Real Estate Return to NJ for Atlas Anniversary Tour

Most bands tour their big albums on the 10th or 25th anniversary; Real Estate tours theirs when they feel like it. Last Friday, NJ natives, Real Estate brought the 11-year and 7-month Atlas Anniversary Tour to the Starland Ballroom. They played the album in full, along with a handful of classics and fan favorites.

Real Estate emerged from Ridgewood, NJ, during a transitional period in indie rock, when guitars became softer and drums were less aggressive. With the likes of Vampire Weekend and Grizzly Bear, Real Estate became linchpins in the low-key era of indie.

Founding members Martin Courtney and Alex Bleeker have led the group since 2008, battling off multiple lineup changes. The most recent shake-up is the departure of Julian Lynch, who James Richardson, a former live member of MGMT, is replacing. In only a few weeks with the group, Richardson has brought an electric punch to Real Estate’s lo-fi production.

After 15 years and dozens of shows in NJ, Real Estate made their Starland Ballroom debut. Courtney joked to the crowd, “Thanks for coming, especially here.” Mostly known for housing metal and country gigs, Starland was an interesting switch for the band.

The crowd consisted of Courtney and Bleeker doppelgängers, sporting snug hats and fleeces likely purchased from a B-tier Patagonia. Although the ballroom doesn’t go very deep, there was plenty of room to move around. The hometown crowd did not disappoint when it came to knowing the songs, especially the tracks on Atlas.

After playing a few songs from their most recent album, Daniel, the band broke into Atlas, front to back. The opener, and introduction to the themes of long-distance relationships throughout the record, “Had To Hear,” presented Richardson’s technique, that of a soloing maestro.

One of the group’s most recognizable riffs came on “Talking Backwards.” It’s one of the best explanations of a relationship divided by space and time, as well as the difficulties of not understanding how to bridge the gap. It includes one of Courtney’s smoothest vocal moments, “And the only thing that really matters // Is the one thing I can’t seem to // Make sense of this dream // It’s the one thing I can’t seem to do.” The third line is given little time to sing, scrambling Courtney’s usual laid-back tone.

The instrumental number, “April’s Song,” followed, proving the technical chops of the band. Bleeker gave the rest of the group a beat to rely on, something he does throughout the entire show, always bearing a sly smirk. As a massive dead head, Bleeker knows a thing or two about jamming out; he’s even in a jam band, Taper’s Choice, with Vampire Weekend drummer, Chris Tomson.

A highlight from the back half of Atlas is “Primitive,” which feels like a dive into Courtney’s uncertain relationship. The middle of the song features a polished instrumental exchange between Richardson and drummer Sammi Niss. The album closer, “Navigator,” is a calm reflection on growing up.  

Before returning for an encore, Bleecker took the mic to give away a plush Yoshi doll that Richardson had won the day before at the Jersey Shore. Luckily, a little girl standing along the barricade won, definitely being the night’s sweetest moment.

The band closed the show with “It’s Real, which, by now, is kind of their closing anthem. Everyone in the crowd echoes Courtney as he sings “Oh, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh // It’s real.” It’s sort of their version of The Black Keys’ “Lonely Boy.”

Real Estate is a band that will always bring it. What ‘it’ is, isn’t heavy or hard to follow, it’s an easy, quiet walk through a meadow, or as in Real Estate’s case, an aimless drive through green aisles.

Listen to Real Estate’s most recent release, The Wee Small Hours, here. Celebrate 11 years and 7 months of Atlas, here.