Fruit Bats touring more in 2010 (NYC show announced), James Mercer working w/ Danger Mouse on Broken Bells
Fruit Bats @ MHOW in September (more by Raymond Haddad)
Fruit Bats, led by the Shins’ Eric Johnson, put out their fourth record, The Ruminant Band, and toured North America this year; they’re currently playing shows in Europe. In January they have a scheduled tour of the West Coast, and after that they currently have a sole NYC show (part of a TBA tour that covers the Southeast, Midwest and Northeast) scheduled for Monday, March 22nd at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 18 at noon.
While Johnson has been focusing on his Fruit Bats project, lead Shins songwriter James Mercer has been collaborating with Danger Mouse on a project they call Broken Bells.
Broken Bells features Mercer on vocals, guitars and bass while Burton plays organ, drums, piano, synths and bass. The pair play all the instruments on the album with the exception of a full string section arranged by Daniele Luppi. Broken Bells was recorded by Todd Monfalcone and Kennie Takahashi at Mondo Studio in Los Angeles and produced by Burton.
Their 10-track self-titled album will be our March 8th on Columbia – and they’ve promised the first single from it “The High Road” next week. The band recently launched a “viral” ad campaign with links to various anagram sites each hosting different instrumental clips from the album.
Fruit Bats videos and all tour dates are below…
Craig Ferguson 10/30/9E Late Late Show Fruit Bats
The Fruit Bats – 2009/10 Tour Dates
Dec 16 Nation of Shopkeepers Leeds, UK
Dec 17 Road House Manchester, UK
Dec 18 Clwb Ifor Bach Cardiff, Wales, UK
Dec 19 Paradiso Amsterdam, Netherlands
Jan 21 Western Washington University Bellingham WA #
Jan 22 Vera Project Seattle WA #
Jan 23 Mission Theater Portland OR #
Jan 25 Luigi’s Fungarden Sacramento CA $
Jan 26 Howie and Sons Pizza Visalia CA $
Jan 27 Soho Restaurant and Music Club Santa Barbara CA $
Jan 28 EchoPlex Los Angeles CA @
Jan 29 Slim’s San Francisco CA @
Jan 30 WOW Hall Eugene OR
Mar 22 Bowery Ballrom New York NY
# w/ Sonny Smith
$ w/ Extra Classic Band
@ w/ Citay, Extra Classic Band, DJ Turquoise Wisdom
