Fruit Bats

Indie folk-rock act Fruit Bats grew from a four-track recording project of songwriter Eric D. Johnson into a touring band with an ever-shifting lineup, but constant are Johnson's warm vocals and melodic sensibility, both of which often seem to split the difference between Lennon and McCartney (stated influences include the Byrds, the Kinks, and Supertramp). Formed in the late '90s, the project existed in a steady but mercurial state throughout the 2000s and 2010s as Johnson divided his time between scoring movies, playing with other bands, and working on Fruit Bats albums. Their debut, 2001's Echolocation, led to a string of albums for Sub Pop including 2005's Spelled in Bones and 2011's Tripper. Gold Past Life marked Fruit Bats' debut for Merge Records in 2019. Eighth album The Pet Parade followed in 2021; its breezy and bittersweet sensibility also prevailed on 2023's A River Running to Your Heart.