Hop Along’s lead singer/songwriter Frances Quinlan is not a fan of musical comparisons to her work. Rather, she, along with the rest of band – Mark Quinlan, Tyler Long, and Joe Reinhart, just usually don’t get them. That makes sense when you’re a group that is hard to narrow down into one genre. There’s punk there, but there’s emo, and folk, and even hardcore too. But what’s most memorable of all about Hop Along, as any fan could tell you, is Quinlan’s voice – a rasp of power and vulnerability. On their new album, Painted Shut, released earlier this week via Saddle Creek, she tells twisted tale after twisted tale with vocals that are raw, genuine and shatteringly beautiful. She has the strength to add depth to those sort of awkward encounters like running into an old friend while working at a restaurant. (Quinlan has worked as a server and house painter on and off between tours.) Hop Along has relayed a bit of nervousness about their latest creation with producer John Agnello, but Painted Shut is so pure that it’s sure to be loved by their growing fan base. They’ll be joined this Saturday at Union Transfer by local pals Thin Lips, whom are currently on tour with them, and Clique. Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., 8pm, $14, All Ages (Photo by Ally Newbold) – Emily DiCicco
Other places to enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend…
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Tigers Jaw
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Pissed Jeans, GG Lohan, SAT Love Handle
The Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Lovers League (Record Release), Levee Drivers, Vilebred, SAT Prowler
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Booze Radly, Blakeslee/Catullus, Tweed, Fishtown Beats, SAT Deathmonger AD, Crux, SUN Andrew Jude
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Mr. Sonny James, SAT Brother JT, The Company Corvette
Bourbon and Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Caroline Reese & the Drifting Fifth, The Yetis, Bison’s Big Bang, Ode to Omni, ill Delta, SUN Nicklas Hughes
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) SAT The Roddenberries (Album Release)
TLA (334 South St.) FRI Cayetana
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) John Vanore & Abstract Truth, SAT (Upstairs) Aaron Parnell Brown
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Bethmon, Joy Ike, Lly, SAT (5pm) Shy Shape, Liberty Tribe, Nobody Yet, Fourth Line, Final Showcase, (9pm) TC Cole, The Last Frontier
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT Nik Greeley (Release Show), The Captain, The Pilot, The Driver, Jennifer Pague, Lou
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI My Son Bison, Son Step, SAT St. James & The Apostles, Meddlesome Meddlesome Meddlesome Bells, Jackie Paper
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Los Festingos, SAT Wonder & Fury, Adrastea, Sweet Eureka
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St) FRI Philadelphia Folk Song Society Showcase: Paper Hearts, Hawk Tubley, Jason McCue, Rootology, SAT Matt Duke, Andrea Nardello
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Arcati Crisis, SAT Dave Steel Blue Band, SUN Rusty Cadillac
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Real (CD Release)/Blowhole, SAT Burnout Star, Pool of Thorns, Risen Resilient, Kandela/Sharkbullet, Kamakaze
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St) FRI DJ Champe, Dubsmith, SAT Audio Impulse, The Phoenix Bridge, A.D.D.
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT Kids W/Out Faces, SGFMG
El Bar (1356 N. Front St.) SAT In Place, Allora Mis
The Grape Room (105 Grape St) FRI Tony DeSimone & The River Mercy, SAT Amari Rebel, Route 611, Cicada Jade
Ardmore Music Hall FRI Swift Technique, SAT The Underwater Sounds
The Pharmacy (1300/02 S. 18th St.) FRI In Place
The Boom Room (1300 N. Front St.) FRI The Once Was, Something Like A Monument, Fishtown Beats
Philadelphia Record Exchange (1524 Frankford Ave.) SUN The Downtown Club, Taiwan Housing Project
The Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing (139 N. 2nd St.) Art Star Craft Bazaar: SAT Acton Bell, You Do You, Fox Bay, Northern Arms, SUN Frontyards, Cheap Dates, Spinning Leaves, OOLALA
Franklin Paine Skatepark (N. 24th St.) SAT Love on the Streets Fest: Radiator Hospital, Dogs on Acid, W.C Lindsay, Clique, Moon Bunce, Jack Deezl, Mr. Sampson
Opal Street Block Party (1500 Block of South Opal) SUN Janelle, The Guests, Ruby Buff, Thylacine, Mestizo, Blank Spell
A House Named Virtue (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Arthur Shea, Ranu Kim
Mile High House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Mumblr, Brown Rainbow, Old Charades
Beaumont Warehouse (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Infernal Stronghold, Westboro Baptist Choir, Teenage Chainsaw, Posers
The Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Yaw Prana (EP Release), Nonidiot