I might be alone in saying this, but Eric Johnson and the rest of The Fruit Bats have crafted one of the best albums of 2009. They also performed the song for Craig Ferguson (quickly becoming the best late night host) last Friday and somehow I missed it.
Also: West Coast Tour in January! Dates here: www.fruitbatsmusic.com . Presale here: https://tix.concertmaps.com The band expects Seattle and Portland to be sellouts, so if you live there, ahem, it’s best to get tickets sooner rather than later.
Tuesday can’t get here fast enough. We’ve heard a few of these jams when The Fruit Bats played at the Mission Theater back in February and then once some proper tracks were released we became convinved that Johnson’s evolution into a Gram Parson’s/Brian Wilson-type genius was complete. Now thanks to Entertainment Weekly you can listen to the entire album, The Ruminant Band(via Sub Pop Records), which will be released Aug. 4 proper.
This is as good a summer record as I’ve heard in some time. Not sure where it stacks up against their discography. But it’s sunshine and lemonade and running through sprinklers and driving with the windows down and falling in love on acetate.
Hugh Dancy stars in a romantic comedy about a dude with Asberger’s Syndrome who falls in love with his next door neighbor, played by Rose Byrne. Adam was FOX’s big pickup at Sundance 2009 and since it’s being released from FOX Searchlight, comes off like a quirky rom-com and features the infamous half-retard is it safe to pencil this thing in for a Best Picture nomination?
You think I’m joking, but I’m not.
Anyways, what has me really excited about this trailer (other than the movie actually looks like a decent enough effort and certainly miles better than your average rom-com) is their use of the Fruit Bats’s “When You Love Somebody.” I can get down with anyone who gets down with The Fruit Bats.
Also? “I’m not Forrest Gump ya know!” Yes, Adam, yes you are. You are the magical half-tard that somehow touches the lives of the people around you.
Eric Johnson has always been a hard musician to pin down, whether it was the early country-psych-pop incarnation of his band The Fruit Bats or disappearing into his role as fifth member of Portland’s The Shins and sometimes member of San Francisco’s Vetiver.
Even his decision to put The Fruit Bats on hold in early 2006 seemed like a curious one – a momentum killer for a band that finally locked down a steady four-piece lineup and released an amazing nature/romantic tinged third album. Just when he decided to shelve the band, music fans realized they were one of the most compelling pop-rock groups combining great lyrics, tightly written songs and excellent musicianship. Essentially they became The Shins, without the benefit of Zac Braff’s sloppy wet kiss.
There’s no indication as to why he wanted to put The Fruit Bats back together at this point in time. Three years is a long time in the now and gone world of internet media. But if I were to hazard a guess, I’d say he built up some financial security playing with The Shins and missed his own creative outlet. He’s too good a songwriter and singer to be playing rhythm guitar for another band.
“I almost retired the Fruit Bats name, because this is such a different concept,” he told the Willamette Week. “But we decided not to. We couldn’t think of another band name, anyway.”
The different concept, a newly retooled lineup, rolled into the Mission Theater with a half-dozen new songs, several old favorites and proof that the most interesting aspect of The Fruit Bats hasn’t yet happened yet. MORE »
I know I should try playing it cool, but that would be disingenuous. Last night I was like a kid on Christmas Eve, I couldn’t sleep, and I realized that it was all because tonight The Fruit Bats are playing at the Mission Theater here in Portland. I’ve been trying to see Eric Johnson and company since 2002 or so. But every time something would come up. When I assumed they disbanded and Johnson became a guitarist for The Shins in 2006 or so (also sitting in with Vetiver), I said, well that sucks but good for him. That’s a great gig.
Except now they’re back. It’s been fascinating to hear their evolution as a band and the current lineup sounds wonderful. Ron Lewis has moved out from behind the kit and will be handling the keyboard duties as well as any other instruments, Chris Sherman is on bass and he’s been playing with Eric Johnson since Mouthfuls. Sam Wagster will handle guitar duties, and he might be the first true lead guitarist The Fruit Bats have had. Plus he plays pedal steel. We all know pedal steel is the greatest instrument, invented by the gods and given to humans as a gift. Finally, Graeme Gibson, formerly of Chicago’s The Boas will be on drums.
There hasn’t been much video of the recent west coast tour, but I’m aiming to change that tonight, hopefully, by capturing some new songs. Also? I might have teared up, just a bit, after listening to song and realizing that I’m finally going to see these guys. Best Christmas present ever guys.
The Fruit Bats @ The Mission Theater, $12, doors at 6 p.m., music at 7 p.m.
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