Fruit Bats (aka Eric D. Johnson) continue to make some of the most captivating mainstream neo-folk out in the world today. Their latest single, "It All Comes Back," is this warm folk/rock song that stands firmly in the world of the mainstream while having just enough of an almost experimental sound to keep things interesting. As with anything Johnson is involved with, "It All Comes Back" is a stunningly lovely track. It's the kind of song that could be good but middle of the road in another artist's hands, but Johnson just has this knack for being irresistible and elevating his songs to an entirely new level.
You can listen to "It All Comes Back" below. A River Running to Your Heart is due out April 14 on Merge Records. The album can be pre-ordered here. For more on Fruit Bats, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the song.
3/16-17 – Austin, TX – SXSW 4/12 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi 4/13 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall 4/14 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue 4/15 – Maquoketa, IA – Codfish Hollow 4/16 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre 4/18 – Toronto, ON, Canada – Phoenix Theatre 4/19 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl 4/20 – New York, NY – Webster Hall 4/21 – Boston, MA – Royale 4/22 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club 4/25 – Carrboro, NC – Cat's Cradle 4/27 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl 4/28 – Scaly Mountain, NC – Bear Shadow + 4/29 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse 4/30 – Jacksonville, FL – Intuition Ale Works 5/10 – San Diego, CA – Belly Up Tavern 5/11 – Los Angeles, CA – The Theatre at Ace Hotel 5/12 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel 5/13 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel 5/14 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel 5/17 – Austin, TX – Mohawk 5/19 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre 5/20 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Commonwealth Room 5/21 – Bozeman, MT – The Elm 5/24 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall 5/25 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall 5/26 – Seattle, WA – Showbox Market 5/27 – Vancouver, BC, Canada – Commodore Ballroom
Photo by Rachel Cassels The Cairo Gang is mostly Emmett Kelly, who recorded most of their upcoming album, Goes Missing, on his own while travelling. "Be What You Are" is pure pop gold, reminiscent of British invasion bands like The Kinks and The Zombies. It features jangly guitars and some of the most infectious layered vocals you've heard in years. Luckily the beauty of this style of music is that it never quite sounds dated. It might sound like it's from a certain era that happened 50 years ago, but everything you've ever listened to since then borrows so heavily from it that it always sounds current. It's the kind of music you wish you hadn't missed, only now you haven't. Goes Missing is due out June 23rd on God? Records. You can pre-order the album now, and be sure to check out The Cairo Gang's Facebook . Listen to "Be What You Are" below, and below that are tour dates, many opening for Mikal Cronin. Sat. Sept. 5 - Portlan...
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