Fruit Bats are Back
Fruit Bats ::: Photo by Josh
As part of the Vera Project’s 8th Birthday Celebration, the Fruit Bats, Sera Cahoone and Moon Pulls the Ocean were on hand to entertain a sold-out crowd. We weren’t smart enough to figure out tickets ahead of time, so we not-so-patiently waited in line outside for an hour or so, hoping we’d make it in before the cut off. Just barely we got lucky and made it in. A host of others just behind us in line weren’t so lucky and were left out in the cold.
Each band appeared to have a large contingent of fans out for them, with even opener Moon Pulls the Ocean playing to a full room of young and old. The range of ages present was notable with a number of moms bringing their youngest ones to stand in front of the adults for Sera Cahoone, while for the Fruit Bats the crowd near the front became a bit older.
Sera Cahoone continues to impress each time I get a chance to see her live. Her easygoing manner and ready smile belie the melancholy stories of her lyrics, while the band’s warm melodies ensure us that everything will be alright at the end of the night. This band has the pulse of timeless American music, and I firmly believe they continue to be in the vanguard of the best of what’s new coming out of Seattle right now.
The Fruit Bats made their live return with a two week tour up the West Coast that wrapped up in Seattle, before heading off to record a new album at the end of the month. Many of the new songs made appearances, each one already sounding classic Fruit Bats, with a few new twists and turns. The crowd wanted vintage Fruit Bats, and old songs like “Canyon Girl” and “When You Love Somebody” and “Born in the ’70s” all arrived to cheers, though each sounded as though it had aged a bit and grown long hair just as front-man Eric Johnson has in the time that he’s been off being paid to do other things instead of Fruit Bats. And all in all that ended up being a good thing from my perspective. From the sounds of these new songs, the new record is going to be something to look forward too.
Sera Cahoone ::: Photo by Josh
Head on over to the Sly Oyster to see some youtube’s of the Fruit Bat’s Portland set, including some new songs and a great cover of Neil Young’s “Helpless,” which they unfortunately did not play in Seattle.
You can also get a listen to a few of the new songs on the KEXP live archive as they did a live session for KEXP that aired January 30 at 1pm. It’s only going to be up for a couple more days so listen while you can. Check a video from the session of one of the new songs titled “Blessed Breeze” below.
Fruit Bats – “Blessed Breeze” ::: Live on KEXP in Berkeley
James #
Josh, I got to be honest (sad?) how few people turned out to see Eric and Co. down here in Portland. Still, the new lineup and songs have me ridiculously excited for the new album!
And Sera was great. First time seeing/hearing her and I had to convince the people I was with that she was a knock out.
Great photos too! I was too far away to get anything worthwhile.
james darin #
I hate Eric Johnson. He is all about himself. He basically turns his back on anyone who can’t help him advance in his career. Just look at his career trajectory… left I Rowboat to start side project the Fruit Bats. Made the Fruit Bats a side project to join famous band The Shins. Of course he is going to keep the Fruit Bats because that is his ego project. But what substance is there in his recordings? There is nothing, apart from the first album, Echolocation. It’s just a lot of nothingness and false confidence, spread out thinly across multiple self-indulgent albums. Trust me, I know the guy from way back, and he is the most selfish, opportunistic, ambitious self-indulgent person I have ever come across. There is no one else that I would say that about. His values represent more of opportunistic corporate Amerikka than anything resembling alternative music.
james darin #
so sad that in our society the level-jumpers are the ones who get rewarded, while the ones who actually have substance get left in the dust.