The Current

Great Music Lives Here ®
Listener-Supported Music
Donate Now
Live From The Current Studio

Real Estate perform in The Current's studio

  Play Now [23:20]

by Mark Wheat and Real Estate

March 27, 2014

real estate band 2
Real Estate perform in The Current's studio.
MPR photo/Nate Ryan

In town to play a gig at the Fine Line in Minneapolis, five-piece indie-rock outfit Real Estate stopped in to The Current's studio to play some songs off their album, Atlas, and to chat with The Current's Mark Wheat.

Signed to Domino Records in 2011, Real Estate, who originally hailed from Ridgewood, N.J., but are now based in Brooklyn, N.Y., recorded their album, Atlas, in Chicago with producer Tom Schick. Real Estate band members Martin Courtney and Alex Bleeker told Mark Wheat what it was like to record in Wilco's loft, and how their time in Chicago led to the unintentional creation of a music video for their song, "Talking Backwards."

Listen to the full session to hear Real Estate describe their varied experiences at SXSW over the past few years, their thoughts about reading reviews of their albums, and which artists they like to cover when playing live.

Songs Performed


"Primitive"
"The Bend"
"Navigator"
All songs off Real Estate's 2014 album, Atlas, out now on Domino Records.

Hosted by Mark Wheat
Produced by Derrick Stevens
Engineered by Michael DeMark and Wyatt Harborough
Web feature by Luke Taylor