Real Estate at Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis

Real Estate fills Fine Line with good vibes

“This is cool, there’s a lot of people here.” Singer and guitarist Martin Courtney stated surprisingly, early on, as his band Real Estate played a gorgeous sounding set to a packed house at Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis. The band is currently touring in support of their superb 2014 release, Atlas, and Minneapolis got treated with a driving gem of a show that warmed the venue with a definite summer vibe. From up front, the dreamy and psychedelic tunes emanating from the stage sounded pure, and the stage lighting was rich and nice as well.

From beginning to the end, the bearded Courtney, stared out over the top of the crowd as the band played so smoothly that it felt like it could have been one long song. Highlights for were “Had to Hear” and “Primitive” from Atlas. Guitarist Matt Mondanile ripped through the bridge of “Primitive” with a surreal, vibrating solo that was expanded by the swirling lights that painted the back of the stage. It was fantastic. The night ended with “It’s Real”, a standout from their 2011 sophomore album Days. It was one of the most upbeat songs of the night, and a perfect way to end a wonderfully buzzing performance.

Opening the night was the Austin, TX based indie rock band Pure X. Their sound was along the same lines as Real Estate, but with a sharper edge and less driving tempo. I’m glad I was there to see their entire set, as a majority of the crowd was stuck in a long line getting in to the venue and probably missed most of it.

Pure X photos taken for Reviler. Check it out!

Real Estate

Pure X

Real Estate – Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis, MN 03.26.14 Setlist
Green Aisles
Kinder Blumen
Had to Hear
Past Lives
Fake Blues
Crime
The Bend
April’s Song
Horizon
Municipality
2 Part (new untitled song)*
Younger Than Yesterday
Beach Comber
Talking Backwards
Primitive
Encore:
Behind That Locked Door (George Harrison cover)
It’s Real

*first time played live