Free At Noon Flashback: Fruit Bats brought Absolute Loser to World Cafe Live

Photo by Sydney Schaefer for WXPN | sydneyschaeferphotos.com

Friday the 13th is usually known for bringing misfortune and bad luck, but not last week. WXPN and World Cafe Live brought in a special treat: Fruit Bats, originally from Chicago, IL, were in Philadelphia to play Free At Noon concert in support of their sixth studio album, Absolute Loser, which was officially released Friday.

Fruit Bats, which is Eric D. Johnson with support from other musicians filling in on guitar, bass, keyboard, and drums, kicked off the show with “Humbug Mountain Song” from their new album.

Photo by Sydney Schaefer or WXPN | sydneyschaeferphotos.com

The Chicago rockers kept the energy and crowd going by playing four more songs off of their new album before dipping back to play two old favorites, “Singing Joy to the World” from their 2009 release The Ruminant Band, as well as “Dolly,” from 2011’s Tripper.

Absolute Loser has been a highly anticipated release for Fruit Bat fans, as well asJohnson himself. After going through an extremely tough time, he decided to abandoned the Fruit Bats name and walk a different path. In 2014, he released a solo album which illustrates the hard time he went through and the grief he carries with him. He decided to revisit the Fruit Bats name due to its association with his identity.

They decided to end the show with “None Of Us,” another song off of their new album before loading up and heading over to play a sold out show at Boot & Saddle. Below, check out a gallery of photos from Free at Noon.

Setlist:
Humbug Mountain Song
Absolute Loser
From a Soon-to-Be Ghost Town
My Sweet Midwest
Good Will Come to You
Singing Joy to the World
Dolly
None of Us