Beirut Leaves Audience Giddy at Greek Theatre Saturday Night

Beirut blew the Greek Theatre away this past Saturday night in a 21-song set full of the old, the new, and everything in between. Their newest album, No No No (2015), was released a little more than a month ago following singles “No No No” and “Gibraltar.” The band played almost the entirety of their simple, piano heavy newest album, but the night was far from a disappointment for fans of the more Balkan, French, and Hispanic notes of their four previous albums.

As front-man, band-founder, and musician-extraordinaire Zachary Condon led the way out onto a thoughtfully set stage with band members carefully positioned to allow full view of each talent, the audience responded with an immediate roar. It seemed evident that this crowd was no stranger to the unique world music blends and oftentimes whimsical sounds of Beirut. The outdoor amphitheater further erupted in applause once accordionist Aaron Arntz played the first telltale notes of “Scenic World” off of their debut album Gulag Orkestar (2006). The Berkeley crowd held onto this energy throughout the night and responded to every twist and turn of Beirut’s melodies with enthusiasm. It’s not difficult to see where this excitement stemmed from, as Condon and company proceeded to give an indelible performance.

Aligned in a captivating fashion across the stage, Condon held the flugelhorn while flanked by Kyle Resnick on trumpet to his right and Ben Lanz on trombone to his left. The horns provided a powerful brass front that pushed its way through cool night air into the eager ears and hearts of the audience. The talent the artists displayed was extraordinary; every song, including their crowd-pleasing cover of “Serbian Cocek” by Hawk and a Hacksaw, seemed exceptionally rehearsed.

Beyond the music, Beirut carried a palpable and often gleeful chemistry with them onto the stage. The smile on percussionist Nick Petree’s face never once faded. The soft hues of blue, orange, and purple that lit up the night sky only added to the surreal nature of the already exceptional performance.

As the denouement to the show came with “The Flying Club Cup,” a sense of awe pervaded the mass of people making their way out onto the streets. Sentiments of disbelief and astonishment could be heard coming from all directions. Beirut delivered a performance that stunned. As for the uninitiated into the world of Beirut, this was the ultimate introduction.

Article by Jacob Elsanadi