Suburban Dogs

"Budweiser, Sprite. Do you feel alright?"

We took a road-trip to Philadelphia last weekend, and as we drove through the greater New Jersey area, I got to thinking abut one of my favorite bands, Real Estate, who hail proudly from the state. Their blissful gems are the direct product of a sort of making-the-best-out-of-it type of mentality, and their songs almost make me wish I was from there. I'm going to try to get them to play in the student center sometime this fall, but i guess we'll see what happens.

Real Estate - "Green River"



Real Estate "Fake Blues"


Here's a video from chocolate bobka, they brought a camera to show where real estate played in a backyard in north jersey.

Real Estate - Green River > Suburban Beverage from Chocolate Bobka on Vimeo.

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Real Estate "Green River"
Real Estate "Fake Blues"

Also from Jersey is Family Portrait, whose "Mega Secrets" may very well be August's best song.

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Family Portrait "Mega Secrets"

Arrived in Philadelphia, I was reminded of another musician, one who I saw in the cavernous, now defunct brooklyn venue The Shank--Kurt Vile.

His band, the Violators, were late getting in from PA that night, and didn't go on until 2:30, and by then the sweat-pouring stragglers were in poor manners--the two hour late arrival was met with scathing protest. Before the jaded, irritable crowd, Vile was able to conjure soundwaves from the guitar that I wasn’t aware existed. Off-kilter chord configurations, clawed down strum configurations, lyrical poignancy, a real treat.

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Kurt Vile - "Overnite Religion"

Beach Fossils

This song makes my smile look like a watermelon slice, i think it resonates so much with me this week because I am on the verge of leaving new york behind for the country, vowing never to return. "It's always on my mind."

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Beach Fossils - "Vacation"
Beach Fossils - "Daydream"