Music
Painted Shut
Rising Philadelphia band finds power in the everyday
What’s up with Philly lately? The most-mocked city in indie rock is suddenly bustling with fantastic young guitar bands like Hop Along. Their second album is a deep dive into raw emotions and ragged melodies. Frances Quinlan’s voice veers from a breathy whisper to a full-throated bourbon howl, from the ballad “Horseshoe Crabs” to the pop-punk surge of “Sister Cities.” She builds her songs around quiet moments — waiting on your ex’s new girlfriend at a restaurant, squirming at a funeral. But even when she yelps, “The world’s gotten so small and embarrassing,” Hop Along know how to make these tiny moments feel huge.