Real Estate bassist Alex Bleeker leads his far-reaching band of musical compatriots into town for an anticipated gig. Fans of Bleeker's other, more prominent band will take comfort in this project's similar predilection for easy-breezy, melodic rock. But The Freaks reject overt nostalgia and instead take a turn toward the mysterious, coupling lyrics both wearisome and absurd with wistful instrumentation, casting unmistakable shadows of Malkmus, Berman and other slack-jam indie icons. The difference: groups like The Freaks replace the confident, sun-soaked misanthropy of groups like Silver Jews with a tie-dyed cloud of millennial ambivalence. The long-rumored consolidation of hippie and hipster has taken its sweet time—a few decades, even—but it seems to be finally nearing completion.