Fruit Bats, the long-running project of Eric D. Johnson, are returning with their first album since 2016’s Absolute Loser. The new album’s title hasn’t been announced yet but we do know that it’ll be their first on North Carolina’s Merge Records, to which Johnson had this to say:
“My band Fruit Bats has signed to Merge Records. I’ve had a mega label crush on them for two-plus decades. I’m considering building a time machine to tell my past self about this, who will not believe it. My current self is also beyond thrilled.”
Alongside the signing announcement, Johnson shared the song “Getting in a Van Again.” The breezy alt-country single tackles the anxiety surrounding touring and comes with a 15-minute short film that brilliantly mocks the recording process. The film is directed by Jonny Look, known for helming music videos for Grizzly Bear and Cass McCombs, and stars Johnson, guitarist Josh Mease, and actors DeMorge Brown and Elisha Yaffe.
Fruit Bats will play the Tractor Tavern this Friday, January 18. Watch the film for “Getting in a Van” below (the actual song comes at the 11:55 mark).
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