Fruit Bats Archives » Chicago Innerview

Cameron McGill & What Army, Eyedea & Abilities, Fruit Bats, Sondre Lerche

CAMERON MCGILL & WHAT ARMY
Imagine a young, tall, scruffy bearded man wearing a Woody Guthrie hat and a battered jacket, toting an acoustic guitar adorned with peeling stickers while wandering the brown, icy streets of Chicago. Then image that man escaping the brutal white skies by tracking snow and mud all over your house. At first you might be pissed, but it’s a pretty safe bet that the man’s piercing eyes and smooth croon will deter you from doing any scolding. I first saw Chicago’s Cameron McGill with his band, a unified engine of folk-pop/singer-songwriter rock, playing at Lollapalooza in 2006. Shortly afterward I discovered that McGill had been working at local café/venue Uncommon Ground as a host, but was taking a break to tour and record. Cameron McGill & What Army’s excellent new 10-song indie/folk eargasm, warm songs for cold shoulders, was released this April on Parasol Records. (Appearing at Space on September 24) –text: Katie Knaub

EYEDEA AND ABILITIES
Minneapolis duo Eyedea and Abilities is a hip-hop battle supergroup. MC Eyedea (born Michael Larsen) is known for freestyling skills that have won him rap battles from Scribble Jam to Blaze Battle, while battle scratcher DJ Abilities has DMC DJ victories under his belt. The two teamed up and released First Born on Minneapolis hip-hop label Rhymesayers Entertainment in 2001. Bridging the 5-year gap from their last album, E&A have been heavily involved with other musical projects. Larsen has released solo music under the moniker Oliver Hart, has played with freestyle/jazz group Face Candy, and even formed the alt-rock band Carbon Carousel (which is signed to Larsen’s own Crushkill Recordings). Gregory Keltgen (a.k.a. Abilities) also DJs in Semi.Official with another Twin Cities rapper, I Self Divine. Since reuniting, E&A have released By The Throat, which features complex turntable work, guitars and keyboard, as well as Larsen’s typically philosophical and science-themed narrative lyrics. (Appearing at Reggie’s Rock Club on September 23) –text: Ariel Sundel–photo: Darien Chin

FRUIT BATS
Even in our over-digitized, over-computerized, and technologically terrorized society, the nostalgia and simplicity of antiquated recording techniques have not entirely been forgotten. While old-school reel to reel recordings and 4-tracks may be stale and dusty, they still warm the heart of any track with their sepia-tinged, stripped-down sound. This is how Eric D. Johnson (and many other musicians) got their start: the 4-track. Johnson’s band Fruit Bats was formed during his stint in Califone, which acted as a creative catalyst that would later emerge and morph into his own project. Sub Pop’s Johnson-led folk-rock 5-piece Fruit Bats has been chugging out albums since 2005, morphing old and new sounds by combining a little bit of The Band and a little more of Vetiver. Rolling guitars and carefully crafted songs construct this underrated band’s recently released record, The Ruminent Band. (Appearing with Iran at Schubas on September 20 & 21) –text: Katie Knaub–photo: Annie Beedy

SONDRE LERCHE
It may be the start of fall, but that doesn’t mean we’ve tired of summery and cheery rock to carry on the happiness of the swimming pool season. Sondre Lerche is the king of chilled out, romantic and warm music — and he both looks and sings the part. Lerche looks young and kind of dorkily handsome in a romantic comedy kind of way, wears Converse Allstars and shakes his foot incessantly while straining into the microphone. Throughout it all, he seems hopelessly hopeful. His music is largely the same and is overlaid with mostly goofy, nonsensical lyrics that appear endlessly charming when matched with the simple acoustic strumming popularized by Jack Johnson. Lerche has certainly made this type of music work for him, as his latest outing in Chicago is to showcase his fifth studio album, Heartbeat Radio. (Appearing with JBM for two shows at Schubas on September 19) –text: Diana Novak

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Fruit Bats, The Ladybug Transistor, Ribbon of Highway

ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI
L.A.-based cult favorite Ariel Marcus Rosenberg, a.k.a. Ariel Pink, certainly has been prolific — recording over 500 songs since 1996, many of them unreleased. In 2003, Pink gave Animal Collective a CD-R of his that the band eventually released on its own label, Paw Tracks. The album was released under Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti moniker, with a series of eight such records to follow. The one-man band of Ariel Pink has produced quite a few full-lengths and even more EPs, compilation appearances and over 30 underground recordings. His sound is very lo-fi, scratchy and vintage, yet otherwise quite hard to place. On record, songs like “For Kate I Wait” and his sped-up cover of Madonna’s “Everybody” are totally awesome. Yet in concert, despite Pink’s effort to fill out his sound with a backing band, Mr. Pink tends to get himself booed a lot — as his music wasn’t really intended for a live crowd. (Appearing at Empty Bottle on March 28) –text: Garin Pirnia

FRUIT BATS
Fruit Bats frontman Eric Johnson may or may not have forecast the return of grunge when he relocated from Chicago to Seattle. But regardless of Johnson’s geographic location, his band has stayed true to its musical roots throughout the past decade. In 1999, Johnson birthed Fruit Bats as a side project for his Chicago group I Rowboat. When I Rowboat broke up, Fruit Bats took over his focus. The folk-pop sensation has since recorded three beautiful and underrated full-length albums while with their latest, Spelled In Bones, Johnson presents a hopeful yet curious inquiry into life. Fruit Bats have often been compared to Brendan Benson and The Shins, which is not all that surprising given that Johnson also doubles as the lead guitarist of Sub Pop labelmates The Shins. Fruit Bats are migrating East this month for a rare and what should be an unforgettable hometown performance. (Appearing with Disappears at Schubas on March 28) –text: Alexis Nido-Russo

THE LADYBUG TRANSISTOR
When I think about The Ladybug Transistor, I’m reminded of Rob Gordon’s Wicker Park apartment in the movie High Fidelity — in which a concert poster listing a double bill featuring Ladybug Transistor and Of Montreal playing at Schubas hangs on his wall. Of course by now fellow Elephant Six band Of Montreal will probably never play such an intimate venue again, but at least Ladybug Transistor still is. Since its inception in the mid-’90s and corresponding 1995 release of its debut album, Marlborough Farms, the band has experienced a revolving door of members. By the time of the band’s second album, only lead singer Gary Olsen and another member remained. Ladybug’s music can best be described as brooding rock or chamber pop, as guitar-centric tracks mesh with lilting pop ballads. The band’s sixth record, Can’t Wait Another Day, was released in 2007 and features the excellent “Always on the Telephone.” (Appearing with Canasta at Schubas on March 29) –text: Garin Pirnia–photo: Kenji Kitahama

RIBBON OF HIGHWAY/ENDLESS SKYWAY
At its core, there’s something inherently fanatic about tribute bands. A performer had been so inspirational that striking up a career playing anything but his or her music somehow cannot suffice. There’s an acknowledgment that tribute bands make, saying their own songwriting chops never will compare to the act to which they pay homage. Only recreating the tunes of their childhood — the very music that had caused the tribute musicians to pick up an instrument in the first place — will do. But in some instances, the tribute is more a matter of family rather than fanaticism. Such is the case with the upcoming Ribbon of Highway/Endless Skyway event, which pays tribute to poet and folk singer Woody Guthrie by featuring his granddaughter as well as Arlo’s heir, Sarah Lee Guthrie, alongside husband Jimmy Irion. The event also features award-winning musicians in their own right such as Jimmy LaFave and Joel Rafael. (Appearing at Dominican University on March 28) –text: Derek Wright–photo: Steven Sandick

Atombbombpocketknife, Breakestra, Fruit Bats, Stellastarr*

ATOMBOMBPOCKETKNIFE
Atombbombpocketknife continues to recreate their blistering live shows on record, most recently with 2004¹s Lack and Pattern. Propelled by the thunderous drumming of Tony Lazarra, Che Arthur¹s rhythmic shifts twist and turn with the steady bass work of Allison Hollihan < who lends some contrast in backup lyrics to Justin Sinkovich¹s scowl. Subject matter is dark, desperate and at times hopeless, but the imagery it evokes is lush with description of depraved situations. The sheer honesty is commendable, such as: “I worship beer and cigarettes so I don¹t have to deal with you, I obsess on my regrets ‘cuz there¹s nothing left to do,” from “Sugarfree.” Their sound is most powerful when all going in the same direction, synergistically producing a wall of rumbling distortion and sustaining that tension. Sadly, their Empty Bottle gig this month will be their last. (Appearing with Pinebender and Challenger at Empty Bottle on Sept. 10) –text: Matt Meisinger

BREAKESTRA
Breakestra’s forthcoming album, Hit the Floor, remains steeped in the deep funk of days past, but instead of mostly covers like on the Stones Throw Mix Tape albums, it seems their new partnership with Ubiquity Records has inspired them to cultivate more original material. Where the skills of ringleader and emcee Miles Tackett on last albums consisted of an “aww yeah” here and a “sho nuff” there, he has learned to sing on some soulful, laid-back tracks like “Recognize” and “Don¹t Need a Dance,” a barn-burning, urgent call to move. “Family Rap” is a throwback to early ’80s beatboxing over live drums, horn flourishes and elastic, stretchy bass linesSand absolutely no mention of what kind of car they drive, bling, or poppin’ Crystal. They are so fine-tuned that their live shows get more asses moving than a group donkey ride into the Grand Canyon. (Appearing at Abbey Pub on Sept. 9) –text: Matt Meisinger

FRUIT BATS
Somewhere nestled between surf-rock’s golden sunsets and coffee shop open-mic-night drama is a place suitable for the romantic pop of Seattle-based (by way of Chicago) Fruit Bats. Where is yet to be determined. Steered by ex-Califone banjo/guitarist Eric Johnson, the Fruit Bats’ third release, Spelled In Bones, is a mellow concoction of foot-tapping acoustic riffs and femme-pitched falsettos coming from a dude who works craft service on film sets to make ends meet. Through the Fruit Bat metamorphosis (each release has featured varying musicians), head Bat Johnson proves he can helm the group in the right direction. While 2003′s Mouthfuls (the Bats’ second album but first for major-indie label Sub Pop) was more of a folk-driven singer/songwriter album for Johnson, Spelled in Bones and the current line-up rounds the Fruit Bats out into an energetic, dreamy collective that is finding a good place on the musical map. (Appearing with Rogue Wave at Empty Bottle on Sept. 11) –text: Charley Rogulewski–photo: Steve Dewall

STELLASTAR*
In the race for New York indie one-upmanship, Stellastarr* is leading the pack. While other flashback acts like The Rapture or Interpol seek to relive the ’80s as Pulp and Joy Division incarnates, the only band with nomenclature in its name continues to reinvent the wheel, making all other shtick so yesterday by comparison. Brooding and visionary, with a sweep of echoed guitars and haunting duel-looped vocals, this art-pop band has more to show for itself than a lineup of good looks and angled cheekbones. Stellastarr*’s music itself is seriously sexy. The band’s newest Harmonies for the Haunted speaks like an entry in Black Francis’ tour diary. Standout tracks like “Sweet Troubled Soul” and “Damn this Foolish Heart” are filled with sweet melancholy and the seductive purrs of vocalist Shawn Christensen. The only downside to this masterpiece is its length of only 10 tracks. (Appearing at Metro on Sept. 13) –text: Jyn Radakovits

Cameron McGill & What Army, Eyedea & Abilities, Fruit Bats, Sondre Lerche

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Fruit Bats, The Ladybug Transistor, Ribbon of Highway

Atombbombpocketknife, Breakestra, Fruit Bats, Stellastarr*

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