Beirut (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Beirut

---

Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Albuquerque, New Mexico, nowrap|United States
Genre = Indie
Folk
Pop
World
Years_active = 2006–present
Label = Ba Da Bing
Associated_acts = Alaska in Winter
A Hawk and a Hacksaw
URL = [http://www.beirutband.com/ www.beirutband.com]
Current_members = Zach Condon, Perri Cloutier, Hari Ziznewski, Jason Poranski, Nick Petree, Kristin Ferebee, Paul Collins, Jon Natchez, Kelly Pratt, Tracy Pratt
Past_members = Jeremy Barnes, Heather Trost

Beirut is the band of age|1986|1|1-year-old Santa Fe native Zach Condon. The band's first official release was assisted by Jeremy Barnes (Neutral Milk Hotel, A Hawk and a Hacksaw) and Heather Trost (A Hawk and a Hacksaw); it combines elements of Eastern European and folk sounds. Condon plays the trumpet and the ukulele as his main instruments, having been unable to play guitar because of a wrist injury that prevented his hand from reaching fully around the neck of a guitar. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artist/mqdp/ BBC - Music Profiles - Beirut ] ]

Though young, Condon has already released a few albums. He recorded under the name The Real People when he was 15, making "The Joys of Losing Weight", which is a lo-fi electronic record ("ie", generally in the style of 'Scenic World' on "Gulag Orkestar") fashioned consciously after The Magnetic Fields. At 16, he recorded an entire doo-wop album that was inspired by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers. Zach also released a three-song EP titled "Small Time American Bats" under the name "1971". The album was recorded in 2001-2002 and has never been officially released. Condon attended Santa Fe High School, where he was a student until he dropped out at the age of 16 to travel Europe (with his brother Ryan Condon) where he was first exposed to Balkan gypsy music, notably including the Boban Marković Orchestra and Goran Bregović.

Live, Beirut's shifting roster generally consists of Condon accompanied by Perrin Cloutier (cello/accordion), Jason Poranski (guitar/mandolin/ukulele), Nick Petree (drums), Kristin Ferebee (violin), Paul Collins (organ/keys/tambourine/ukulele), Jon Natchez (baritone sax/mandolin/glockenspiel), and Kelly Pratt (trumpet/euphonium).

History

In 2006, Beirut released two Balkan-inspired recordings through Ba Da Bing, "Gulag Orkestar" and "Lon Gisland", both also available as an expanded version of "Gulag Orkestar" LP through the UK label 4AD. Beirut has also released other individual songs, three available on Pompeii EP, and the one on a split with Calexico, and one on a compilation for The Believer magazine. While living in Brooklyn, Condon also shot a video for "Scenic World" at the Sweet'N Low factory, and performed several venues in New York and Europe.

Zach appeared in the June/July 2007 issue of The Believer, with a song entitled "Venice". [http://www.nialler9.com/blog/2007/06/06/zach-condon-beirut-venice/]

His first official music video was for the song "Elephant Gun". The video was directed by Alma Har'el. The second video, which was for the song "Postcards from Italy", was also directed by Alma Har'el, and was released later. Lauren Tafuri was the costume designer for both of these videos.

In June 2007 they played the Glastonbury Festival's Jazz World Stage. Later in 2007, Zach appeared as a guest trumpeter on the second album from Get Him Eat Him, titled "Arms Down". He has also appeared as a guest trumpeter on A Hawk and a Hacksaw's album The Way the Wind Blows, a band founded by former Beirut members Jeremy Barnes and Heather Trost.

Beirut's second album, "The Flying Club Cup," was leaked onto the Internet August 25, 2007 then subsequently released in shops and on Internet music sites on October 9, 2007.

On April 3rd, 2008, Beirut cancelled a previously announced summer European tour. [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/49738-beirut-cancel-summer-european-tour] Condon explained the cancellations in a post on the official Beirut website, stating that he wanted to put the effort into ensuring that any shows would be "as good as humanly possible". [http://beirutband.com/] Soon after, The Stranger reported that Condon is working on a third album tentatively scheduled for a fall release. [http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/05/greetings_from_beirut_an_interview_with]

Discography

Albums

*"Gulag Orkestar" (May 9, 2006)
*"The Flying Club Cup" (October 9, 2007)

EPs

*"Lon Gisland" (January 30, 2007)
*"Pompeii EP" (February 28, 2007)
*"Elephant Gun EP" (June 25, 2007)

References

External links

Official websites

* [http://www.beirutband.com Official website]
* [http://www.badabingrecords.com Ba Da Bing Records]
*MySpace|beruit|Beirut
* [http://www.flyingclubcup.com Website for new album The Flying Club Cup]

Press

* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5382657 "A Young Man Simulates an Old World"] May 4, 2006 "National Public Radio"
* [http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0623,crumsho,73425,22.html "Gypsy Road, Take Me Home"] June 5, 2006 "The Village Voice"
* [http://asap.ap.org/stories/686983.s "A young American's Balkan brass band"] June 26, 2006 "Associated Press"
* [http://www.wnyc.org/shows/soundcheck/episodes/2006/07/06 "Instant Fame"] July 6, 2006 "WNYC Soundcheck"
* [http://thelineofbestfit.com/2007/10/23/an-interview-with-beirut/ The Line Of Best Fit] Interview with Beirut. October 23rd 2007.
* [http://nymag.com/arts/popmusic/features/18856/ "Beirut: The Band"] "New York" magazine
* [http://www.techgnosis.com/chunkshow-single.php?chunk=chunkfrom-2007-09-08-2341-0.txt "My Data Crime"] ; Erik Davis on experiences with the watermarking system on "The Flying Club Cup"

Videos

* [http://brooklynheathen.com/200705/beirut-bowery-videos/ Videos from Bowery Ballroom] May 8, 2007
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEvtZJjPIFE "Making the Video"] New York Noise
* [http://www.blogotheque.net/article.php3?id_article=3445 Beirut Take Away Shows shot in Paris, France]
* [http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1571915&vid=181540 MTVnews video piece on Beirut's La Blogotheque Take Away Shows collaboration]
* [http://www.lostateminor.com/2007/12/12/elephant-gun/ Beirut video, Elephant Gun]
* [http://www.dailymotion.com/flyingclubcup Videos realized with La Blogotheque]