Alex Bleeker
{{Short description|American musician (born 1986)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Alex Bleeker
| image = Alex Bleeker - 2014.png
| caption = Bleeker performing with Real Estate at Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick, Maryland in 2014
| birth_name = Alexander William Bleeker
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|7|28}}
| birth_place = New Jersey, U.S.
| instrument = {{hlist|Bass|guitar|vocals}}
| genre = {{hlist|Indie rock|psychedelic rock|surf rock}}
| occupation =
| years_active = 2009–present
| associated_acts = Real Estate
| website = {{URL|http://bleekerandthefreaks.blogspot.com/}}
}}
Alexander William Bleeker{{cite web|url=https://www.sesac.com/Repertory/SongsByWriter.aspx?affilNum=404863&writerAKAName=ALEXANDER%20WILLIAM%20BLEEKER|work=SESAC|title=Repertory Search > Songs by Writer > Alexander William Bleeker>|accessdate=April 29, 2017}} (born July 28, 1986) is an American musician. He is best known as the bassist and occasional lead vocalist of the indie rock band Real Estate, with whom he has recorded six studio albums. He is also the frontman and primary recording artist of the indie rock band Alex Bleeker and the Freaks, with who he has recorded three studio albums.{{cite web|last=Sacher|first=Andrew|title=Alex Bleeker and the Freaks releasing 'Country Agenda,' going on tour (dates, video, stream)|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2015/09/alex_bleeker_an.html|work=BrooklynVegan|accessdate=December 14, 2015|date=September 15, 2015}}
In 2024, Bleeker co-authored the book, Taste in Music: Eating on Tour with Indie Musicians, which was listed among Pitchfork's "Best Music Books of 2024."{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-music-books-of-2024/|title=The Best Music Books of 2024 |work=Pitchfork|last=|first=|date=November 22, 2024|access-date=November 22, 2024}}
Early life and personal life
Bleeker was born in New Jersey and raised in Ridgewood, New Jersey.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2011/10/12/real-estate-jams|title=Real Estate Jams|last=Schnipper|first=Matthew|work=The Fader|accessdate=April 29, 2017}} He attended Ridgewood High School with two of his Real Estate bandmates, Martin Courtney and Matt Mondanile.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2010/08/12/129162870/ridgewood-n-j-why-here-why-now |title=Ridgewood, N.J.: Why Here? Why Now? |website=NPR.org |date=August 13, 2010 |accessdate=February 15, 2016}}Mushinske, Joram. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/entertainment/music/2018/06/11/real-estates-alex-bleeker-talks-ridgewood-roots/641936002/ "Real Estate bassist Alex Bleeker talks about the band’s Ridgewood roots"], The Record (Bergen County), June 11, 2018. Accessed October 17, 2018. "Founding members Martin Courtney (vocals/guitar), Matt Mondanile (guitar/vocals) and Bleeker first met in elementary school and became closer friends at George Washington Middle School in Ridgewood. '"We would all play together in basements and open mic nights at Ridgewood High School along with [current Real Estate guitarist] Julian Lynch and other friends,' Bleeker recalls" After graduating from high school, he studied at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont.{{cite web|url=https://www.relix.com/articles/detail/alex_bleeker_the_freaks_california_dreaming/P2 |title=Alex Bleeker & The Freaks: California Dreaming : Articles |website=Relix.com |date=December 9, 2015 |accessdate=January 6, 2016}} Bleeker currently resides in Bolinas, California.
Image:Alex Bleeker - 2015.png in 2015]]
Discography
with Real Estate
- Real Estate (2009)
- Days (2011)
- Atlas (2014)
- In Mind (2017)
- The Main Thing (2020)
- Daniel (2024)
with Alex Bleeker and the Freaks
- Alex Bleeker and the Freaks (2009){{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/alex-bleeker-the-freaks-mw0001957700 |title=Alex Bleeker & the Freaks - Alex Bleeker & the Freaks | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date=209 |accessdate=February 15, 2016}}
- How Far Away (2013){{cite web|first=Fred|last=Thomas |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/how-far-away-mw0002505065 |title=How Far Away - Alex Bleeker & the Freaks | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date=May 28, 2013 |accessdate=February 15, 2016}}
- Country Agenda (2015){{cite web|first=Timothy|last=Monger |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/country-agenda-mw0002878270 |title=Country Agenda - Alex Bleeker & the Freaks | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date=October 16, 2015 |accessdate=January 6, 2016}}
Solo
- These Days (7" Group Tightener, 2010){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Alex-Bleeker-These-Days/release/2271747|title=Alex Bleeker - These Days|website=Discogs|date=April 12, 2010 |language=en|access-date=March 21, 2018}}
- From the Archives Vol. 1 (7" Modern Country Records, 2011){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Alex-Bleeker-From-The-Archives-Vol-1/release/4456397|title=Alex Bleeker - From The Archives Vol. 1|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=March 21, 2018}}
- Heaven On The Faultline (Night Bloom Records, 2021){{Cite web|url=https://alexbleekerandthefreaks.bandcamp.com/album/heaven-on-the-faultline|title=Alex Bleeker - Heaven On The Faultline|website=Bandcamp|language=en|access-date=March 7, 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://bleekerandthefreaks.blogspot.com/ Official website]
- [http://realestatetheband.com/ Real Estate website]
{{Real Estate (band)}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bleeker, Alex}}
Category:Bennington College alumni
Category:American indie rock musicians
Category:Musicians from Ridgewood, New Jersey
Category:Ridgewood High School (New Jersey) alumni
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:American rock bass guitarists
Category:American male bass guitarists
Category:Real Estate (band) members