Real Estate (with Feathers), The Zoo, Tuesday 13th March, 2012

New Jersey formed five piece, Real Estate, turned up for me kind of out of the blue for me about a year ago. They were shared to me on Dropbox, and after sitting there for a few months, became my latest new find. Soon Pitchfork were all over them like an electric blanket and they must have gained enough popularity to justify an Australian tour. So, investing wisely in a ticket (invest, real estate, geddit???!) I went to the Zoo on this Tuesday night with some rare-to-find fellow fans and got my property development happening. (this is the last bad joke.)

Supporting the band were a couple of indie-sounding-bands, and we got there early enough to catch some of Feathers. A couple of girls who look like they just discovered Warpaint and want to be their bffs, came onstage and began to commence a set of very obvious indie girl pop tunes. They were inoffensive and pleasant enough, but there was nothing really driving the music that stood out from the Tegan and Sara’s of the rest of the music world. They had similar musical stylings to that of Real Estate- summery, jangly pop vibes, but again, none of it really gelled to me- I was a wee bit bored.

They didn’t play for too long however and soon it was Real Estate time. I immediately recognised lead singer Martin Courtney’s very indie haircut (hello Dan Humphrey, the wavy dark mop may become trendy yet) which matched a lot of the audience's indie haircuts. This was a very pitchforkian occasion, but that’s the beauty of hipster gigs- everyone is one, so the wank factor goes into 'so bad it's good' territory, and you don’t notice it as much. It was clear though that everyone was here for the music, which, as they opened with "Fake Blues" from their first self titled album, was outstanding from the very beginning.

my one not shit photo.

In fact, I don’t remember a time when the Zoo sounded quite so good. The airy twang of the guitars and spacious drums were replicated perfectly, if not better than on record, and the sound enveloped the venue with such crispness. "Fake Blues" was followed by "Easy", the opener of their latest well loved album 'Days', and I found myself extremely delighted when hearing the opening chords. Martin Courtney had the quiet sensual frontman thing down with little fuss or fanfare, just pouring his soul into the words and chords. His voice was lovely and heartfelt, with that slight echoey effect which is covered all over the album tracks.

The songs churned out and each one had me bopping along even more than the one before it. Popular new ones "It's Real" and "Out of Tune" oozed sweet breezy goodness and every pulse was on the mark. 


Prior to the performance, a part of me had wondered how good this show was going to be, and if it may be one of the more boring shows of the year. WHY you ask? Well while Real Estate’s low-fi shoegazey pop is a celebrated thing right now, their music does have a very distinctive style that rarely crosses the boundary- and their second album is no great departure from their first. However, i realised just how much I enjoyed their songs as they played them, and their pristine production meant I was thoroughly, exceptionally entertained all the way through. It also says a lot about a band who can completely engage the audience not only with a catchy chorus accompanying pleasing music, but even while during their instrumental tracks, such as both incredibly melodic tracks "Kinder Blumen" and "Atlantic City" in which I found myself not even realising that there wasn't lyrics. That's what I think makes Real Estate a standout act, and why they have so much love at the moment; every instrument of their songs are tuned in perfectly with each other to collectively portray an outpour of emotion, encapsulated in every note, beat and chord. As a live band, they continue to do this effortlessly, and fed off each other like it was child's play. 


Time went relatively quickly, and before we knew it it was encore time already. At this point, the song that got me completely hooked on the band, the debut opener "Beachcomber", had not been performed, and I was not the only one waiting for it. I completely expected it to start up when they (very quickly) came back onstage, but I was sadly disappointed, and instead, the slow burning "Suburban Dogs" was chosen from the same album. I couldn't help but miss "Beachcomber", but their chosen song still left us in a quietly content, contemplative mood, as we slowly emptied from the Zoo. 
The greatest part of this gig was how much it made me appreciate their music more. I now have to stop myself from listening too much to both albums , as I have finally found a replacement for 'Watch The Throne' which is in now danger of being burnt out. I'm happy Real Estate exist and look to be not one of those 'so hot right now' indie darlings that burst onto the scene and then disappear, but a brilliant established band, that deserves its praise and a long progressive career. Well done indie kids!

9 tenancy agreements out of 10. (Sorry, I mean to say that was the second last bad joke.)

The Books, The Zoo, 19th Feb 2011

Now put on some undergarments, and go deeper... and deeper... and deeper...

NYC based duo The Books have been described as experimental, avant-garde sound collagists, which is somewhat of an apt description, however it doesn't quite describe fully what it is the Books do. Cutting up samples from random films, self halp and language tapes, soundbytes, and even old Talkboys found in thrift stores ("This is Peter McCallister here, the Faartherr.") are arranged and intertwined to tell stories and create moods enhanced by synth, guitar, violin and subtle vocals. They are really a band unlike no other and really best experienced rather than described, which is why their first Brisbane tour ever (geez) on February the 19th was quite highly anticipated.

High places supported, an LA based duo, and had a similar synth, sample and vocal theme, albeit on a very different scale. Their music was somewhat simple but quite effective and interesting, and I found myself moving along to it as as if I had already heard the songs before, which I could tell have some addictive properties to them. I'd like to check them out again soon if I get around to it. I'll more likely find myself in Rockinghorse thinking "what was that band I wanted to check out" and end up buying another $10 cheapie instead, but give me time...

High Places along with the Books later, lamented about the heat, marvelling at the condensation in the air that they don't normally get in the US. I have to say I do feel for bands that come out here from cooler lands, and are expected to play in at times non-airconditioned, badly ventilated venues (an exercise which is pretty heat inducing already), in the most disgusting of climates.

As the Books came on, flanked by a large video display, it was a very different vibe and scene from previous Zoo gigs, particularly the one earlier that week (the sold out Caribou/Four Tet). Correctly expecting a small crowd, the floor was set up with tables and chairs on the side, and many were sitting back to enjoy the show from a distance. Which suited me wonderfully, as I plonked myself in front and centre for an excellent view.

The DVD display behind the band had small acronyms along the bottom which sneakily told us how many songs to expect, while singer/guitarist Nick Zammuto flicked through them with a remote to cue each video. The band introduced Gene, their new guitarist/violinist/synthist, whom meant they could play a few of the more difficult tracks from their earlier albums.

However, they began with "Group Autogenics I" from their newest, 'The Way Out', a song involving samples from self help cassettes and DVD's, with accompanying images of the supposed speakers. It is a very humorous tune as well as video, at which myself and the audience excitedly giggled at the nonsensical empowering statements and accompanying images, such as "You may just possibly be able to detect from my voice that I am Irish. And it's now I leap forward in time". It was a whimsical, wonderful beginning, unlike any opening of a band I'd ever experienced before. The band played soothing music with slightly dark undertones, along with the dialogue, on their various interesting instruments, including a skeletal cello thing played by Paul De Jong.

The entire show followed this very different format, as the musicians covered all their best work, with particular emphasis on those on Way Out, highlights being the morbidly hilarious and childish "A Cold Freezing Night", schizophrenic catch-phrased "I Didn't Know That", and sweetly acoustic "Free Translator", consisting of lyrics generated from translating english phrases back and forward from different languages on internet translating sites. Along with this less sample-based song, they performed a few others of this style, including the wonderful Smells Like Content. A favourite of mine, it was sung with beautiful vocals from Nick, accompanied by the lyrics appearing onscreen, perfectly timed with their verbalisation.

Ahh, Geeeene!

They encored with Take Time, and then finally, their cover of Nick Drake's "Cello Song" (minus Jose Gonzales), a lovely and surprise finish.

All in all it was simply amazingggggggg. It was hard to quite fathom how this insane band managed to pull of their crazy method live, so well and with so little effort... APART from a brief few moments when the computer froze (this time a Toshiba!), but not as much to the detriment of Caribou. As I said earlier, this QLD weather is very unkind to bands at the moment.

I feel so lucky to have had the rare opportunity to witness their magic onstage, and I'd be really sad if it was the last. I was also sad to see a much emptier Zoo this time around, and expected more people to be as keen for the Books as I was. But nonetheless... The Books, whoever you think you presently you are.... thankyou.

9 out of 10 um, books.

p.s. I dare you to youtube the Books to check them out for yourself, if you haven't already, and also dare you to tear your eyes away from this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqlVCKfX3hk