Fruit Bats

Alright folks, buckle up because we've got the lowdown on Eric D. Johnson and his wild ride with the Fruit Bats. This guy's musical journey kicks off back in the late 90s and early 2000s when he's rockin' out in Chicago, teaching at the Old Town School of Folk Music and fronting the indie rock band I Rowboat. But that's just the warm-up act, because then he jumps on board with Califone and starts cranking out homemade cassettes under the name Fruit Bats. I mean, who doesn't love a good homemade mixtape, right?

Things really start to heat up when Fruit Bats drops "Echolocation" in 2001, and suddenly they're hitting the road, signing with Sub Pop Records, and making a splash at the Sasquatch! Music Festival. You can practically feel the energy building, right?

But hold on, because there's more to this story. Johnson takes a detour with The Shins from 2006 to 2010, soaking up all that musical know-how and channeling it right back into Fruit Bats. The band's "The Ruminant Band" in 2009 and "Tripper" in 2011 keep the momentum going, landing them on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and at some major music festivals. It's like a rock 'n' roll rollercoaster!

Then comes the twist – in 2013, Johnson announces the disbanding of Fruit Bats. But guess what? He's not done yet. The band rises from the ashes in 2015, and they're back and better than ever. They sign with Merge Records, form Bonny Light Horseman, and drop some killer albums like "Gold Past Life" and "The Pet Parade," even scoring Grammy nominations and making some serious waves in the music scene.
Fast forward to 2022, and Fruit Bats are hitting the road hard, making up for lost time after the COVID-19 chaos. They're rocking out at festivals, dropping a double-disc retrospective, and even getting their tune "Humbug Mountain Song" featured on Better Things. I mean, talk about a comeback story!

So there you have it, folks – Eric D. Johnson and the Fruit Bats, riding the ups and downs of the music industry and coming out on top. It's a wild ride, and they're showing no signs of slowing down. Keep your eyes and ears peeled, because this band is on fire!