New Fruit Bats

Shane, the new song released by Portland's Fruit Bats, is instantly recognizable as a Fruit Bats song, and that's the absolute best thing you can say about it - it sounds exactly like vintage Fruit Bats.

Fruit Bats

Daily reminder that fruit bats don't echolocate.

Absolute Loser

Fruit Bats at The Earl, September 9, 2015

We've gotten a taste of the Fruit Bats' Humbug Mountain Song in a KEXP acoustic set at Pickathon, but now we're got a video of the version from their new album, Absolute Loser, to enjoy as well.

Fruit Bats are on tour in support of the album and even though they played Atlanta as recently as last September (or maybe because they played Atlanta as recently as last September), their travel plans have them coming no closer to the American Southeast than Dallas and D.C.

Fruit Bats

Fruit Bats at The Earl, September 9, 2015

The next Fruit Bats album, Absolute Loser, will be released on May 13, but meanwhile we have its first single, the easy-going From A Soon-To-Be Ghost Town,

Fruit Bats have announced a tour, but the closest they will come to the American South this time around will be dates in Texas and in DC.

Fruit Bats on Humbug Mountain

Eric D Johnson at Marmoset Day Party, MFNW (RIP), 2013

Fruit Bats is the long-time project of Portland-based singer-songwriter Eric D. Johnson, who gave me one of his beers at the Marmoset day party at MFNW (RIP) 2013. After taking a brief hiatus, Fruit Bats are back - they just played a show at The Earl in September - and have a new release coming out in early 2016.  Here's Johnson performing one of the new pieces, Humbug Mountain Song, during an acoustic set for KEXP at Pickathon.

Now, you might think that Humbug Mountain is a metaphorical expression, but if so you'd be surprised to know that it's an actual State Park along the southern Oregon coast.  At 1,761 feet, Humbug Mountain is one of the highest mountains in Oregon to rise directly from the ocean, and is located about 65 miles southwest of Roseburg, Oregon, where on October 1, a gunman shot and killed an assistant professor and eight fellow students at Umpqua Community College, and injured seven to nine others.

The tragedy at Umpqua was the the 296th mass shooting in the United States of 2015, and even though it was only a little over 60 days ago, there were 57 more shootings since then, most recently the shooting at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood facility and a San Bernardino rampage at a holiday party in a center for the developmentally challenged.

To be sure, Johnson's song is not about these issues, but sadly, with 353 mass shootings in the US this year alone, it's hard to write a song about any geographic place in America and not have it be within 100 miles of a 2015 mass shooting,    And it's hard to hear the term "humbug" without thinking of the nonsense and gibberish coming from the NRA in reaction to all of these shootings.

Fruit Bats at The Earl

Well, that was a fun show!

About two years ago, Fruit Bats officially called it quits.  Frontman Eric D. Johnson said that he would keep composing and performing his solo music, but at that point saw no reason to continue his efforts under the Fruit Bats name.  But he apparently had a change of heart, as not only have the Fruit Bats regrouped, but last evening they played the second night of a national tour, a headlining tour before a larger one this fall opening for My Morning Jacket, and Johnson further announced that there's a new Fruit Bats album coming out soon.

But I'm ahead of myself.  Before these announcements were made, Atlanta's Madeline opened the evening.

We saw Madeline earlier this summer, opening for Torres back in July,  We loved her set then and we loved it last night as well, and if you're interested we included some of her music in our earlier post and see no need to post it here again.

Next band up was Horse Thief from Denton, Texas.  Everything I knew about Horse Thief was from this one video of the band's Cameron Neal getting a haircut from some Brooklyn hipster, which has been on the front page of CMJ.com for some nine months now for some reason.

I real liked Horse Thief's folk-rock sound and Cameron Neal's odd-sounding, slightly nasal vocals, and a few of the songs even sounded familiar to me although I don't know from where (soundtracks maybe).  Their set seemed too short if anything, and I would gladly have listened to them for a whole hour, provided they have that much material.   

I look froward to hearing more from Horse Thief in the future, and in retrospect I regret not picking up any of their recordings at the merch table when I had the chance.

We've seen Fruit Bats once before, at Bumbershoot a few years ago (2012, I beleive) and we saw frontman Eric D. Johnson perform solo at the incredibly-cool-and-unbelievably-fun Marmoset day party during MFNW (RIP) 2013.  Shortly after that set, Johnson announced the end of Fruit Bats, which brings us back, finally, to the top of this post.

Part of what made the show so much fun last night was the rapport between Johnson and the very friendly and  appreciative audience, many of whom were singing along to every line of every song, and clearly adored the band every bit as much as did your humble narrator.  Fruit Bats covered a few new songs, including one outstanding song that they claimed was the very first time it had been played live, but by and large they played an outstanding selection of fan favorites from their many albums, a play list that could well have been culled from fan requests.

They played basically everything you could have wanted to hear at a Fruit Bats show except, notably, Tony The Tripper, which someone in the audience swore to me he had seen on the setlist, implying that the band was ad libbing their way through the set.  But their set did include The Ruminant Band, You're Too Weird, Tangie and Ray (my favorite), My Unusual Friend, and toward the end of the night, The Ruminant Band. 

Their encore included When You Love Somebody, and about the only song they didn't play and I had wanted to hear was Slipping Through The Sensors.

After the set, I bought a vinyl copy of the band's 2011 album Tripper, and then went out and splurged and also purchased the CDs for Mouthfuls (2003), Spelled In Bones (2005), The Ruminant Band (2009), and even Eric D. Johnson's 2014 solo album EDJ, basically their entire discography, because why not?  My only regret is not picking up any Horse Thief while I was at it.  

Fruit Bats

Fruit Bats at Bumbershoot, 2012

Portland's Fruit Bats, who had formally disbanded in 2013, have announced they're reforming and releasing a new album in 2016.  Further, the band will be touring before the release of the new album and will be appearing at The Earl on September 9.   So there's that then.

Ex-Fruit Bats

Eric D. Johnson at the Marmoset Party (coolest party I've been been to), MFNW (RIP), 2013

Interesting trivia fact: fruit bats don't echolocute.  Also, you can download the songs in this Soundcloud gadget.

A nostalgic look back at the lineup for the Marmoset Party.  Look - Motopony!  And The Family Crest!

Fruit Bats

Eric D. Johnson, who gave me his beer during MFNW (RIP), performing a solo Fruit Bats set.

Fruit Bats

In memorium, here are The Fruit Bats from a 2011 session for Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Fruit Bats

Fruit Bats at Bumbershoot 2012

Sad news (not Yellow Dogs sad, but still sad).  From Brooklyn Vegan:

"Hey All. So, after 13 years, 5 albums, bunch of tours, and lots of laughs, Fruit Bats is calling it a day. There is no major or dramatic reason - I'm not gonna launch into one of those "the changing face of the music landscape in the digital age," things. Especially since I don't even understand any of that stuff. It's been a long run and time for a change. I've been fortunate enough to start scoring movies and producing bands and I'm super excited to continue on with that. Plus I'll still write songs and make records and play shows, which will scratch any Fruit Bats itch that you've got. I mean, Fruit Bats has always ostensibly been a "solo" project, so this is just the start of chapter two, really... But anyway, new music from me still! More on that soon, so please don't lose touch. This means that these shows next week will be our last (though I think we might plan some kinda epic last gig in Chicago one of these days, but that is to be determined)... So come on out and blow us a kiss goodbye. I know artists always say this but, seriously, thanks for listening, it has been amazing sharing this stuff with you. More to come (from a different angle) soon." - Eric D. Johnson

Eric D. Johnson was the musician kind enough to give me one of his extra beers at the Marmoset party during MFNW.  Here's wishing him the best in his new solo career. 

Eric D Johnson at Marmoset, MFNW 2013

MFNW 2013 - Day Three Retrospective

Day Three, Thursday, is when MFNW finally got into full swing, and this particular Thursday, this particular Day Three, was probably about the most awesome day one could have reason to expect.

It started with a 10:30 am set by Chvrches in the small, intimate Doug Fir Lounge, a broadcast performance for KEXP.  I got right up front by the stage, much, much closer to Chvrches than I had gotten the night before. An over-zealous KEXP volunteer wouldn't let me take pictures; however, I still managed to squeeze out a couple of Lauren Mayberry during the set.

Someone else was able to sneak an iPhone video of an entire song (Recover).

And if you haven't fallen in love with Mayberry yet, here's her Jawa impression, which ought to do it for you (did for me):

Since KEXP, or at least their volunteer, wouldn't let me take any pictures, here are the ones from their website:

After seeing Chvrches the night before at the 1,400-person Roseland Theater, it was pretty cool seeing them the next morning at the Doug Fir (300-person capacity, although there were only about 75 people there for the weekday morning set).  In Atlanta terms, it's sort of like seeing a band at The Tabernacle and then again the next morning at The Drunken Unicorn.

At noon, The Baseball Project played a KEXP set at The Doug Fir.  The Baseball Project is Steve Wynn (Dream Syndicate), Mike Mills (REM), Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5), and drummer Linda Pitmon.  Peter Buck of REM is in the band as well, but wasn't at the Doug Fir.  

All of their songs are about baseball, either the game itself, or individual players (e.g., Jackie Robinson), or memorable MLB moments (e.g., Doc Ellis plunking the first three Reds batters in the first inning of a game).  Even if you're not a fan of the game, it's still fun just to hear their REM-style jangle-pop, and watch them try to find new things to say within the self-imposed limitations of The Baseball Project.

Here's some more KEXP pictures (the photo nazi was still patrolling the crowd):

At 2:00 pm, we got !!!.   We saw !!! at Bumbershoot just a couple days before, and just like Chvrches earlier in the day, it was great seeing them up close and personal at the Fir (I was front row).  I posted the Dude-I-Was-There! video a few days ago, and there's really nothing more to be said, so here's the KEXP photos from that set:

Austra was up next at the Fir, but I left after !!! to go to a party for VIP wristband holders put on by Marmoset music.  I don't know what Marmoset actually does - I think it has something to do with licencing soundtrack music for movies - but they have a warehouse in southwest Portland and were hosting a party with free beer (Heineken) and music.

Not fully knowing what to expect, I headed down and wound up having my best time of MFNW.  When I arrived, Portland's Wild Ones were on stage.

I didn't know who they were when I arrived, and when I leaned over to ask the people standing next to me who the band on stage were, I realized that I was standing next to the superb Portland band Radiation City, whom we saw at The Earl a few months ago.  In fact, as I hung out for the day, I began to realize that fully half the audience, at the very least, were musicians, some of whom were playing that day, and some of whom who weren't (e.g., Onuinu, who was milling about the crowd).  Free beer, good music, rubbing elbows with the bands - what more could a music fan want?

Marmoset had two stages set up, one outside under a tent, and one inside the warehouse in a mock-up living room.  After Wild Ones, San Francisco's Family Crest played the inside stage.

As you could guess from the picture above (by the way, note the Boxed Water cartons on the floor), the Family Crest plays orchestral folk-rock.  What you can't tell is how great they are at playing it.  They had me absolutely mesmerized with their well-honed songs.  They reminded me of early Fanfarlo, and I was impressed enough to buy their CD, the one and only CD I bought that whole week at either MFNW or Bumbershoot - they were that good.

I had wanted to see the Portland band Shy Girls, who were up next at the outdoor stage, but I went to get something to eat first (Marmoset had several food trucks set up at the party) and wound up talking for a while to a bunch of folks (an environmentally-conscious gay couple who had also bought the Family Crest CD and a straight older couple, older even then me, who were nonetheless fans of the Portland music scene).   After my lunch, I went back inside the warehouse and caught the Bay Area musician, songwriter, producer, and recording engineer (Tiny Telephone studio) John Vanderslice.

Vanderslice performed a solo set on acoustic guitar, singing politically aware songs in between some of the most personal yet hilarious stage banter I've heard in a while.  I can't remember a word he said, though - I can only remember laughing.  

Next up was North Carolina's lo-fi The Love Language.

It was inevitable, but during The Love Language set it finally started to rain, the first rain I've encountered in three consecutive years of MFNW.  I was prepared for it - it had been cloudy all week and well forecast - and I was wearing my new REI raincoat, bought just for this occasion, so all was good.  Besides, we were under a tent.  No worries.

We've seen The Love Language opening for The War On Drugs at Variety Playhouse during March Madness 2012.  They played a typically loud, energetic set, and later that day, Radiation City credited them for being the band that inspired them to start a band of their own.  It was that kind of feel-good, mutual-admiration day.

By this time it was raining pretty hard, but I simply dashed from the tent back to the warehouse to hear Eric D Johnson, singer, guitarist, and frontman for the fine band Fruit Bats, one of the highlights of Bumbershoot 2012.

As he was setting up, someone brought him a beer, even though he already had one (or two) on stage with him.  He turned to me, sitting just a couple feet away, and offered me his beer.  It's not often when the band gives you the drinks, and even though they were free, the gesture was appreciated.

Johnson played a great set of Fruit Bats songs, and the appeal of the band has always been Johnson's quirky voice and the great songwriting, so nothing was lost in the stripped-down, solo versions.  A fine, fine, satisfying set.

If that was it for the party - Wild Child, The Family Crest, John Vanderslice, The Love Language, and Eric D Johnson - it would have been a great event, but as the late-night commericals say, "But, wait, there's more!"  Portland's Radiation City played next under the tent, performing their bubbly, upbeat pop songs, and temporarily driving the rain away.

I don't know if I've ever seen singer Lizzie Ellison not in a see-through blouse.

Radiation City at Marmoset Party, MFNW 2013

Radiation City at OPB Party, Mississippi Studios, MFNW 2013 

Radiation City at The Earl, June 2013

You gotta love a woman who sings so well, writes such great songs, and has a seemingly endless wardrobe of see-through blouses.

Meanwhile, back in the warehouse Daniel Blue of the band Motopony performed a set with a few friends.

This was one of the most dramatic changes is stage appearance I've ever seen.  We saw Motopony back at Bumbershoot 2011, and were blown away by their driving music and avant-glam look, especially singer Daniel Blue, who looked like the love child that Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain might have had, if such a thing were biologically or chronographically possible.

Motopony at Bumbershoot 2011

It was hard to believe that the quiet, almost shy, young man in the flannel shirt and carrying a "This Machine Does Not Kill" guitar was the same person who performed so flamboyantly at Bumbershoot, leading to my wondering which was the persona and which was real?  Both?  Neither?

Of course, ultimately it didn't matter, as Daniel and his young friends played a soothing and totally charming set of sincere folk, with the ladies seductively purring sweet background vocals.  Another great set, and Daniel Blue just becomes more and more interesting.

By this time, it was getting dark and the rain had returned, but Florida's Surfer Blood headlined the party.

Their sound matches their name perfectly - loud beach music that you might expect to hear at a frat party.  Of course, it's hard to take them seriously anymore ever since frontman John Paul Pitts' arrest on charges of domestic battery.

But forgive and forget, I say.  I almost hate to admit it, but they rocked.

So that was it for the Marmoset party, quite possibly one of the coolest, if not the coolest, parties I've ever been to.  A stellar line up of bands, free beer, lots of free snacks, and rubbing elbows with the bands, most of whom hung out to hear each others' sets.  The hours spent at Marmoset were the highlight of a very highly lit week.

But wait, there's more!  It was only about 8:00, and even though I had missed Youth Lagoon's rain-soaked set at Pioneer Courthouse Square, there was still a lot more MFNW to go that day.  I hopped onto a bus just a couple blocks away from Marmoset, which soon dropped me off right in front of the Star Theater, an historic, former silent film theater just off Burnside Street in Old Town, Portland. The place was once a burlesque showcase, an adult movie theater, and a strip club where a teenage Courtney Love once worked. The property was owned for several years by Gus Van Sant, who eventually sold it to the owner of Dante's, who turned it into a fairly upscale live music club.

The spooky drone metal band Vice Device started just after I arrived.

So that was cool.  The next band up was Diana, named after their lead singer.

I don't know exactly what it was that didn't quite click for me with this band - quite possibly it was the time of the very long day (they were about the 13th band of the day for me).  Maybe it was that I wasn't familiar with their songs, or that I couldn't comfortably place them into any particular category.  In any event, my attention wandered during their set, at least until I realized that I was standing, or rather leaning against a rail, next to one of the members of The Family Crest, my new favorite band of the day, still dressed in his grey shirt and tie.  Anyway, Diana's band features a tenor sax, so there's that.

The headliner, and the 14th and final band of my day, was Toronto's Austra, the band I passed on at the Doug Fir earlier in the day to go instead to the Marmoset party.

We've seen Austra before, back during Rocktober 2011 when she played The Earl (with Grimes opening!), touring in support of her debut Feel It Break record.  We saw her again at The Tabernacle opening for The xx, where she previewed a lot of new songs, which eventually became her second album, Olympia. Her tour in support of that new album took her through Atlanta, a show that I missed, although I've heard that she didn't have her remarkable backup singers, twin sisters Sari and Romy Lightman, who also perform as the band Tasseomancy, in Atlanta (they weren't with her at the Tabernacle show, either, but were in tow at The Earl in 2011).  Fortunately, they performed with her that night at the Star, adding an extra dimension to the show.

The performance was spectacular and epic and everything you'd expect from an Austra concert.  Katie Stelmanis' voice was in fine shape as she carried the almost operatic vocals.  The band was tight and muscular, propelled by Maya Postepski's precise drumming.  It was a perfect climax for a perfect day, and when I finally left the Star Theater, the rain had subsided to a mere drizzle, providing a cool and comfortable walk back to my hotel.

It's for days like this that I do all of this, that make it worth the flight out west, the hotels, the off-days, the disappointing sets, and the long hours.  This day made it all worth while.  This day was perfect.

It's my hope that you too, gentle reader, have many days as good for you as this one was for me.