Hop Along's New Album BARK YOUR HEAD OFF, DOG Now Streaming via NPR

Today, Philadelphia rock royalty Hop Along's new full-length album Bark Your Head Off, Dog is streaming via NPR First Listen ahead of its April 6 releaseon Saddle Creek.

Listen to Bark Your Head Off, Dog via NPR First Listen Here

The group has earned a reputation for delivering one of the liveliest shows around, and the album accomplishes the rare feat of capturing that ecstatic intensity. Hop Along will deliver their kinetic energy to stages across NORTH AMERICA beginning May 1st, with Bat Fangs, Saintseneca and Ratboys as support. But first, the band has just announced a special, intimate record release show at Johnny Brenda's this Saturday, April 7. Full tour dates hereand below.

Their strongest and most cohesive album to date, the formidable 9-song collection was crafted by Frances Quinlan (songwriter, lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist), Tyler Long (bass), Joe Reinhart (guitar), and Mark Quinlan (drums). The record considers what it's like to cast off longheld and misguided perceptions, yet without the assurance of knowing what new ones will replace them.

Self-produced and recorded at The Headroom in Philadelphia by Reinhart and Kyle Pulley, Bark Your Head Off, Dog features the familiar sounds that have always made the band allergic to genre: grunge, folk, punk, and power pop all appear, with inspiration from ELO to Elvis Costello to '70s girl group vocal arrangements. This time around, they've added strings, more intricate rhythms, lush harmonies (featuring Thin Lips' Chrissy Tashjian), along with a momentary visit with a vocoder. In more than one place, Mark Quinlan drums like he's at a disco with Built to Spill. Bark Your Head Off, Dog is, without question, Hop Along's most dynamic and textured record yet.

US Tour Dates

* = Saintseneca supporting
# = Bat Fangs supporting
@ = Ratboys supporting

4/7: Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's
5/1: Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt *
5/2: Holyoke, MA @ Gateway City Arts *
5/3: Boston, MA @ Royale *
5/5: Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar *
5/6: Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry *
5/7: Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall *
5/8: Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall *
5/10: Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West *
5/11: Birmingham, AL @ Saturn *
5/12: Nashville, TN @ Exit / In *
5/14: Indianapolis, IN @ The Hi-Fi *
5/15: Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups *
5/19: Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
5/30: Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel #
6/1: Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall #
6/2: Montreal, QC @ Le Belmont #
6/3: South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground #
6/5: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club #
6/6: Pittsburgh, PA @ Spirit #
6/8: Toronto, ON @The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern #
6/9: Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch #
6/10: Chicago, IL @ Metro #
6/12: Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall #
6/13: St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club #
6/16: Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room #
6/18: Dallas, TX @ Club Dada #
6/19: Austin, TX @ Barracuda #
6/20:Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall #
6/22: St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall
6/23: Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar @

Photo Credit: Tonje Thilesen

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