Both records are awesome but one of the things that got me into them was seeing them live. The live version of "Laments" is MASSIVE
Have listened to Painted Shut with an alarming amount of frequency since the end of last year and get just as into it each time. Hoping to see them when they tour w/ Speedy Ortiz next month.
Just bought tickets for May 10 in Asbury Park. Don't know any Speedy Ortiz but pumped about Hop Along.
can't believe i didn't start this thread already! love this band so much i wanna see them again this year. maybe pick up that press of Freshman Year, back when the band was Frances' solo project, Hop Along Queen Ansleis
I saw them open for mwY on the Catch for Us the Foxes 10 year tour. I was instantly hooked. Frances is my favorite vocalist, and her lyrics kill, and they write excellent rock songs.
Also saw this band on the mewithoutYou 10 year tour, and have loved them since. I remember buying Get Disowned, walking away, then awkwardly walking up to Frances and saying "Hey, I'm socially awkward, will you sign this?". Haha Also have the white/pink haze Painted Shut vinyl, which I just learned is now worth $100+ now. So that's cool.
I wish this was coming near me, Speedy is coming next month but not with Hop Along. Still going of course considering Speedy Ortiz is like my favorite band right now and they always bring solid support.
It was a really really great show. I hadn't seen Hop Along since Painted Shut came out and they've really stepped up their live show. Not that it wasn't always great. Speedy and Two Inch also had great sets, was shocked at how much I enjoyed them.
In anticipation of seeing them in Philly I've finally gotten around to listening to Get Disowned and I'll be damned this might be even better than Painted Shut
They killed it starting from their first song last night (The Knock) and just kept KILLING IT the whole night, god bless Hop Along. And Joe was a surprisingly energetic guitar player considering what he was playing, he just had it down pat. the interplay between the whole band was excellent, rhythm section was tight, guitars seemed to be winding in and out of each other, Frances has an excellent voice etc...god they were so good. Alex G and Built To Spill were also fantastic, this was an absolutely stacked show. Doug is a monster guitar player, a wizard
Freshman Year doesn't have the highs of Get Disowned or Painted Shut but it's a really cool document of the early days of this band and I recommend it to anyone who hasn't listened to it since Hop Along might be the best band in the world or whatever. y'know