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“This is the last night of our tour,” said Martin Courtney, guitar tuned, the band on stage and ready to play. Having been on tour since early February, this fortunately didn’t speak to exhaustion, but a journey earned. “Let’s have a party and do it one more time.”
Over the course of the next 90 minutes, the band played songs from each of their six albums, highlighting, as expected, seven songs from their recently released album, Daniel. That album leans towards their earlier work as the band later sought out to stretch out their song structures. But Daniel, by intent, is essentially a feast of “pop” songs – nothing too long or involved, just crafted songs that are easy to hear and…
That’s a thing about Real Estate. Their songs can be so breezy (an over-used term for their music), that it’s easy to just sway along without actually listening to the lyrics. And while Courtney’s lyrics have transitioned from fond memories of growing up in New Jersey to adult concerns, the lyrics are a joy. First and foremost, they’re not profane, shocking or angry. And they let the listener hear what they want to hear. There are hints, certainly. “Crime” is all about communication difficulties in a relationship upset, but rather than call foul, it’s a desire for it to be better. “I don’t wanna die / lonely and uptight / stay with me / all will be revealed.”
“Water Underground,” their new single, likens a tickled thought that won’t quite come to the fore to underground water, likewise unheard, suddenly washing over him to reveal itself. The melody is so beautiful, and even the refrain, that you have to pause to listen. That’s good music. A sunnier Elliott Smith, perhaps?
On a Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, a lot of people decided Variety Playhouse was the place to be, filling the space, and particularly the pit in front of the stage.
It’s not a “showy” performance. There’s no guitar hero theatrics, dual bass drums, flashing graphics and the like, because there’s no need for it. Drummer Sammi Niss plays just what the song needs, a great beat and accentuating the melodies. Bassist Alex Bleeker propels the band or alternately doing clever McCartney-ish runs that shape the song more than the guitars. And he somehow manages to sing the high notes without looking like he’s straining.
Matt Kallman sits behind a keyboard with Moog and Mellotron(!) options (rarely heard on this night), concentrating on atmosphere rather than carving its own space. Julian Lynch plays guitar similarly, adding zip over Courtney’s acoustic guitar, but never dominating a song.
It’s a fun night listening to a band that confidently does their thing, eager to share both new and old material to their fans, who came for just that.
Trivia: How many other bands have named themselves after their parents’ occupation?
Setlist:
Encore:
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