Real Estate release title track of 'The Main Thing', new album out Feb 28

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

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.”

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. The run of shows concludes with a Garden State Party in NYC's Central Park on June 26 as part of the Summerstage series, with fellow New Jersey native Sharon Van Etten.

Tickets for all dates below can be found at realestatetheband.com. 

Pre-order Real Estate's The Main Thing below. For an exclusive bundle pairing the LP with a bottle of the band’s signature Sonoma Valley red wine, Reality Estates, head here.

Real Estate Tour Dates

4/9 - El Club - Detroit, MI*
4/10 - Thalia Hall - Chicago, IL*
4/11 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN*
4/13 - Slowdown - Omaha, NE*
4/14 - The Truman - Kansas City, MO*
4/15 - The Ready Room - St. Louis, MO*
4/16 - The Vogue - Indianapolis, IN*
4/17 - Brooklyn Bowl Nashville - Nashville, TN*
4/18 - Variety Playhouse - Atlanta, GA*
4/20 - Cat's Cradle - Carrboro, NC*
4/21 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC*
4/22 - Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA*
4/23 - Royale - Boston, MA*
5/7 - Fox Theater - Oakland, CA†
5/8 - The Fonda Theatre - Los Angeles, CA†
5/9 - Belly Up Tavern - Solana Beach, CA†
5/10 - Crescent Ballroom - Phoenix, AZ†
5/12 - Granada Theater - Dallas, TX†
5/13 - Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater - Austin, TX†
5/14 - White Oak Music Hall - Houston, TX†
5/16 - Corona Capital - Guadalajara, MX
5/18 - Gothic Theatre - Englewood, CO#
5/19 - Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT#
5/21 - Neptune Theatre - Seattle, WA#
5/22 - Revolution Hall - Portland, OR#
6/11 – Brudenell Social Club - Leeds, UK
6/12 - Brudenell Social Club - Leeds, UK
6/13 – Vicar Street - Dublin, IE
6/14 – Queen Margaret Union - Glasgow, UK
6/16 – Orangerie at Botanique - Brussels, BE
6/17 – Luxor - Koln, DE
6/18 – Le Trabendo - Paris, FR
6/20 – Roundhouse - London, UK
6/21 – Tivolivredenburg Pandora Hall - Utrecht, NL
6/22 – Festsaal Kreuzberg - Berlin, DE
6/24 – Pumpehuset - Copenhagen, DK
7/29 - SummerStage (Central Park Garden State Party) - New York, NY^

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