guitar riffs and captivating vignettes that tell vivid stories of desperation and weary awakening. It pays homage to post-punk luminaries, while simultaneously driving home a sound that is contemporary, emotive and challenging to define.

The band offered a glimpse of the record with their first single "Waitress" earlier this month and today they share new album track "Powerful Man". Frances' raw vocals play over swelling guitars that drive the song into an instantly catchy, melodic frenzy that keeps listeners hooked. Of the heavy subject material that inspired the song, Frances explains "Once I saw a boy getting beaten up by his father, in daylight in front of a school. My friend was with me, the father saw us both and kept right on hitting him, totally unaffected by our presence. I was 18 and immediately afraid of this man; I didn't confront him. I can't imagine what it must be like for a little boy, watching someone walk away as his father punches him about the head. I witnessed a frightening part of myself that day: in a time of crisis I was not there for a child, I froze up. That little boy is probably close to 20 now, maybe a little younger."

"Powerful Man" premiered with FADER today
and we encourage you to post and share.

Recorded and mixed by John Agnello (Kurt Vile, Dinosaur Jr. Sonic Youth) in Philadelphia and Brooklyn, Frances is joined by Mark Quinlan (drums), Tyler Long (bass) and Joe Reinhart (guitar) on Painted Shut. The album is now available for pre-order at the Saddle Creek Online Store.

Often depicted on Painted Shut are the two lives of legendary (though generally unknown) musicians Buddy Bolden and Jackson C. Frank, who were plagued with mental illness until their penniless deaths. It touches upon accounts of poverty, abuse, greed; and banal, sub-par behavior. The songs present themselves unencumbered despite the difficult subject matter, at times both jubilant and irreverent. Revered for their electrifying live show, Hop Along will kick off a national tour with The War on Drugs this month - be sure to catch them in a city near you!

Hop Along National Tour Dates

3/28: Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa (w/ The War on Drugs)
3/29: Richmond, VA @ The National (w/ The War on Drugs)
3/31: Knoxville, TN @ Bijou Theatre (w/ The War on Drugs)
4/1: Chattanooga, TN @ Track 29 (w/ The War on Drugs)
4/2: Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre (w/ The War on Drugs)
4/3: Birmingham, AL @ Iron City (w/ The War on Drugs)
4/4: Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall (w/ The War on Drugs)
4/5: Tulsa, OK @ Cain's Ballroom (w/ The War on Drugs)
4/7: Albequerque, NM @ The Historic El Rey Theatre (w/ The War on Drugs)
4/8: El Paso, TX @ Tricky Falls (w/ The War on Drugs)
4/9: Phoenix, AZ @ The Pressroom (w/ The War on Drugs)
4/11: Wichita, KS @ Lucky's Everyday
4/12: Champaign, IL @ Mike n Molly's
4/13: Columbus, OH @ Double Happiness
5/5: Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
5/6: Hamden, CT @ The Space
5/7: Portland, ME @ SPACE Gallery
5/8: Allston, MA @ Great Scott
5/9: Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
5/10: Brooklyn, NY @ Baby's All Right
5/13: Washington, DC @ Black Cat Backstage
5/15: Asheville, NC @ The Mothlight
5/16: Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
5/18: Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
5/19: Austin, TX @ The Mohawk- Inside
5/22: Tucson, AZ @ The Flycatcher
5/23: Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
5/26: San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
5/28: Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
5/29: Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
5/30: Vancouver, BC @ The Cobalt
6/1: Boise, ID @ Neurolux
6/2: Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
6/3: Denver, CO @ Lost Lake
6/4: Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
6/5: Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
6/6: Pittsburgh, PA @ Cattivo
6/7: Toronto, ON @ The CAVE at Lee's Palace

Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez

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