Neon Musical Insight

DOWNLOAD MP3: Real Woods – “No Rain (Blind Melon cover)”
DOWNLOAD MP3: Real Woods – “Military Madness (Graham Nash cover)”

On Friday night, two Woodsist bands — Real Estate and Woods — kicked off their tour together at the Music hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Being tagged as Real Woods, the two put on an unforgettable show — that nytaper was able to snag audio recording of. For the encore, both bands united to take on the cover of Graham Nash’s “Military Madness,” which was featured on Wood’s Songs of Shame from last year, but just prior, the two pulled out an impromptu version of Blind Melon’s most memorable song, “No Rain”.

Stream/download the jam session above.

DOWNLOAD MP3: Woods – “I Was Gone”

After releasing their definitive debut album last year with Songs of Shame, the Brooklyn freak-folk Woods have revealed the proper follow-up with a sophomore record named Echo Lake. Above, is the simplistic but pleasant artwork for it, along with a fresh track off the album called “I Was Gone,” a barely two-minute, familiarly lo-fi recording with some acoustic guitar jamming, tambourine, and everything else that makes Woods, well, Woods.

Echo Lake will be released on May 11 via Woodsists — which makes sense, since Woods’ frontman Jeremy Earl runs it.

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The Brooklyn quartet Woods will be presenting their alter ego — Woods Family Creeps — in full form on Monday, January 18 at Monkeytown in Brooklyn. Focusing more on improvisation, Woods Family Creeps say to expect: “Extended jams, howling guitar leads, atmospheric cassette interference, and a smattering of traditional Woods songs at this one-time only event.” They’ll be playing two sets as well, with one at 8:00 P.M. and the following at 10:30 P.M.

Reservations are recommended, and can be made via the Monkeytown’s website.

Two of the more successful bands of ‘09, Real Estate and Woods — apart of the Woodsist record label — will be trekking out on a North American tour for the month of March. Both acts received significant signs of approval throughout last year, with Real Estate releasing their full-length debut and the EP Reality, while Woods dropped their fourth LP, Songs of Shame (both LP’s made Pitchforks Top 50 Albums of 2009.)

I got the chance to speak to lead singer of Real Estate Martin Courtney last month, and the interview can be read here. Tour dates below:

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For Neon Musical Insight’s first exclusive interview, I recently caught up with Martin Courtney — lead singer of the 2009 sensation band Real Estate — to discuss their well received debut album, various other projects that are, and have been in the works for quite some time now, and truly how much of an inspiration fellow Jersey acts like Yo La Tengo have been on their music. Real Estate just dropped a new EP entitled Reality via Mexican Summer, and will be embarking on a European tour at the end of January 2010.

Neon: How has life on the road been treating you?

MC: It was good. We got back like a week ago and it was really awesome. It was my first tour across the country. This was actually a lot more chiller because we didn’t have to actually drive everyday. There wasn’t a schedule that we had to abide by, which was pretty intense. There were a lot of really long rides and stuff, but it was good. I was really ready to get home.

Neon: You’re gonna be home for the holidays and everything then?

MC: Yeah, we’re gonna be home until late January. We have a tour in Europe starting then. Yeah, but between now and then we don’t really have too much planned. We have a show in Philly on January 9, and we’ll probably end up playing some shows in New York.

Neon: Your debut album has been pretty standout, and the critics have also been obviously agreeing. Has the acclaim reached an overwhelming status just yet?

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