Real Estate: ‘Talking Backwards’ Down the Number Line

Real Estate were anointed hipster darlings, thanks to a homegrown indie-jam style equally rooted in post-suburban longing and an emancipated D.I.Y. aesthetic. With the release of their third album, Atlas, the quintet has finally moved past their influences and honed a sound that is entirely their own. Editor Emeritus Josh Baron spent time with the five members of the band both before and after the release of their breakthrough record and explores how a group of childhood pals whose influences range from the Grateful Dead to Elliott Smith and Weezer grew from cafeteria jam sessions to late-night television performances without losing track of their core values or longtime friendship.

The 14th Annual Relix Festival Guide: Set II
Festival season is here and, once again, Relix is proud to offer the summer’s ultimate festival guide. Each year, hundreds of bands converge at music gatherings around the world with thousands of fans at their disposal. The goal? Captivate the listener before the other guy does. This year, stalwarts like Yonder Mountain String Band and The Motet will compete with an eclectic mix of summer upstarts, ranging from progressive pop bands Bleachers and Capital Cities, to roots-oriented troubadours Lake Street Dive, chillwave purveyors Washed Out and soul-revivalists St. Paul & The Broken Bones. Facing off
at fests such as Mountain Jam, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Gathering of the Vibes, Outside Lands and moe.down, this year’s starting lineup includes some of the finest in music history. Only time will tell who will hit a grand slam.

Railroad Earth: The Heroes of Hangtown

In 2001, Railroad Earth emerged from the unlikeliest of settings—New Jersey—to become one of the jamgrass scene’s most accomplished exports. The six-piece jamband collective has released a series of successful records, headlined Red Rocks and even hosted their own October festival, Hangtown
Halloween Ball. However, their new studio release, Last of the Outlaws, is the group’s most ambitious achievement to date. In the live setting, this material yields “the opus”—a complex, seven-part suite of songs that extends more than 20 minutes. Blair Jackson catches up with the group as they gear up
for another marathon summer.

The Hold Steady: The Body and Blood

From the start, The Hold Steady offered a new twist on traditional rock-and-roll music, spiking their classic-rock sound with character-driven literary references, religious observations and a dose of comedy. After some time apart while frontman Craig Finn supported his solo record, the members of The Hold Steady reconvened in time to celebrate their 10th anniversary with a new, highly collaborative album. As John Adamian discovers, the resulting record Teeth Dreams is the band’s most dynamic release to date and the ultimate proof that The Hold Steady’s Midwest brotherhood remains as strong as ever.

*Plus: Stephen Malkmus, Umphrey’s McGee, G. Love, The New Deal, Conor Oberst, The Autumn Defense, Tom Constanten,
Syd Arthur, Judith Owen and much more!*

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