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Sep 20, 2024 By Mark Moody Photography by Christa Joyner Moody Web Exclusive

Our second Hopscotch (second in a row as well) started with an auspicious sign. Arriving in time to catch dinner at the historic Poole’s Diner, we were unexpectedly sat across the aisle from some of Hopscotch’s A-listers. Namely a booth shared by Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield, her sister Allison, MJ Lenderman, and who we think was Spencer Tweedy. Having interviewed Crutchfield before, I was able to say a quick hello as they departed for her first night closing set.

After our tuck in, we were off to catch the evening’s closing sets by Snail Mail and Waxahatchee. Snail Mail’s Lindsey Jordan pulled deeply from her albums Lush and Valentine over a particularly gritty set. She also played earlier song, “Thinning,” which ironically was the first published review of a release (her Habit EP) I ever had some ten years back on a long, gone site.

Catching Waxahatchee for the fourth time (including once with Plains), it was not surprising that Crutchfield put on an outstanding 24 song closing set. Accompanied by Spencer Tweedy on drums and Eliana Athayde on bass and vocals, Crutchfield assembles the best on offer to support her. Not to mention, MJ Lenderman sat in on several songs from this year’s Tigers Blood. That album was played in full, but there were plenty of other songs from St. Cloud and her Plains side project with Jess Williamson. Having listened to St. Cloud very recently, “The Eye” particularly stood out as it did this night as well.

Hopscotch starts on a Thursday, which is particularly nice in getting Sunday as a travel day, but by Day 2 it was time to get serious about catching a quantity of acts. And since the festival is packed into numerous downtown clubs and two outdoor main stages, it’s easy enough to get some great grub to power through. This morning it was Brewery Bhvana - top notch dim sum!

After that it was straight to the basement environs of Neptune’s for the Dear Life Records Day Party. Our primary draw was catching Pittsburgh singer-songwriter Merce Lemon whose set wasn’t til 3:30. But the club is dark and well air-conditioned, so a great place to wait things out. For those not in the know, Dear Life is home to the ensemble Fust and Lenderman’s middle two albums. And yes, we had our third Lenderman sighting as he showed up for some of the later sets.

The line-up for the day party was Anne Malin, Weins, Hour, Wendy Eisenberg, Merce Lemon and Fust. We caught them all. Weirs, Hour and Fust have plenty of overlap in membership including Sluice’s Justin Morris and Mipso’s Libby Rodenbough. Of those that played, Lemon and Fust definitely deserved their top billing and the gothic tinged traditional folk of Weirs was darkly compelling. And speaking of darkness, several bands played without stage lights, so our photog did the best she could!

Emerging back into the sunlight was a bit of a shocker after hours underground, but we emerged in time to catch MJ Lenderman’s full set on the City Plaza main stage. Lenderman was hilariously introduced by, who we have on good information, Karly Hartzman’s dad. He was introduced as JM Lenderman playing his “first” album all the way through. Anyhow, Lenderman did proceed to play through all of his fourth album, Manning Fireworks, in order. Complete with an extended feedback jam at the end. All sounded great and it left a bit of time for Lenderman to play some older tracks including a monstrous ending on “Tastes Like It Costs,” that found everyone side stage coming out for the party - Allison Crutchfield was sighted in the mix.

The last of the large stage performances for Friday night was Atlanta’s Faye Webster. Webster touted the best stage set and probably the tightest band. Her tales of angst and heartbreak played well against a gigantic laundromat background. Videos played over an oversized white t-shirt and there were bells and whistles aplenty including a bubble machine on overdrive. A fun filled and captivating set to close out the night.

After a later start on Thursday, we had saved up our energy for a late night push on Friday. Though our photographer turned in, the rest of our crew made it over to the spacious Lincoln Theater to hang on the balcony railing for three more sets. Seen earlier in the day, Fust sounded fantastic in the larger setting. Indie legend Ty Segall played a solo acoustic set right after. No doubt extremely talented and with chops to spare, a forty minute spot proved plenty to soak in his vibe. Austin band Hovvdy closed out the late night sets and sounded particularly muscular compared to their recorded output.

The hot ticket for Saturday’s closing day was no doubt a stripped down set from Karly Hartzman and MJ Lenderman upstairs at King’s. But there were earlier sets prior. I was finally able to catch a live set from one of my favorite acts of the last few years. Toronto’s Ducks Ltd. played the Moore Square stage early afternoon. Accompanied by a drummer and bassist, the duo of Tom McGreevy and Evan Lewis put on a great, rapid fire set and stuck around the merch table to sign albums and sell t-shirts. Truly a pair that knows how to connect with their audience and seemed genuinely thrilled to be along for their own ride.

Out of sight for a dozen years, power pop legends The dB’s were next to take the stage. All four original members, including Chris Stamey and Peter Holsapple, have united for an upcoming tour. Cementing their legend status, members of Guided by Voices, Jesus Lizard and Superchunk (along with Ducks, Ltd.) were on hand to catch their hook filled and energetic set.

Though we had hoped to catch some other midday sets, the lure of catching Hartzman and Lenderman upstairs at King’s was too much to pass up. With a line down the block, we were lucky to get in just before their set started. It was just the two of them on stage with electric guitars. The duo played a mix of their own older tunes as well as plenty of covers. A cover of Smudge’s “Outdoor Type” was particularly funny and a favorite from Wednesday’s Mowing the Leaves album, Vic Chesnutt’s “Rabbit Box,” hit hard. Given Wednesday’s explosive performance just after, this was a rare opportunity to see these artists at the top of their form and in a more stripped down setting.

Wednesday’s full set took place shortly after the King’s set back at Moore Square. Hartzman had mentioned earlier that this would be Wednesday’s last show for probably a year and it officially closed out their uber successful Rat Saw God run. Aside from the gently rambling “Quarry,” the 18 song set was a full on flamethrower of an exhibition. Mosh pits ensued accordingly. The band, including our sixth Lenderman sighting of the weekend, ripped through songs from their earliest days to at least two new songs. And they also managed to throw in a cover of the Drive-By Truckers’ “Women Without Whiskey” to boot. The band clearly left whatever juice they had in them out on the stage.

Intentions were good to catch Guided By Voices across town, but the Wednesday set was just too compelling to leave mid stream. We did pass by GBV’s set as it was wrapping up, and given how great they sounded it makes the lure of getting back out for another festival that much more compelling. With its mix of large stages, club shows and early day/late night sets, Hopscotch remains the hot ticket to get!