Fruit Bats
BIOGRAPHY:
Over the course of three records, the last two on Sub Pop (2003’s Mouthfuls and 2005’s Spelled in Bones), Eric D. Johnson’s Fruit Bats have looked for ways to file down the cynical edge of modern life, using bright melodies, defiantly major-key chord structures and natural imagery mixed with the occasional blazing insight and tender observation.
Tours and friendships with Modest Mouse, Iron and Wine and The Shins led Fruit Bats to sign with Sub Pop records, who then released the band's highly acclaimed records Mouthfuls in 2003 and Spelled in Bones in 2005. Years went by, during which Johnson continued his career as a sideman, most notably with Vetiver and The Shins. Fruit Bats reassembled in late 2008 to work on their new record The Ruminant Band (which you can buy here, or listen to here) which was released on August 4, 2009 via Sub Pop and debuted at #1 on the US college radio charts.
Fans of the aforementioned bands will not only not be disappointed, but we’d wager genuinely enraptured with its unseasonal sunshineliness.
TOUR DATES:
If any of the below gigs are near your place of abode, we highly recommend you heave yourself out of that light-deprived hole that you’re wallowing in, and bring some musical sunshine back into your life, as this is guaranteed to top up that psychological tan for the coming dreary winter months. Eric will be keeping us updated with a very personal tour diary which will be published periodically on the Rockfeedback site.
10-Dec-09 London - Jazz Café + Vetiver
11-Dec-09 Hull – Adelphi
12-Dec-09 London – Windmill, Brixton + Puzzle Muteson
14-Dec-09 Newcastle - The Cluny + Puzzle Muteson
15-Dec-09 Aberdeen - The Tunnels + Puzzle Muteson
16-Dec-09 Leeds - Nation of Shopkeepers + Puzzle Muteson
17-Dec-09 Manchester - Roadhouse + Puzzle Muteson
18-Dec-09 Cardiff - Clwb Ifor Bach + Puzzle Muteson
LINKS
FEATURES:
Tour diary: Eric D. Johnson keeps Rockfeedback readers up to date with a day to day look at the on the road adventures of the Fruit Bats in Europe. It sounds like pretty much the most fun ever, we hope you’ll agree. Part one is this way.
COMPETITION:
We’ve tickets for the band’s UK jaunt, some CDs, posters and other Fruit Bats related paraphernalia to offer up to some lucky readers. Have a go.