(Eric Johnson of Fruit Bats demonstrates how he doesn't need to see in order to play piano. Rather, he navigates his keyboard using echolocation. © 2009 Benjamin Luk.)
No, not that Eric Johnson. If only. No, this is the Eric Johnson formerly of I, Rowboat and currently playing with The Shins. Of course, that's not to say our Eric Johnson is inferior to the Eric Johnson. Well, maybe a little. (C'mon. It's Eric bloody Johnson we're talking about here.)
Expectations were high as Fruit Bats took the stage at The Media Club last Wednesday. Mild confusion occurred as multi-instrumentalist Ron Lewis took centre stage while frontman Eric hid in the shadows stage left, well away from the spotlight. As Eric began singing however, there was no longer any question as to who the star songwriter was. Eyes dreamily closed behind a pair of black Lennon-esque glasses, Eric stomped and swayed to his Shins-y harmonies, vocals skipping effortlessly from octave to octave. Not one for making eye contact with his audience while performing, Eric was in his own space for most of the evening, though there was a magnetism to how comfortable he looked playing that held your attention.
Eric would trade places with Ron every so often to alternate between guitar and keys, and the only hiccup in their set was during "Being On Your Own", when a certain guitar hadn't been tuned to drop D. Hardly noticeable, and in no way distracting to the rest of the evening. Then a pleasant surprise: drums and the second guitarist drop out, allowing Eric to play "Singing Joy to the World" unaccompanied, the way it was meant to be played. Though it sounded virtually identical to the recorded version off The Ruminant Band, the downtempo shift was just what their set needed to shake things up. Fruit Bats' music is all very strong; it's just that the jangly guitars and Eric's relaxed vocals might lull you into a daydream or two about warm summer evenings or watching first snowfall. Also, kudos to lead guitarist Sam Wagster for his evocative melodies on pedal steel. Expertise in less conventional instruments always up the ante for me.
In their three-song encore, Eric and the rest of his Bats demonstrate the full range of their abilities as they pound out a bitchin' cover of INXS' "Never Tear Us Apart", then follow it up with the closing "When You Love Somebody", which starts like a church organ hoedown. Riveting and dynamic, you could tell the Fruit Bats constructed their set list with intent, building themselves up towards a real shitkicker finale like any band that's been around for eight years would know how to do. And yet, somehow, this was their first show in Vancouver. Let's hope for many more.
Expectations were high as Fruit Bats took the stage at The Media Club last Wednesday. Mild confusion occurred as multi-instrumentalist Ron Lewis took centre stage while frontman Eric hid in the shadows stage left, well away from the spotlight. As Eric began singing however, there was no longer any question as to who the star songwriter was. Eyes dreamily closed behind a pair of black Lennon-esque glasses, Eric stomped and swayed to his Shins-y harmonies, vocals skipping effortlessly from octave to octave. Not one for making eye contact with his audience while performing, Eric was in his own space for most of the evening, though there was a magnetism to how comfortable he looked playing that held your attention.
Eric would trade places with Ron every so often to alternate between guitar and keys, and the only hiccup in their set was during "Being On Your Own", when a certain guitar hadn't been tuned to drop D. Hardly noticeable, and in no way distracting to the rest of the evening. Then a pleasant surprise: drums and the second guitarist drop out, allowing Eric to play "Singing Joy to the World" unaccompanied, the way it was meant to be played. Though it sounded virtually identical to the recorded version off The Ruminant Band, the downtempo shift was just what their set needed to shake things up. Fruit Bats' music is all very strong; it's just that the jangly guitars and Eric's relaxed vocals might lull you into a daydream or two about warm summer evenings or watching first snowfall. Also, kudos to lead guitarist Sam Wagster for his evocative melodies on pedal steel. Expertise in less conventional instruments always up the ante for me.
In their three-song encore, Eric and the rest of his Bats demonstrate the full range of their abilities as they pound out a bitchin' cover of INXS' "Never Tear Us Apart", then follow it up with the closing "When You Love Somebody", which starts like a church organ hoedown. Riveting and dynamic, you could tell the Fruit Bats constructed their set list with intent, building themselves up towards a real shitkicker finale like any band that's been around for eight years would know how to do. And yet, somehow, this was their first show in Vancouver. Let's hope for many more.
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