Preview: Fruit Bats
by Iman Noor Formed in Chicago in 1997, Fruit Bats is one of the early bands forming the folk-rock music genre in the early 2000s. With the use of fuzzed-out guitars, organs, accordions, the fiddle and more the Fruit Bats utilize instruments that ar...
by Iman Noor
Formed in Chicago in 1997, Fruit Bats is one of the early bands forming the folk-rock music genre in the early 2000s. With the use of fuzzed-out guitars, organs, accordions, the fiddle and more the Fruit Bats utilize instruments that aren’t usually seen in traditional rock music which paves the way for a rock sound that gives you the warm and fuzzies.
Eric D. Johnson, the lead singer, and visionary behind Fruit Bats is currently celebrating the band’s first album, “echolocation” which is coming on its 20 years anniversary. Since then, they have produced many more with the newest being, “The Pet Parade” and “Siamese Dream” in 2021. With The Pet Parade, Eric took current tragedies happening in both the external world as well as his own life and created magic. The whole album is based on the wildfires that raged in Sonoma County, California where his wife was born and raised. In a testimonial to the 9:30 Club, he describes the album as a “love songs to West Coasters.” Due to the album's emphasis on troubling times, listeners can find themselves reflecting on the on-going Covid-19 pandemic. However, the nature of the album is not completely negative, instead, it takes the beauty that we can get from music to comment on the absurdity of life. With the help of producer Josh Kaufman, they used his keen ability to evoke emotional responses through experience in his band, Bonny Light Horseman.
Moving on, there are other people that make Fruit Bats the unique band it is. This includes drummers Joe Russo and Matt Barrick, who also drum for the well-known band Fleet Foxes. Singer-songwriter Johanna Samuels, pianist Thomas Barlett (who also plays for Sufjan Stevens), and fiddler Jim Becker (who also plays for Iron & Wine), also known for his work in Iron & Wine. From recording the music in their own homes to taking on the big stage, fans can be excited to hear them perform at the 9:30 Club on April 23rd. As they navigate a relatively new, and unpopulated scene, Fruit Bats continues to pave the way for new folk-rock artists as well as stands to encourage other artists to explore genre-bending. Don’t delay, and make sure to get your tickets here.
Formed in Chicago in 1997, Fruit Bats is one of the early bands forming the folk-rock music genre in the early 2000s. With the use of fuzzed-out guitars, organs, accordions, the fiddle and more the Fruit Bats utilize instruments that aren’t usually seen in traditional rock music which paves the way for a rock sound that gives you the warm and fuzzies.
Eric D. Johnson, the lead singer, and visionary behind Fruit Bats is currently celebrating the band’s first album, “echolocation” which is coming on its 20 years anniversary. Since then, they have produced many more with the newest being, “The Pet Parade” and “Siamese Dream” in 2021. With The Pet Parade, Eric took current tragedies happening in both the external world as well as his own life and created magic. The whole album is based on the wildfires that raged in Sonoma County, California where his wife was born and raised. In a testimonial to the 9:30 Club, he describes the album as a “love songs to West Coasters.” Due to the album's emphasis on troubling times, listeners can find themselves reflecting on the on-going Covid-19 pandemic. However, the nature of the album is not completely negative, instead, it takes the beauty that we can get from music to comment on the absurdity of life. With the help of producer Josh Kaufman, they used his keen ability to evoke emotional responses through experience in his band, Bonny Light Horseman.
Moving on, there are other people that make Fruit Bats the unique band it is. This includes drummers Joe Russo and Matt Barrick, who also drum for the well-known band Fleet Foxes. Singer-songwriter Johanna Samuels, pianist Thomas Barlett (who also plays for Sufjan Stevens), and fiddler Jim Becker (who also plays for Iron & Wine), also known for his work in Iron & Wine. From recording the music in their own homes to taking on the big stage, fans can be excited to hear them perform at the 9:30 Club on April 23rd. As they navigate a relatively new, and unpopulated scene, Fruit Bats continues to pave the way for new folk-rock artists as well as stands to encourage other artists to explore genre-bending. Don’t delay, and make sure to get your tickets here.