Live/Album Review: The Fruit Bats' The Ruminant Band

Last night I saw The Fruit Bats in concert at the Crocodile in Seattle. The Fruit Bats, in case you were unaware, has Eric Johnson (of Shins fame) as its frontman; their music ranges from Shins-esque to 70′s Southern Rock.

It was a night of tranquil swaying and toe-tapping, music perfect for a summer evening.

Johnny and the Moon opened, with singer Dante DeCarlo (from Wolf Parade) doing a fine job despite a stage lit like a dark alley and a sound setup that completely washed out his vocals and harmonica. They played a solid set, if a bit disconnected from the audience. What this band needs: a backup singer. We desperately needed some harmonization and oomph, and the venue wasn’t helping.

The Fruit Bats themselves have a solid offering in their latest album; nearly every song is catchy pop, singing about love and sunshine and the joy of a wild world. The Ruminant Band is an uncomplicated but immensely satisfying album replete with cheery melodies and lyrics that exult in misty mountain valleys and sunlit meadows. In concert, they are one of those bands that takes the stage simply, almost humbly, and plays their music with genuine enjoyment and satisfaction. As the night went on, there was hardly a dour note, save for when Eric Johnson played one song solo and sounded as if he had been abandoned on prom night. But then his bandmates rejoined in the next song and the good times commenced again. The summer breezes drifted past as we listened, and smiled.
Fruit Bats – The Ruminant Band mp3