I Rowboat

Chicago indie-rock clothing We Rowboat was led by singer/guitarist Eric Johnson–not to become confused with your guitar god, the Archers of Loaf member or the multitudes of other Eric Johnsons littered throughout pop music history, this specific Johnson was created and raised in the Windy Town suburb of Naperville, teaching himself acoustic guitar and banjo as a teenager. Upon shifting to Chicago in 1996 he approved a desk work with the Aged Town College of Folk Music, later on teaching classes on topics which range from Syd Barrett to Miss Spence. Johnson shaped I Rowboat with fellow Naperville items Dan Strack on acoustic guitar and Brian Belval on drums–drawing motivation through the Velvet Underground and the present day Enthusiasts, the group constructed a little fanbase but under no circumstances were able to earn very much attention inside the packed Chicago music picture. Nevertheless Johnson, Strack and Belval also installed a folk-inspired aspect project, the Fruits Bats, that was shelved when Johnson continued tour with Califone. I Rowboat silently dissolved, however in middle-2001 the Fruits Bats documented their debut LP, Echolocation; just Johnson continued to be from the initial line-up for the follow-up, the 2003 Sub Pop discharge Mouthfuls.