Available digitally starting today, “Shane” is the latest blast of pop energy from one of our favorite songsmiths, Fruit Bats. The Gold Past Life b-side marks the close of a chapter for Eric D. Johnson that started back in November 2018, when Fruit Bats signed to Merge and shared “Getting in a Van Again.” Turn it up:

Here’s Johnson with some background on “Shane”:

Like a lot of good “shower thoughts,” I wrote the basics to this one stuck in a traffic jam on Los Feliz Boulevard. We recorded it during the Gold Past Life sessions, but it didn’t make the cut—not because it didn’t seem good enough but because it felt like a little nugget to drop to folks later on in the game. It feels oddly timely at this exact horrible moment we’re having. Like a lot of my songs, it’s about self-love and care in the face of darkness and uncertainty. The “Shane” in question isn’t so much a singular person but all of us, including myself.

Fruit Bats are set to open for The Decemberists on their 20th anniversary tour, beginning July 28 in Montana. A full list of shows can be found below; pick up tickets to the one nearest you, and support your local record store by ordering a copy of Gold Past Life on CD or LP!

Fruit Bats on tour:
Jul 11 Greenfield, MA – Green River Festival
Jul 28 Missoula, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater*
Jul 29 Seattle, WA – Paramount Theater*
Jul 31 Troutdale, OR – McMenamins Edgefield*
Aug 01 Troutdale, OR – McMenamins Edgefield*
Aug 03 Saratoga, CA – Mountain Winery*
Aug 04 Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern*
Aug 06 Salt Lake City, UT – Gallivan Center*
Aug 07 Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom*
Aug 10 Minneapolis, MN – Surly Brewing Co.*
Aug 11 Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University*
Aug 14 Toronto, ON – Roy Thomson Hall*
Aug 15 Lafayette, NY – Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards*
Aug 16 Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts
Aug 18 Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia*
Aug 19 Boston, MA – The Boch Center - Shubert Theatre*
Aug 20 New York, NY – Central Park SummerStage*
Aug 22 Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium*
* w/ The Decemberists