Layers on layers create a rich density; however, that complexity can sometimes confine a means of accessibility or entry. Hop Along achieves the delicate balance between the two with their latest album Bark Your Head Off, Dog, which was released today via Saddle Creek Records and will be celebrated tomorrow evening at Johnny Brenda’s. Wistfully weaving words into emotive-ranging, exploratory, narrative webs, one naturally embraces the triumphant tangles. These songs hold their hands out, expressing personal consciousness, while connecting with the listener in a one-on-one level. Swept up in the stories, memorable melodies and polished instrumentation provide a living-breathing framework, one that offers nuanced sonic accents, playing with pockets of space, crafting tight-grooves, highlighting subtle-penetrating details, while also pushing to powerful points of peak performance in key stretches. What catches one’s ear at first may be not what one holds onto in hindsight. – Michael Colavita
More shows to hit this weekend…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Rosali, The Dove & The Wolf, SAT Hop Along, Lucy Stone
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Yowler
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI No Thank You (Record Release), Narra, Tact/Forever Vista/DJ Deejay, SAT Shit City/A Black Celebration: DJ Baby Berlin and Jem/DJ Littlespaceyy, DJ Magglezzz
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SAT RFA (Album Release), Secret American, SUN The Goodbye Party
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SUN Violent Society, Please Die
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI U + Me + R&B, SUN Mantis
The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) FRI Dirty South Joe, Magglezzz
The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SAT Work Drugs
Electric Factory (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Stassi Pryce, El Feco, Ras Professor, Elliven, Big Mind Band
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) John Vettese / Conjunto, DJ Rahsaan, SAT (Upstairs) Stella Ruze/(Downstairs) Rockin’ Docs for Diabetes Cure
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The Soft Spots, Distant Voices, Blood Sound, The Phonies, Tubey Frank, SAT Apex Predator, Mauled By A Bear, Nasuta
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Calvin Weston, Sirius JuJu, Mixed People, Johnny Popcorn
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Dear Forbidden, Resilient, Kelsey Cork and the Swigs, SAT The Bad Larrys, EyeBawl, SUN The Morning Herald, Kodiak Park, Water Temple
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Dylan Jane, SAT Something Like A Monument, Medusa’s Disco, Chalk & The Beige Americans
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Dav, Reed Streets, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Francisco Collazo
Fergie’s (1214 Samsom St.) SAT Johnny Moskal, SUN Rusty Cadillac
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI White Cheddar Boys, Baffle the Cat, Tropical Disease, Urban Shaman Attack, SAT The Prisoners, Scars Like These, Disoriental
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) SAT Petty Vandal, JJ Gunn, Adam Travis & The Soul, SUN Stereo League, Sixteen Jackies
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Somethin’ Divine, The Sly Foxes, Swwik, Sitting in Cars SAT Naps Past Noon, Inner Temple, Pansy
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Stargazer Lily, SAT Splintered Sunlight, SUN The Griz Band, Walking Dead, Sammy Vile & Vilbred
First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) FRI Caracara, SAT Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Lil Zubin, Holy Mountain
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Overwinter/Frankly Lost , Wolves Can’t Dance, Fuzzy Slippers/Zinskē, SAT Auburn Row, The Boardwalk Kings, Here For The Night /The Rectors, Cthulhu Martini!/Yeenar, Erik Kramer
Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Handsome Crü , Brackish, Puppy Angst
The Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Boon, SAT Soularium
The Mothership (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI The Retinas, Don Babylon, C. M. Slenko, SAT Destroying Angel, John Markow
All Nite Diner (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Free Cake For Every Creature, Slow Ref