Real Estate played K & K Super Buffet

Real Estate - "Easy" from Tom Scharpling      

After an explosive set from noise jam masters Black Dice, New Jersey's Real Estate took to the stage to close out an exhausting night of great music all set in the middle of an exotic Chinese restaurant. They kicked things off with "Green Aisles" and then dove straight into a new tune and played a perfectly balanced set of warm sunny songs taken from both of the band's two great records. While live renditions of their newest tracks really sparkled in a live setting, the sometimes triple guitar sounded so much richer and really allowed for the band to stretch their talents, it was their older tunes that really got the crowd moving. "Beach Comber" sent the crowd into swaying bliss and "It's Real" really took things over the edge. The breezy melodies and flowing rhythms seemed to already have a classic feel and the band cruised through each track as if they have been playing them for years; their effortless riffs floating off into the night.

Jeff Mangum played BAM

The once elusive Jeff Mangum finished a sold out, three run show tonight at the Howard Gilman Opera House to a silent and enraptured audience. Surrounded by four guitars, the myth of a man played a single chord and already applause rang out from the crowd and after two more attempts, Mangum proclaimed "this is the easiest show I've ever played." After he was finally able to dive into a song, he kicked off the evening with Aeroplane's epic finale "Two-Headed Boy Part Two", it was an onslaught of all the classics one would hope to hear. While his performance at I'll Be Your Mirror was like seeing a Blue Whale in it's natural habitat (the last thing you ever thought you would actually witness), his performance tonight was full of energy and a special sparkle that dusted the show with a certain magic of its own. Tracks from Neutral Milk's two landmark albums intertwined through the set and the majesty of the performance was elevated even more so as Julian Koster and the rest of the Music Tapes provided additional beauty as they joined in on french horn, trumpet, accordion, and saw giving an extra glow and allowing for a triumphant rendition of "The Fool". The performance seemed natural and calm, not something you'd expect from a man who spent so long out of the spotlight, and after encouraging the crowd to sing along earlier, "if you're gonna sing at home, you might as well sing here", he started the encore by insisting everyone rush the stage. The night ended in a mob of people gathering at the stage swaying to "Song Against Sex" and Jeff high-fiving everyone in reach.

Setlist:
Two-Headed Boy Part Two
Holland, 1945
Gardenhead / Leave Me Alone
Little Birds
Engine
Ghost
Naomi
April 8
Oh Comely
Two Headed Boy
The Fool
--
Song Against Sex
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Lower Dens - "Brains"

Despite a lackluster and rather dull live performance, Lower Dens can still produce somer killer tunes as displayed in the new track, "Brains", off their new album Nootropics (out May 1st) via GorillavsBear.

Jay-Z - "Glory (Feat B.I.C.)"

In case you missed it, Rap's royal couple (Hov + B) welcomed their first child, Blue Ivy Carter, to the world this past weekend and to celebrate, Jay-Z has released a single entitled "Glory". The track, which actually features Blue Ivy's cries, goes into great detail just how much love the couple have for their little Princess. Listen to it here and grab some tissues while your at it.

On a side note, I'd like to think that the Empire State building was decked out in blue this weekend in honor of this occasion. Congrats to the happy couple!

WU LYF played David Letterman

WU LYF dropped by David Letterman last night to perform one of my favorite songs from 2011. Watch the guys from Manchester growl through "Heavy Pop" above via Pitchfork.