Album Review :: Real Estate / Real Estate

It has become increasingly more difficult to differentiate between bands latching themselves on to the “surf-rock” movement. Many have members so young in age that it would be out of line to suggest that any one of them had borrowed or even been influenced by another’s style, but it’s only natural to compare. What makes one album or band more enjoyable than another is their take on a certain style. What have they done, not necessarily to further the genre, but to set themselves apart from their peers? That leads to the real bottom line: Why should anyone buy this music or take the time to listen to it?

New Jersey’s Real Estate welcome you to their latest release (self-titled) with a track called “Beach Comber” which is literally about walking on the beach, but metaphorically about something much more substantial. So goes the rest of the album. It very purposefully has the feel of a solo moonlight walk on the beach or sitting in a lakeside hammock staring at the water, but always thinking and reflecting about bigger things. Musically it fits very comfortably into the surf-rock nook; plucky guitars, slow bass grooves, the occasional hand drum here and there, and everything plugged into an echo box. Where Real Estate has set itself apart from other bands of this genre is with the way the songs are composed. Songs like “Black Lake” and “Atlantic City” flow in and out of each other, sometimes seamlessly, with lyrics so softly mixed that you occasionally have to actively listen for them make sure they are actually there. The diversity of the ten tracks makes them all-at-once new and familiar and together they are a beautiful set.

The only trick with producing a record like Real Estate is that to achieve that “hammocky” comfort the music needs to feel familiar. Such is the trap of the genre, you might feel you’ve heard the same song either on the disc itself or by some other band. Here it works for the album on the whole, and Real Estate has done better than most at separating themselves from the pack, but if you already have that go-to, lazy day, get baked, surf-rock CD, this one might not drastically expand your collection. That being said, if you are in the market for something that fits that description, Real Estate would be an ideal place to start.

"Black Rock" by Real Estate

REAL ESTATE on MySpace

01.27.10 :: White Denim @ Larimer Lounge

The Venue & Whatnot--------------------

It’s been a fairly mild January in Denver, so it seemed fitting that White Denim rolled into town to break up the monotony accompanied by a dusting of snow. As it got closer to the start of their set, it was getting progressively more white outside, it was creepy, but very cool. A slow trickle of fans entered the Larimer Lounge throughout the evening and not a soul left early, leaving the venue not packed but definitely crowded, a good sign on a Wednesday night. Clearly these people were psyched for White Denim.

Opening Acts--------------------

Dualistics is one of those Denver bands that I had heard a lot about, but never had the opportunity to see. I quickly saw why they are so popular among local music fans. They played with a ton of energy, even for the small crowd that had assembled for the opening bands. Their radio-friendly style of rock is catchy enough to hook you and varied enough to keep you interested. They’re one of those bands that sets the bar pretty high for acts that follow. They mentioned that they have free music on their website, so I thought I should pass that along to you.

Brazos, like White Denim, is a three-man band from Austin. While their music was very well put together, the stage presence left a little to be desired. This point was emphasized by being sandwiched between Dualistics, who have probably played Larimer a thousand times, and White Denim, who were freaking insane. Brazos had the feeling of a group who started as a rock ensemble in college; very proficient and sound great, but might want to spend less time worrying about playing perfect music and more time connecting with the audience.

Headliner--------------------

I’ll admit it, I was not ready for White Denim. But I blame the band itself for that. They took the stage and went from what I thought was a sound check into an all-out assault on my ears. I had done my homework, listening to their latest record Fits a whole bunch in the weeks leading up to the show, but that did not prepare me for their live performance. They had the technical proficiency of Brazos, but exhibited it in such a free flowing, frenetic manner that I was taken aback. Also, they did not stop. When I say that, I mean they DID NOT STOP. After a few minutes of working the tempo up on their first song, lead singer James Petralli stepped to the mic to launch into the lyrics. It was out. Did they finish the song and take a technical difficulties break? Hell no. He turned around and ripped the mic from drummer Joshua Block’s set, hunched over and screamed into it. This gave the sound guy a few moments to fix the busted gear and from there White Denim played for about 25 minutes straight before taking a break for some well deserved hydration. Then it was right into another 20-25 minutes of their 70’s style hard rock.

There was no “hi, we’re White Denim.” No “that was the first song on our new album.” No, it was more like, “we’re going to rock your faces off for as long as we can, try to keep up.” It was quite a challenge and the enthusiastic crowd at Larimer had a hard time keeping up after awhile. This style exhibits just one of several reasons why this band has so much buzz surrounding it. Playing hard and fast and going from one song to another for such a long period of time requires a certain kind of musicianship and band chemistry that is rarely seen. Petralli is an absolute wizard on the guitar and if it weren’t for the bands of sweat creeping over Block’s shoulders throughout the set you wouldn’t know it was a challenge for him. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of bassist Steve Terebecki’s fingers. I could tell by looking at him that he was “in the zone.” He worked the bass so furiously that it made my hands cramp from the audience. It was one of those shows that was so loud, so intense that I left the venue a little wobbly. White Denim’s live show has a physical affect on the viewer.

Tickets were on sale for just ten bucks which was an absolute steal. Trust me, get out there while the getting is still affordable. Just remember bring a set of earplugs.

Shazz :: Have You Tried Bacon Fried In Bacon?

Shazz Cafe And Bar
4262 Lowell Boulevard
Denver, CO 80211

Certain things in life are so sublime they border on the inexplicable. Sunday brunch in general falls into that category. Indeed, who in their right mind doesn’t find comfort and warmth in a freshly brewed cup of coffee -or squeezed OJ if that’s your poison- a couple of eggs and some breakfast meats? Communists, that’s who. But even the staunchest of commies would appreciate the Sunday morning brunch at Shazz. It was such a delight, I’m tempted to simply write down the menu and wait for you to run out the door, but since I want you to read this, I’ll hold off on that method.

Tucked into an up-and-coming corner of Denver’s Highland neighborhood, Shazz shares an intersection with better known establishments like Tocabe, Billy’s Inn, and Safeway, so even though you may have driven past it several times, you might not know it’s there. Shazz is fine with this. Check out their mission statement:

If you threw out all pre-conceived notions and societal pressures and became the person you always wanted to be, you would be Shazz.

That’s pretty sweet. You can feel this vibe when you enter the restaurant. It feels upscale, but the staff is very relaxed, with everyone chipping in (hostesses bartending, cooks busing tables, etc.) and doing so very enthusiastically. It makes the whole experience feel more like going to someone’s house for a meal than eating at some stuffy cafe. There were no lights on because there was no need; the pre-noon sunlight cascading through Shazz’s giant windows facing Lowell Boulevard provided ample light for eating and conversation. We were there for about 2 hours and they played nothing but Beatles music (Mean Mr. Mustard played us out the door). Again, who can argue with that? The night before was a little rough, so we stayed away from the boozy beverages, but the “G&G” consisting of gin, muddled grapefruit, and grapefruit juice looked particularly tasty. No, just a few giant cups of coffee around the table. I’m not kidding, they don’t cheat you on the coffee. Also they use locally roasted coffee and as many locally produced recipe ingredients as they possibly can which definitely makes them worth supporting even if the food isn’t amazing, which it is.

Brunch for me was the “Benedict,” and this is not your Denny’s-style eggs benedict. Yes, it begins with two poached eggs, but that’s where the similarities end. Instead of an English muffin, you get scallion grit cakes (lighter and tastier). Instead of hollandaise sauce, you get mustard cream sauce (lighter and less overbearing). Instead of Canadian bacon, you get pork belly confit or “really thick bacon, fried in bacon fat,” as the waitress explained (heavier and more satisfying). All that was served with a handful of baby greens and roasted potatoes, both of which paired perfectly with the leftover mustard cream sauce on my plate. I finished the last of my serving just as my stomach told me “no mas.” It was a perfectly sized portion.

I also sampled the “Open Faced B.L.A.T.E.C,” which is bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato, egg, and cheese on toasted sourdough and the Dutch apple pancake, which is a plate-sized, almost crepe-like pancake served with powdered sugar and maple syrup. Both of these dishes were just as perfectly tuned as the Benedict and every bit as delicious as they sound. All of the brunch dishes cost either 8 or 10 dollars, but the portions were enough to keep you full until dinner. If feel like you really want to get your money’s worth, stay around for a few cups of coffee. For any Highland dweller brunch at Shazz is a must. Even if you live in other neighborhoods, it’s a great alternative to waiting in line for hours at places like Snooze or Lucille’s.