Eric D. Johnson – the man behind Chicago-based rock outfit Fruit Bats – has revealed that the band dormant since 2013 will return this year with fall tour dates alongside My Morning Jacket.

Johnson, who spent the past couple years as a solo artist, posted a photo of a handwritten letter on Instagram in which he says fans can expect a new album in 2016. It will be the band's first full-length since 2011's Tripper. Here's what Johnson had to say:

So, after a couple of years of doing this solo EDJ thing and having to have (Fruit Bats) in parentheses after my name everywhere I go, I've decided to drop the parentheses and start doing Fruit Bats again full steam ahead.

I missed having a band behind me, I missed my old songs, and I've come to hate parentheses. Who knew?

Some of you may be stoked by this prospect. I know I am. For those of you that are indeed stoked, we will be heading out on tour this fall with some dudes from Louisville, plus some shows of our own. There will be a new album in early 2016 with a full slate of touring to follow. See you soon."

Fruit Bats' first run lasted 13 years and included five albums beginning with 2001's Echolocation. Johnson – the band's core member – said back in 2011 that he was putting the band on ice because it was "time for a change."

Tour Dates with My Morning Jacket
Sun Oct 11: Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
Tue Oct 13: Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Auditorium
Thu Oct 15: San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
Fri Oct 16: San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
Sat Oct 17: San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
Mon Oct 19: San Diego, CA @ Open Air Theatre
Tue Oct 20: Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre
Thu Oct 22: Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall
Fri Oct 23: Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall
Sat Oct 24: Dallas, TX @ Verizon Theatre

Fruit Bats – "You're Too Weird" (Official Music Video)

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