The Fratellis split up after releasing their second full-length album but they got back together when they “realized that there was an audience there for [them.]”

Though The Fratellis have been on hiatus for five years, guitarist Jon Fratelli still knows exactly what his band — which brings its U.S. tour to U Street Music Hall tomorrow night — is all about. 

“Time dictated that this album is different from what we’ve done before, but at the same time what we do is play rock ‘n’ roll,” he wrote in an email. 

Long popular in their native United Kingdom, The Fratellis hit it big in the U.S. with 2006’s “Chelsea Dagger,” a huge, anthemic shout-along that has wormed its way into dozens of beer commercials and seemingly every football stadium in the country. Pressured by their overnight success — and subsequent worldwide tour schedule — The Fratellis disbanded after releasing their second full-length, 2008’s Here We Stand. 

After several years of side projects, including a stint with slinky noir pop outfit Codeine Velvet Club, Fratelli reunited with the rest of The Fratellis trio: drummer Mince Fratelli and bassist Barry Fratelli. The reformed group released their latest, We Need Medicine, on Oct. 7. 

“We reunited when we realized that there was an audience there for us,” Fratelli wrote. “Somehow I forgot that, but I’m glad I remembered.” 

Full of bluesy pub rock and Fratelli’s instantly memorable vocals, We Need Medicine is classic Fratellis, with one exception: Gone are the character songs — such as the ubiquitous “Chelsea Dagger” — that the group made its name on. 

“I don’t feel compelled to create characters anymore,” Fratelli wrote. “I wrote those songs in the space of one month seven years ago so I wouldn’t really know how to anymore.” 

“I still like to deal in fiction though, with the odd dose of reality thrown in,” he wrote. 

And when the group stops in Washington, Fratelli will be bringing history with him, he noted. 

“We had to cancel our only other D.C. show, which I’m still a bit shamefaced about,” Fratelli wrote. “So it’s definitely on my mind that we need to make up for canceling last time.” 

“We have no space for pyrotechnics so we’ll just have to play harder, longer and better than ever,” he added. 

The Fratellis play U Street Music Hall with The Ceremonies on Nov. 2. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are sold out.