Real Estate share title track from new album ‘The Main Thing’ ahead of album release on Friday

Real Estate release title track of their new album The Main Thing, out Friday

UK & European live shows set for summer

Photo by Jake Michaels

Today, Real Estate release the title track of their new album The Main Thing, out this Friday, February 28th, on Domino.

Listen to “The Main Thing” here. 

Like lead single “Paper Cup”, which featured a music video that captured the final performance in the career of a life size, guitar-spinning squirrel, “The Main Thing” backs “the crushing weight” of existential concern with a rollicking hook, ripping guitar lead, and tireless groove. As the second preview of a 13-song collection rooted in anxieties both political and environmental, universal and closely familial, its chorus nods to the central, self-affirming tenet that pushed the band to work longer, harder, and more collaboratively than they have on any album before.

Singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter Martin Courtney explains:
“‘The Main Thing’ is my attempt at writing an inspirational anthem for anyone who’s ever been in an existential crisis…specifically, me.
I was asking myself a lot of uncomfortable questions throughout the process of making this album. Wondering if being an artist is irresponsible or selfish, particularly with the world in the state that it’s in, particularly as a parent of young kids. This was the last song I wrote for this album, and I think it kind of distills where I found myself at the end of what turned out to be a long and extremely rewarding process: psyched on the power of music, for real!
The lyrics in this song are sort of tongue in cheek, but the sentiment is very real. Basically…when life gets tough, when the stresses start piling up, when you start second guessing every decision you’ve made, what do you do? You double down on the thing that makes you happy, the thing that feeds your soul.
It might be corny to say, but it really is important to be true to who you are and do what you believe in, whatever that may be.”
The Main Thing is available to pre-order on deluxe double LP (tip-on gatefold jacket with Bjorn Copeland’s collage piece mounted on the front cover, gold-coloured vinyl), LP, CD and digitally. Pre-order: Dom Mart | Digital

Earlier this month, Real Estate performed “The Main Thing” on Live From Here with Chris Thile. Later this spring they begin an international tour of more than 35 shows including London’s Roundhouse and a Central Park Garden State Party they’ll be throwing with fellow New Jersey native Sharon Van Etten. Find all dates below.

Upcoming tour datesApril 9th – El Club – Detroit, MI*
April 10th – Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL*
April 11th – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN*
April 13th – Slowdown – Omaha, NE*
April 14th – The Truman – Kansas City, MO*
April 15th  – The Ready Room – St. Louis, MO*
April 16th – The Vogue – Indianapolis, IN*
April 17th – Brooklyn Bowl Nashville – Nashville, TN*
April 18th – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA*
April 20th – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC*
April 21st – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC*
April 22nd – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA*
April 23rd – Royale – Boston, MA*
May 7th – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA†
May 8th – The Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA†
May 9th – Belly Up Tavern – Solana Beach, CA†
May 10th – Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ†
May 12th – Granada Theater – Dallas, TX†
May 13th – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater – Austin, TX†
May 14th – White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX†
May 16th – Corona Capital – Guadalajara, MX
May 18th – Gothic Theatre – Englewood, CO#
May 19th – Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT#
May 21st – Neptune Theatre – Seattle, WA#
May 22nd – Revolution Hall – Portland, OR#

11th June – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds Sold out
12th June – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds Tickets
13th June – Vicar Street, Dublin Tickets
14th June – Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow Tickets
16th June – Orangerie at Botanique, Brussels Tickets
17th June – Luxor, Koln Tickets
18th June – Trabendo, Paris Tickets
20th June – Roundhouse, London Tickets
21st June – Tivolivredenburg Pandora Hall, Utrecht Tickets
22nd June – Festsaal Kreuzberg, Berlin Tickets
24th June – Pumpehuset, Copenhagen Tickets

29th July – SummerStage (Central Park Garden State Party) – New York, NY^

*with Palm †with Meg Baird #with Itasca ^with Sharon Van Etten & Grace Ives

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