More than once, I've vowed to never set foot in this venue again for a show that really matters to me, but the last-minute announcement of Beirut's show there this past Sunday twisted my arm. Did I wish in my heart of hearts that there had been a Bowery Ballroom date, too, but alas, find this was not so? Sure thing. Have I idiotically missed many Beirut shows in the past couple of years due to "schoolwork" and "college"? You betcha. For these reasons, I broke my promise and headed into Brooklyn on Sunday night to see the man behind the voice (and the trumpet, and the ukelele): Zach Condon, a.k.a. Beirut, along with his merry men and women.

After dealing with some kids who were appalled at the fact that their invisible moat did not deter us from standing in the 6-foot square space in front of them at a sold-out show (see anti-WMH vows above), we endured the last part of the Stars Like Fleas' opening set. While I have no doubt that each individual member of this heavily instrumented band was perfectly capable of playing her or his noisemaker well, the result was an indeterminate "wall of noise," as my friend Kate put it. Each instrument can make a perfectly beautiful sound on its own,but if I can't pick one out of the sonic mud, you've lost me. This got agonizing pretty quickly.

When Beirut finally took the stage and Condon counted "1-2-3" with his lips already on the trumpet, I was shocked to find myself choking up, just slightly, during "Cherbourg", from 2007's The Flying Club Cup. I felt like I was the last person to finally see Beirut live, though he/they have been one of my favorite artists alive for a couple of years now. I guess it was a feeling of relief, though there was little doubt in my mind that this show would be exquisite. "This is the most last-minute show we've ever done!" noted Condon with some difficulty ... too many nostrovias backstage, perhaps? Last-minute, for sure, but Brooklyn's getting a special treat tonight, considering Condon just canceled a string of European dates for reasons that remain unknown to most.

As was expected, we received a nice sampling from Gulag Orkestar and The Flying Club Cup, hearing "Nantes", "Mount Wroclai" (my emotional Waterloo of the set), "Scenic World", and "Elephant Gun" from the same-titled EP. We even got some covers - A Hawk and a Hacksaw's "Serbian Cocek" But the real gem of the evening was the premiere of four - count 'em - FOUR new tracks that may appear on Beirut's next album, reportedly in the works. Smirking and calling us "guinea pigs" (you can call me anything you want, baby), unveiling "The Shrew", which features (what else?), a heartbreakingly beautiful trumpet solo by Condon right in the thick of it. Other new songs revealed include: "My Wife" (so there may be truth to the wedding ring on his finger, SIGH), "Benito Juarez", and "Leaotinito". That last one was presented as "a poem Zach wrote for you guys", sung in Portuguese. While he may or may not have actually written said poem, given its tongue-in-cheek debut, there is a distinctly Spanish/Portuguese feel to all of the new material, with three and four trumpets in full force throughout. Who's excited about the new album? This girl!

New material also quelled my fear of breakup rumors, which led one audience member to scream, "PLEASE DON'T BREAK UP!" and a member of the band to shout back, "BEIRUT IS FOREVER! BEIRUT IS FOR CHILDREN!" Definitely a show highlight right there. In fact, mention needs to be made of the fact that a Beirut concert is far from a Zach Condon show. From drummer Nick Petree's blinding grin to the female trumpet player who looked like she was having the best night of her life, Beirut as a whole are one of the tightest, most staggeringly beautiful pack of musicians I've had the privilege to hear. They've got "wall of sound" on lock. I hope the opener took notes.

Pictures, setlist and a video clip of "Nantes" below. 

 

Cherbourg
The Penalty
Nantes
My Wife
La Fete
Elephant Gun
The Shrew
Brandenburg
After the Curatain
Benito Juarez
Mt Broclai
A Sunday Smile
Cocek
Scenic World

Postcards
Leaotinito