Live Review - Beirut

January 10, 2012 – The Forum Theatre, Melbourne

Support: Pikelet (Aus)

Beirut’s music is difficult to classify.  It falls somewhere between the blurred genre lines of indie folk rock and world music.  Each member of the band covers a variety of instruments including drums, bass guitar, double bass, accordion, trumpet, ukulele, voice, glockenspiel, trombone, sousaphone and an electric piano to create a sound that is entirely unique, blending elements of gypsy, French folk and mariachi music.  Beirut is the brain child of Zachary Francis Condon (of Santa Fe, New Mexico) and since their 2006 debut they have built a very strong following as evidenced by their two sold out shows here in Melbourne over that last two nights.

Personally, I’ve always felt Beirut’s music to be missing that certain something.  While their sound is certainly intriguing and worth listening to, it just doesn’t do a whole lot for me.  As I’ve stated before, I usually only enjoy music if it evokes some kind of emotional response in me and Beirut tend not to do that.  However, their sound does interest me and it was this reason that drove me to go along to The Forum Theatre last to night see this band play to a packed house of adoring fans.

From the outset it was clear that Beirut are very good at what they do.  They have that quality that elevates them above the average band and makes a casual listener such as myself see exactly why they are well loved by their fans.  They were tight and played with plenty of energy.  They seemed to be enjoying performing as much as the audience appeared to enjoy watching it.  You got the distinct impression that even if they weren’t half way across the world, playing to a sold out crowd, they’d still enjoy exactly what they were doing if it was just to their parents and friends in their own garage back home.  It was this quality that made Beirut a joy to watch.

Particular highlights of the evening were fan favourite Postcards From Italy, hometown ode Santa Fe and a stirring rendition of Goshen from their latest album, The Rip Tide which began with a beautifully spot lit Condon at the piano as he sang the lament of lost love.  It was this particular track where I finally “got it”.  I wasn’t there observing a band I was merely intrigued by anymore. With that track they had forced me to become involved with the music and I finally understood the reason that all these people were there.  When a band can do that, make a casual listener stand up and notice, even if it’s just for one song, they deserve all the praise they get.  Beirut truly do have something special about them, and while that element may not affect me as often as it does others, I would have no hesitation seeing them again on their next tour.­­­